A cross pass from Diana Puckett was deflected off an Evansville defenders head and into the goal for the game-winner in the second overtime as the Illinois State soccer team clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular season championship with a 2-1 over Evansville on Sunday.
The win moves the Redbird record to 11-3 overall and a perfect 6-0 in the Valley and give Illinois State the No. 1 seed for the MVC Tournament. Evansville drops to 11-4 overall and 3-1 in league play.
We had so many people do little things to help us out today, head coach Pete Kowall said. Our defense kept us in the game, and Lynley (Hilligoss) did a great job in goal.
The Redbirds, winners of their last seven straight, jumped out to an early lead as Annie Wayland passed to an open Puckett who sent the ball into the upper left corner of the net for her fifth goal of the season at the 26:03 mark.
Evansville returned the favor seven minutes later to tie the score at one. Tracye Burchs corner kick found Tami Callison who headed the ball past Redbird keeper Hilligoss.
The score remained 1-1 until the second overtime period when Pucketts cross pass was headed into the goal by an Evansville defender at minute 113 to seal the Redbird victory and the conference championship.
Winning the regular season is nice, but we want to get back in the championship game and get into the NCAAs. Kowall said. Its important for us to understand that there is more to come. There are other things that we want to get.
Wrapping up a five-game homestand at Adelaide Street Field, Illinois State hosts the Oakland Golden Grizzlies Friday afternoon at 3 p.m.
