For the first time since Sept. 7, the Illinois State soccer team will play a game at Adelaide Street Field when they battle Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
The Redbirds (4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference) look to get back in the win column after falling to Xavier, 1-0, Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati. On the road trip, the Birds went 3-1, with wins coming at Iowa, Northern Iowa and Loyola.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee rolls into town with an overall mark of 4-2 and is 2-0 in the Horizon League. After dropping their first two games of the year, the Panthers are currently riding a four game winning streak with the latest victory coming Tuesday against Wisconsin-Green Bay, who the Redbirds host on Sunday.
Redbird coach Pete Kowall compares Wisconsin-Milwaukee to Butler, who defeated Illinois State 2-1 the last time the Birds played at home.
Their top scorer from last year transferred, but that seems to have brought them together and has helped them more than hurt them, Kowall said. They have a balanced scoring attack, and are very sound. Like Butler, they are very good all-around and will be a good opponent.
The last two meeting between the teams have been tight. Last year in Milwaukee, the Panthers needed two overtimes to overcome the Redbird attack, 4-3. In 1999 ISU shutout Milwaukee 2-0 at Adelaide Street Field.
