NORMAL, Ill. - With the score knotted at 1-1, Illinois State senior Meghan Boler put the ball in the back of the net in the 84th minute for the Redbird women's soccer team, securing the win over Missouri State, 2-1, and ensuring the team's place in the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
With their third consecutive win, the `Birds improve to 6-7-3 on the year, 2-3-1 in the Valley. Missouri State moves to 9-7-2 overall, and 2-3-1 in MVC action. By securing the win, Illinois State locks up the No. 4 seed in the tournament and will host Missouri State on Sunday, October 29, in the State Farm MVC Play-In Game in Normal, Ill. Game time is set for noon at Adelaide Street Field.
Playing in the bitter cold, with wind gusts blowing shots and crosses all over the field, neither team scored in the first half, though Illinois State owned the first-half shot margin, 9-4.
The second 45-minutes, however, was filled with scoring, pleasing the 266 fans who came out to watch the Redbirds on Senior Day and Heidecke Day at Adelaide Street Field.
"It was a very emotional day for our team with everything that happened," said Illinois State head coach Pete Kowall. "It was an amazing feeling to comeback and I'm really proud of my team and the way they responded at the end of the year."
Missouri State was the first on the board, just after the half (48:22). Bear's forward Chelsea Anderson sent a cross in front of the Redbird goal that was met by a group of ISU and MSU players. Redbird defender Shannon Duggan attempted to clear the ball but Missouri State forward Caroline Sweeney put the ball past Redbird goalkeeper Andrea Shaw for the unassisted goal.
Ten minutes later, Illinois State forward Ammanda Wisniewski tied the game, netting her fifth goal of the season. Redbird defender Amanda Lauber chipped the ball to senior Jackie Rucinsky in the near corner, who crossed high to Wisniewski at the far post. Wisniewski then shot the ball from four yards out for the goal at 58:50. Rucinsky and Lauber were both credited with an assist on the goal, which knotted the score at 1-1.
A physical game throughout, Illinois State ended with 13 fouls, compared to Missouri State's 10. A red card was issued to Rucinsky at the 82:47 mark after a controversial call that ended with ISU playing out the game with just 10 players on the field.
Despite being a player down, Boler shouldered the burden for the `Birds, finding the back of the net at the 84:48 mark. The Redbirds were awarded a corner kick in the 83rd minute that was taken by sophomore Mel Routledge. The kick was short and was headed out to the top of the box as Boler collected the ball and passed it wide to Carrie Schurr, over the Bear defense. Schurr played a spot ball through the box, with Boler running on to one-touch the ball to the far post. Boler's game-winner was her third of the year and her fourth goal overall.
Shaw saved four MSU shots in the contest, while coming away with the decision. Her record improves to 5-2-1 on the season.
"We were looking for senior leadership today in our last MVC matchup," said Kowall. "We definitely got that from Jackie, who had an assist, and Meghan with the game-winner. We just need to get ready for Eastern on Thursday, hopefully taking some momentum from this great win."
The Redbirds will host a non-conference battle with Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 2:30 p.m., before turning around to host a rematch with the Bears, Sunday, Oct. 29 at 12:00 p.m. at Adelaide Street Field.
