NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State is the top-scoring team in the Missouri Valley Conference and is receiving plenty of recognition for its success this season. For the third-straight week, a Redbird has won the Brine MVC Player of the Week award after senior Bethany Russ was named the recipient on Sept. 17.
Russ won her first conference award thanks to a record-setting performance against Morehead State on Sunday, September 16. The Grayslake, Ill. native recorded the fifth hat trick in school history to propel the Redbirds past the Eagles, 4-0. Russ netted all her goals within the first 13 minutes of the second half. Her performance tied the school record for goals (three) and points (six) in a single game, and moved into a tie for the team lead in goals (three) and points (seven) on the season.
Russ is not the first Redbird to be honored this season, as ISU has won all three Brine MVC Offensive Player of the Week Awards in 2007. Junior forward Mel Routedge won the first award of the season on Sept. 4 after she recorded seven points on three goals and an assist in ISU's first two games. Sophomore midfielder Ammanda Wisniewski was recognized on Sept. 10 after she recorded the school's fourth hat trick against Central Michigan.
The trio is among the best offensive players in the Valley. Routledge and Russ are tied for fourth place in the conference in points and all three are tied for fourth place in goals scored. Russ and Wisniewski have the best single-game scoring efforts in the conference with their hat tricks.
A streak of awards like this is not uncommon in Redbird soccer history. In 2000, Ty Winkelhake, Tiffany DeClark and Annie Wayland won the award in consecutive weeks. In 2001, ISU won four-consecutive awards in October, with Wayland earning three of them and Diana Puckett the other.
The Redbirds visit Ball State on Friday, September 21, at 3 p.m.
