OMAHA, Neb. - The Illinois State soccer team dropped a heartbreaking decision to Missouri State Friday evening in the semifinal of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament at Morrison Stadium in Omaha, Neb. The Redbirds and Bears played to a 1-1 tie after 110 minutes, but it was MSU that would prevail in penalty kicks.
Missouri State took advantage of a slow start by ISU, and took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. Brooke Williams received a pass from Michelle Sommer and floated a ball over the hands of sophomore goalkeeper Mara Kremenovic into the top, right corner of the frame.
"We got off to a slow start and I'm not sure why," head coach Drew Roff said. "We gave up an early goal, which was unfortunate because I didn't think [Missouri State] would score on us today. We knew we had to pick it up at halftime and we did."
The Redbirds started the second half with a flurry of offensive opportunities and finally found the equalizer in the 68th minute on a goal by junior Jessica Carlson. Sophomore Rachel Bostick served the ball to the back post and found freshman Anna Stinson, who headed it back across the face of the goal for Carlson to finish.
Illinois State continued its offensive pressure, outshooting the Bears, 11-6, in the final 45 minutes of regulation, but the Missouri State held strong and forced overtime.
"In the second half, we came out and played much better," Roff said. "We got the equalizer and things were looking good at that point. We were trying to win it in regulation and then in overtime, because you hate to get into a shootout situation, but it got to that point. We had our best five shooters out there, but their goalkeeper made some great saves and that's just how it goes."
The Redbirds continued to pressure the MSU defense in both overtime periods, but could not solve the Bear backfield. Over 20 minutes of extra time, the score remain tied at 1-1 and the game was decided on penalty kicks.
Both goalkeepers posted standout performances during the course of the game, racking up 18 saves, and carried the momentum into penalty kicks. Kremenovic and MSU keeper Jessica Teahan combined to stop the first five PK tries before Sommer connect on Missouri State's third attempt. Senior Alyssa Schulz stepped up and buried her penalty kick try, but the Bears answered with a successful shot from Nia Williams.
Teahan then made a save on PK try by senior Bethany Brown to clinch the victory for Missouri State and send the Bears through to Sunday's title game.
Bostick led all players with six shots and four shots on goal, while five other Redbirds fired a pair of shot attempts. Kremenovic collected eight saves between the posts or Illinois State in defeat.
"These girls played their hearts out," Roff added. "For some reason, we just have a little trouble getting over the hump this year. Tonight we played a great second half and a not so great first half, but it is just tough when it is your last game and you have to say goodbye to four great seniors."
With the loss, Illinois State finishes the season with a 9-7-2 record and advanced to the MVC Tournament semifinals for the fourth-consecutive season. Missouri State now stands at 10-5-3 and will play the winner of the second semifinal contest between Creighton and Evansville Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m.
"This year, we had a good year," Roff said. "We got some big wins over some big programs early on and then had some tough times, but our team never got down. They kept fighting, they kept working and the last month or so of the season we were a very good team. I have to give our girls a lot of credit and it has been a pleasure coaching them."
Carlson led the Redbird offense this season with 19 points on seven goals and five assists and finished with 12 points in ISU's final six games. Kremenovic played every minute in goal for the Redbirds this season and posted four shutouts, collected 77 saves and finished with a 1.18 goals against average in her first year at Illinois State.
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