CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Illinois State soccer team (7-5-0, 2-1-0 MVC) notched its fourth shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over Missouri Valley Conference foe Northern Iowa (3-7-2, 0-2-0 MVC) Tuesday night at the Cedar Valley Soccer Complex in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
"We are pleased with the shutout and I thought Natalie McCabe and Kristin Cooley were very solid in the back," head coach Drew Roff said. "We are pleased to get the road win and we know any conference road win is a big one. I thought it was a very solid performance by our team."
The Redbirds took an early 1-0 lead in the 10th minute on a header by junior Rachel Bostick. Sophomore Anna Stinson delivered a corner kick service to the far post and found Bostick, who headed it inside the post for her third goal of the season.
"It was huge to get the first goal and it is something that we have talked about all year," Roff said. "When we play with the lead, we don't have to spend energy chasing the game. I really feel like we had control of the match and I liked that we kept our foot on the gas in the second half."
ISU outshout the host Panthers, 7-5, over the first 45 minutes and both teams took five corner kicks apiece, as the Redbirds took their 1-0 lead into the locker room.
Illinois State controlled much of the second half and nearly doubled their lead twice within the first three minutes of the second half. Senior Jessica Carlson was denied on a header that was punched away by UNI keeper Erin Zaideman and freshman Rachel Tejada fired a shot that sailed just wide.
Tejada ended her three-game scoring drought by adding an insurance goal in the 61st minute for her 13th of the season. Sophomore Kyla Cross dribbled up the right wing and beat a UNI defender, before delivering low pass to the right foot of Tejada, who buried the chance from 10 yards.
"With a player like Rachel, it was only a matter time of time before she got it going again," Roff said. "Kyla gave her a great ball and Rachel very calmly tucked it away. It was a quality goal and kind of put the game away."
Northern Iowa pushed players forward in the final 10 minutes and created a pair of scoring chances, but could not solve the ISU defense and redshirt goalkeeper Aryn Newsom. Newsom stopped five shots on the evening to record her second shutout of the season.
ISU will return to the pitch Sunday, Oct. 9, when it hosts MVC opponent Evansville for Senior Day and Heidecke Day at Adelaide Street Field. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
"Sunday will be a big day for our program as we honor Julie Heidecke and our seven seniors on the same day," Roff said. "The table is set for a big weekend and we just have to do our part by having a big performance. I think everyone is really looking forward to Sunday's game and everything that goes with it."
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