SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The Illinois State soccer team (12-5-0) will have a chance to avenge its only Missouri Valley Conference loss of the season when it plays Missouri State (12-4-2) in the championship match of the 2011 State Farm MVC Tournament Sunday afternoon at 1:06 p.m., at the Cooper Family Soccer Plex in Springfield, Mo.
The Redbirds advanced to the tournament final with an impressive, 6-0, win over Evansville in Friday's semifinal contest. Freshman Rachel Tejada scored a pair of goals to tie the Illinois State and Valley record for goals in a season with 20, and recorded a pair of assists to raise her single-season record point total to 48. Sophomore Kyla Cross also added a pair of goals in the win, while senior Jessica Carlson and freshman Aimee Wronski each scored a goal to cap the scoring for ISU.
Illinois State's six goals against the Purple Aces lifted its season total to 51 and established a new ISU single-season record. The previous record of 50 was set in 2000, the same season in which ISU Hall of Fame inductee Annie Wayland scored a single-season record 20 goals.
Missouri State defeated the Redbirds, 1-0, in Springfield in the only regular-season contest between the two squads this season. The Bears advanced to Sunday's championship with a 2-1, overtime victory over Northern Iowa in Friday's second semifinal contest. MVC Goalkeeper of the Year Jessica Teahan leads MSU with 98 saves, a 0.89 goals against average and a .860 save percentage. Brittany Smith has scored a team-high 18 points on eight goals and a pair of assists and defender Nia Williams is the team's leader with five assists.
Illinois State and Missouri State have played nine previous matches in the State Farm MVC Tournament, but Sunday's contest will mark the first matchup in the championship game. The Redbirds and Bears tied, 1-1, in last season's semifinal match, with MSU advancing to the final, 2-1, on penalty kicks.
ISU last captured the State Farm MVC Tournament title in 2009 and made its first trip to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Drew Roff. Illinois State's only other Valley Tournament crown and NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2003.
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