NORMAL, Ill. - After four-straight matches on the road, the Illinois State soccer team (2-4-0) returns to Adelaide Street Field for four-straight games, and five of the next six, beginning with two this weekend. The Redbirds will take on Southeast Missouri State, Friday at 4 p.m., before welcoming No. 22 Marquette, Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Redbirds went 1-3 during the four-game stretch, winning at TCU last Friday for the program's second win over a Big 12 team all-time. Combined with a solid performance in a 2-1 loss at Texas, Sunday, head coach Drew Roff hopes his team can continue its good form, while also capitalizing on the advantages playing at home provides.
"We played some tough competition in some tough environments," Roff said. "Now, we're just trying to get better and hopefully get a little more going in the attack. Some games on the road, you have to play more defensive and look to counter a little bit more. When you step out on to your home pitch, your goal is to control the tempo, create chances early and come out with a little more energy. It's a little different feel, but we're playing some pretty good soccer right now, so we want to keep that going.
Scouting the Redhawks
The Redhawks are still searching for their first victory in 2013, entering Friday's match at 0-3-1. SEMO has been solid defensively, conceding 10 goals, eight of which came in two games. However, the Redhawks have struggled to find the scoring touch, tallying just one goal thus far. Freshman Natasha Minor has paced the SEMO offense by scoring the team's only goal and leading the squad in shots (six) and shots on goal (four). The Redhawks have been playing without the injured Torey Byrd, who led the team last season with six goals. Bloomington, Ill., native Erin Shulman, who was the 2011 OVC Freshman of the Year before playing just seven matches in 2012 due to injury, is still searching for her first point.
The Redbirds and Redhawks have met three times previously, including in each of the last two seasons. The Redbirds won their season-opening match at SEMO last season, 2-1, after the Redhawks won at ISU in the 2011 season-opener, 3-2. Junior Rachel Tejada, who has scored three goals in those two meetings, expects another stiff test from the Redhawks on Friday.
"We need to come out focused against SEMO," Tejada said. "They always give us a tough game. We have to play to your best ability, and make sure we are focused during the week in practice and giving 100-percent."
Scouting the Golden Eagles
At 4-2-0, the Golden Eagles have already matched their loss total from last season, when the program reached the Sweet 16 and went 18-2-3. However, both of those losses have come against top-15 teams (No. 15 Portland, No. 4 UCLA), and by one goal each. Despite losing five starters from the 2012 squad, 18th-year head coach Markus Roeders and his team were selected as BIG EAST favorites after winning the title outright last season.
The Golden Eagles are led by a trio of seniors who were all-conference selections last season: Taylor Madigan (4 G, 1 A), Maegan Kelly (1 G, 3 A) and Cara Jacobson (1 G, 1 A). Junior Mady Vicker has broken out thus far in 2013, already eclipsing her career-high with three goals. Sophomore keeper Amanda Engel has built upon her all-conference freshman season by posting a 1.23 GAA so far in 2013.
The only previous meeting between the two squads came in last year's NCAA Tournament, when the Golden Eagles ended ISU's season with a 3-0 victory. Marquette scored the game's first goal in the fourth minute, something that Roff says must be avoided this time for the Redbirds to perform better.
"Especially at home, you want to get off to a good start," Roff said. "Whether you get a goal or not, you still want to make sure that you are knocking on the goal early and building some confidence against a team of that caliber. We know that they are fast and athletic at every position, and that they have a lot of depth. We've prepared for that with the teams we've played that have similar types of athletes.
Quick Kicks
- BACK ON TRACK: Two-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Rachel Tejada snapped a career-long five-game goalless drought that dated back to last season with two goals last weekend, one in each match. Tejada also recorded an assist en route to being named the MVC Offensive Player of the Week, the 12th weekly Valley award of her career.
- ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: Junior Rachel Tejada tallied her 22nd-career assist last weekend, moving her into a tie atop the Redbird all-time records with Jess Carlson. She also sits second all-time in points (104) and goals (41). Tejada is among the top-nine active NCAA Division I career leaders in each of those categories, and is the NCAA's active career leader in points (2.31), goals (0.91) and assists (0.49) per game.
- "D" TAKES SHAPE: After surrendering a combined 13 goals during their three-game losing streak, the ISU defense allowed just three during its 1-1 weekend in Texas. Goalkeeper Aryn Newsom was solid as the last line of defense, making a combined 11 saves, while the organization and defensive effort from top-to-bottom was much improved. Depth also played a factor, as the Redbirds utilized six different defenders in each match.
- HOME SWEET HOME: After playing four-straight road matches, two against Big Ten teams and two against Big 12 squads, the Redbirds will play their next four games, and five of the next six, at home. Of ISU's remaining 12 matches, only four will be on the road. The Redbirds are 96-31-16 (.727) all-time at Adelaide Street Field, including a 35-9-4 (.771) mark under head coach Drew Roff.
- NEARING THE CENTURY MARK: Head coach Drew Roff is in his seventh season at the helm of the Redbirds, and ninth overall. Roff, who has led ISU to four regular-season MVC titles, three MVC Tournament titles, and three NCAA Tournament appearances, is just four wins shy of 100-career victories (96-55-11).
- NOTHING BUT THE BEST: Seven teams from BCS conferences and five squads that made the NCAA Tournament in 2012, including Sunday's opponent, Marquette, highlight the Redbirds' 2013 schedule. ISU is 1-2 against the NCAA participants, defeating defending Mid-American Conference champion Miami (Ohio), 3-2, on opening day.
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