NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's soccer team has had one goal this season: getting back to where they were last year. That would mean repeat title as Missouri Valley Conference regular season and post season champions. The Redbirds took a major step Sunday with a 4-0 victory over Indiana State that clinched the MVC regular season title.
It's the second-straight season that ISU has won the conference crown and its 10th MVC title overall. The Redbirds captured the crown in dominating fashion, scoring early and often. Just two minutes into the match, Hannah Leinert netted her fifth goal of the season, snapping a goal drought of five games. She was just getting started for the day.
Six minutes later, Gabbi McArtor made the score 2-0 with the first goal of her career. McArtor dribbled the ball towards the center of the field off the corner of the penalty box, and from 19 yards out, let loose a shot that sailed into the net.
Leinert then scored her second goal of the match in the 12th minute off assists from Rachel Tejada and Ali Farkos. For Tejada, the assist was the 39th of her career, which ties her for the all-time MVC record. She now has eight assists this season.
ISU's pace finally slowed down, but Emily Dickman put the exclamation point on the dominant half. Coming on as a reserve, Dickman received a pass from Leinert and scored her fourth goal of the season in the 34th minute. Dickman leads all ISU freshmen in goals scored and it is Leinert's second game this season with five points.
The Redbirds outshot Indiana State 35-5 and are now outshooting Valley opponents 116-30 on the season. Aryn Newsom made two saves in the net and the defense shut down every Sycamore attack. The shutout is the sixth of the year. The Redbirds also held the advantage in corner kicks 13-1.
The program celebrated Senior Day and Heidecke Day. McArtor was honored with the 2014 Julie Heidecke Award. McArtor, Tejada, Newsom and Keri Kujawa were honored before the match for Senior Day.
The conference clincher comes with one MVC game still on the slate. The Redbirds travel to Drake Saturday to wrap up conference play and they are looking for a perfect 6-0 MVC record for the second-straight year.
Kickoff Saturday is scheduled for 7 p.m. and a live audio broadcast can be heard on GoRedbirds.com.
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
