NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer team will hit the pitch at Adelaide Street Field for the first time this season Friday, in their final exhibition match. The Redbirds welcome the Big Ten's Purdue Boilermakers to town, before officially kicking off the 2014 campaign on Aug. 22.
ISU is looking to bounce back from an exhibition opener defeat at the hands of No. 16 Notre Dame Monday. The Redbirds fell 4-0, giving up three goals in the second half. Rachel Tejada led the team in shots with three including one on goal. Emily Dickman's late strike that narrowly missed the net was the only other shot-on-goal for ISU. Notre Dame led in every major offensive statistical category, but ISU looked more comfortable as the game wore on.
Purdue ended 2013 struggling, winning three straight Big Ten games at the beginning of October before losing its final six. The Boilers finished 8-10-1 overall and 3-8 in conference play.
The Boilers are led by Maddy Williams, who led the team in goals, shots, game winners and points last season. In 18 games, she netted 10 goals while dishing out six assists. Another key factor is senior forward Alex Hairston. Hairston fired just 24 shots in 2013, but scored six goals along with eight assists. She finished third on the team in points, but led in shot percentage and shots on goal percentage.
The Redbirds have been bit by the injury bug to begin the season, but hope that a multitude of injured players can be back in time for the regular season opener. Most notably, ISU has been without last season's goals leader, Hannah Leinert, and last year's leader in minutes played, Gabbi McArtor.
Kickoff on Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Redbird HD.tv.
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