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NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer team hosted an RB4L event Saturday evening to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the program.
The program boasts 10 MVC regular-season titles, eight MVC Players of the Year, six MVC Tournament Titles, six NCAA Tournament Appearances and one NSCAA All-American.
The celebration was followed by an alumni game at Adelaide Street Field under the lights. Playing under the lights was a new experience for most alumni in attendance, as the lights were installed during the 2014 season and were not officially turned on for a match until the final contest of the regular season that year, Oct. 30.
Alumni attendees included four-time Player of the Year Rachel Tejada, some of the more recent graduates, Abby Van Deventer and Alyse Williams, and members of the first-ever Redbird women's soccer team, including KellyAnne Bernard, Kristen (Horvat) Mathews and Beth (Seidelmann) Bataoel. Annie Wayland, who is in the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame, was also in attendance.
All Attendees included: Beth Bataoel, KellyAnne Bernard, Meghan Hanika, Chrystal Johnston, Kristen Mathews, Heidi Nuzbach Kight, Cheryl Sarnwick, Rachel Tejada, Annie Wayland, Alyse Williams and Abby Van Deventer.
Tejada, Van Deventer and Williams were a part of the 2013 team that was the first Missouri Valley Conference team to win an NCAA Tournament match.
Former coach Pete Kowall, who some consider the "father" of the program, also made an appearance Saturday night and stuck around for Sunday's match.
The attendees also watched the match on Sunday, where the Redbirds faced off against the Panthers of Eastern Illinois. The Julie Heidecke Award was also presented at Sunday's contest and the group was honored on the field at halftime.
On April 29, 1998, Illinois State soccer player Julie Heidecke was involved in an automobile accident that tragically ended her life. In her one season with the Redbirds, Heidecke's personality and demeanor inspired teammates and coaches. As a result, former head coach Pete Kowall, the Julie Heidecke Foundation and ISU Athletics established an award in her memory to recognize a Redbird soccer player following Heidecke's path in commitment, spirit, determination, leadership, sportsmanship, academics, morality and concern for others.
The Redbird 4 Life (RB4L) Club is an organization made up of former student-athletes, coaches, administrators and associates of Redbird Athletics. For more information on RB4L, visit: www.WeisbeckerScholarshipFund.com
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