NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's soccer team (9-7-2, 3-3 MVC) fell to Drake (12-3-2, 5-0-1 MVC) Sunday afternoon, 2-3, in overtime. With the win, the Bulldogs clinched the 2017 regular season title.
"This was a tough one. They're a tough team, no doubt about it," said head coach Brad Silvey. "I think our teams matched up really well against each other. Unfortunately, we were on the losing side of it today, but incredibly proud of our team's effort. It was a little slow going at first but I thought our team responded incredibly well in the second half. But we need to be a team that can protect a lead a little bit better. Overtime is always heartbreaking."
The match started slow for both teams, as the first shot did not come until the 11 th minute from senior Kelli Zickert. Drake warmed up in the 25th minute with a diving header goal to give them the 1-0 lead that they carried into halftime. The teams matched offensively, both recording four shots in the first half.
The second half was a battle for the win. In the 68th minute, senior Zickert launched a rocket into the upper 90 from 30 yards out to level the score 1-1. Sophomore Kate Del Fava quickly followed suit with a header goal in the 71st minute off a free kick from senior Emily Dickman to give the Redbirds the 2-1 lead. Drake didn't take long to find the equalizer as they tied the match, 2-2, in the 73rd minute with their second header goal of the match. Drake came out with the win after their game-winning goal in the 93rd minute of play to end the match in overtime.
"We still have a lot to play for in the Valley, so we'll pick ourselves back up and get after it," said Silvey. "We want to go down to Missouri State and we want to compete and we want to win. They are no joke; they just battled Drake to a scoreless tie. They're a dangerous team, they're very organized defensively and good on counters. We have a lot of work to do."
The Redbirds wrap up the 2017 season on the road Thursday when they travel to Missouri State for their final match of the 2017 regular season. ISU will face MSU Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Springfield, Missouri.
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