The Illinois State soccer team opens the 2019 campaign on the road Friday, taking on the Omaha Mavericks in their first match of the season. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Caniglia Field.
Live stats, video and radio are all available for free on OMavs.com. Fans can also follow along on Twitter (@Redbird_Soccer) for in-game updates.
Omaha – What You Need to Know
The Mavericks return 17 letterwinners and seven starters from last year's team that went 8-11-2, advancing to the Summit League Championships Final. The squad was picked to finish fourth in the Summit League's Preseason Poll with junior Andrea Daves selected to the league's Players to Watch List, scoring a goal and posting a team-high six assists last season. Junior Bailey Cascio led Omaha in scoring during the 2018 campaign, with 17 points and seven goals on the year.
Senior goalkeeper Erin Bunker recorded four shutouts and 57 saves last year, finishing the season with a 7-6-1 record. Omaha's head coach Tim Walters enters his third season at the helm of the program.
Illinois State vs. Omaha
Friday's meeting will be only the second all-time between the Redbirds and the Mavericks. Illinois State defeated Omaha 2-0 last season, behind goals from Kate Del Fava and Megan McEachern.
Last Time Out
Illinois State went undefeated in the pair of preseason exhibition matches they participated in, with a 3-0 victory over SIUE and a 0-0 draw with BIG EAST competitor Butler. Abby Basler, Katherine Felton, and Allison Baker all tallied goals for the 'Birds in the contest versus SIUE. Haley Smith, Jenny Scara, and Priya Gillan all contributed in goal for both shutouts.
For all latest on Illinois State soccer, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
