NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State women's soccer team is set to play at Indiana State on Friday at 6:00 p.m. CT in a critical match that serves as the Redbirds' regular season finale. A win would extend Illinois State's streak of qualifying for the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to 26-straight seasons (every season in program history) while a draw or loss would force the Redbirds to wait until the conclusion of the regular season on October 28 before learning their MVC Tournament fate. The match is on ESPN+.
WHEN: Friday, October 22 at 6:00 p.m. CT
WHERE: Terre Haute, Ind., Memorial Stadium
OPPONENT: Indiana State (ILS leads all-time series, which began in 2000, 22-6)
VIDEO FEED: https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=6d88e415-7d31-4a64-8d58-12142c697c33
LIVE STATS: https://gosycamores.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State leads the all-time series, 22-6. After a run of 11-straight ILS wins from 2009-2016, ILS is 2-3 in its last five matches against Indiana State. The 'Birds are 7-3 on the road in the series.
Illinois State and Indiana State met on 3/13/2021, a 2-0 loss for ILS in Normal. The 'Birds outshot the Sycamores, 17-5. Indiana State scored in the 79th and 82nd minutes to secure the victory. The match was the first time Illinois State had been shutout by Indiana State since 2008 (had scored in 15-straight matches vs Indiana State). The 'Birds had not been shutout at home in the series previously.
PATH TO THE PLAYOFF
The Redbirds have a seemingly simple path to the MVC Tournament. Win and they're in with potential to finish seeded from 3rd to 6th. But with a tough test at Indiana State ahead, Illinois State is in serious jeopardy of missing the conference for the first time in program history (26th season). The team can finish anywhere from 4th to 8th with a draw and from 5th to 8th with a loss.
FIRST ONE DONE
Illinois State has a peculiar stretch ahead as it will be done with its eight-match slate before six of the other eight MVC teams have even played their seventh conference match. The 'Birds could potentially endure a week of waiting before knowing if they will qualify for the MVC Tournament. Illinois State has made the MVC Tournament in all 25 seasons in program history.
LAST TIME OUT (VS DRAKE)
Illinois State earned a much-needed point with its scoreless draw against Drake, the 12th scoreless draw in program history. Fifth-year senior Sarah LaFayette and sophomore Hannah Bradley-Leon had great chances to score in the 60th and 97th minutes, respectively, but LaFayette's shot rolled just wide of the far post while Bradley-Leon's header was stopped by Drake's diving keeper. ISU outshot Drake, 18-17, as redshirt junior Priya Gillan recorded six saves in her third shutout of the season.
For all latest on Illinois State soccer, stay tuned at GoRedbirds.com and follow the team at @Redbird_Soccer (Twitter, Facebook) and @RedbirdSoccer on Instagram.
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