VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Illinois State women's soccer team begins Missouri Valley Conference play on Friday at Valparaiso in a 7:30 p.m. CT contest. The match will be streamed on ESPN3.
WHEN: Friday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. CT
WHERE: Valparaiso, Ind., Brown Field
OPPONENT: Valparaiso (ISU leads all-time series, which began in 1997, 7-2)
VIDEO FEED: https://www.espn.com/watch/player?id=55b28849-e962-424e-b3f6-a1880d0da7a7
LIVE STATS: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=357003
SERIES HISTORY
Illinois State leads the all-time series, 7-2. Illinois State has yet to lose in Valparaiso with a 4-0 record, outscoring VU by a 7-1 margin on the road. Illinois State and Valparaiso most recently met on 4/7/2021, a 1-0 loss for ISU in Normal. The 'Birds outshot the Beacons, 23-11, but a 64th-minute goal by VU was too much to overcome. Current fifth-year senior Sarah LaFayette had three shots on goal while current sophomore Dani Grgas made four saves in goal.
LAST TIME OUT (AT NORTHERN ILLINOIS)
The Redbirds, led by fifth-year senior Natalie Vaughn-Low's second brace of the season (goals in the 24th and 47th minutes), extended its unbeaten streak to 15 matches against the Huskies with the 4-2 win. NIU tied the match with goals 45 seconds apart in the 53rd and 54th minutes but Wyoming transfer Indianna Asimus scored in the 69th minute to put ISU up, 3-2. Junior Allison Baker put the match out of reach with an 83rd-minute goal. ISU outshot NIU, 21-14.
TWO WITH THREE-PLUS, FOUR WITH TWO-PLUS
Fifth-year senior Natalie Vaughn-Low is tied for third in the MVC with four goals while senior Riley O'Brien is tied for the fourth with three. Illinois State is the only team in the MVC with two players with three-plus goals. Fifth-year senior Sarah LaFayette and junior Allison Baker each have two goals, making Illinois State the only team in the MVC with four players with two-plus goals.
TOP OF THE MVC
Despite its 2-6 record and suffering a three-match scoreless streak earlier in the season, Illinois State actually leads the MVC in goals scored (13) and goals per game (1.6). Conversely, Redbirds are eighth in goals allowed (18).
VALLEY OPENERS
Illinois State is 16-8-1 in MVC openers (won three-straight) with an 8-6 mark on the road.
FOUR-PLUS GOALS
The Redbirds netted four goals at Northern Illinois on Sunday, marking the second time ISU has scored four goals after the team scored four to open the season at Eastern Michigan. It is the first time since 2014 that the 'Birds have multiple four-goal performances in the first eight matches.
After Valparaiso, ISU is scheduled to host Toledo in its final non-conference match of the season, Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CT as part of Redbird Soccer's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion athletics contest. Orange ribbons will be distributed as part of the team's initiative to create awareness for the Indigenous peoples of Canada and the United State who endured Residential Schools and Native American Boarding Schools. The student-athletes of the soccer program identified this cause to raise awareness for after 1,000 unmarked graves were found at these schools earlier this summer.
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.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
