SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Fifth-year senior Natalie Vaughn-Low scored just 19 seconds into overtime to lift the Illinois State women's soccer team to a 1-0 overtime win over Missouri State, at Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
Vaughn-Low's goal is her fifth of the season and came after a Bear turnover in the midfield as the Redbirds have now won back-to-back contests for the first time this season. Missouri State drops to 4-4-3 and 1-1 in the MVC. Vaughn-Low also recorded an OT golden in the 2019 MVC Semifinals at MSU.
Illinois State (4-8 overall, 2-1 Missouri Valley Conference) had numerous chances in the second half as junior Katharine Ashley had a 47th-minute shot saved off the line by a Bear defender before junior Allison Baker's 52nd-minute breakaway shot from three yards out was stopped by the MSU keeper.
Fifth-year senior Ashley Santos broke the program record with her 85th match played, surpassing NWSL draftee Kate Del Fava.
The Redbirds outshot the Bears, 15-6, and have now won six-straight against MSU. The teams played for the 39th time, the most for any Redbird opponent.
Illinois State heads to UNI for a 1:00 p.m. CT contest on Sunday.
QUOTE FROM FIFTH-YEAR HEAD COACH BRAD SILVEY
"Great overall team performance today and even better to earn the win with an exciting finish. I felt our team controlled the majority of the contest, creating great attacking opportunities and consistently showing up on defense. Full credit to our team on staying focused, staying committed, and sticking together from start ot finish. Plan is to continue to build off this positive performance as we move forward through conference."
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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