NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Soccer (4-7-3, 2-2-2 MVC) takes its three-game unbeaten streak on the road for a pair of contests this week in the home stretch of the regular season. The Birds travel to Evansville (1-6-6, 0-3-4 MVC) Thursday for a 6 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+ and UIC (5-8-2, 4-1-2 MVC) Sunday for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
SERIES HISTORY
The Redbirds lead the all-time series 20-9-5 over Evansville. Last season the two sides played to a 1-1 draw at Adelaide Street Field, the second 1-1 tie in the last two meetings of the series (2021).
The meeting is one between two of the Valley's most successful programs historically as they are tied at the top of the MVC records with 7 NCAA Tournament appearances. They rank No.1 and No.2 in MVC regular season titles (11 ILS, 7 UE) and Player of the Year honors (10 ILS, 5 UE).
The all-time series between in-state foes is tied 2-2, with UIC winning both contests since the Flames joined the MVC in 2022. Illinois State won the first two meetings in the series, 4-1 in 2017 and 5-2 in 2018.
VALLEY FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Eiley Henderson earned MVC Freshman of the Week, as announced by the league office Tuesday.
Henderson tallied a goal and an assist against Indiana State. She scored in the 10th minute to give Illinois State a 1-0 lead, her second goal since the start of MVC play. Later in the first half she assisted on the game-winning goal as Eve Gricius netted the score for Illinois State. It marked Henderson's first-career assist.
Henderson is the only true freshman in the Valley to register a one-goal, one-assist performance in an MVC game this year. She also leads all true freshmen in the MVC with five points (2 goals, 1 assist) in Valley play this season.
FIRST CAREER GOALS
With her 80th-minute tally Sunday against Indiana State Abby Hall became the sixth Redbird this season to score their first-career goal.
A Redbird has scored their first career goal in three consecutive games, after Eiley Henderson and Eve Gricius scored against Valparaiso and Aniya Seymore scored at Murray State. They joined Sammi Cenek and Chloe Cline, who scored their first career goals in the season opener Aug. 15 vs Green Bay.
OFFENSIVE SPARK
Erika Wells has been a key spark for Illinois State over its unbeaten streak, assisting on four of Illinois State's last six goals. She ranks second in the MVC with four assists in Valley play. Wells is tied for the most assists by a Redbird in MVC play since 2014, joining Kelli Zickert (2017).
It's already the most assists for a Redbird since 2022, when current Redbird Hillary Griffin tallied six assists during her freshman campaign.
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