Comeback Secures First Win in DeRose Era

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Soccer (1-0-0, 0-0-0 MVC) rallied from a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1 Thursday over Green Bay (0-1-0, 0-0-0 Horizon) and secure the first win for head coach Raleigh DeRose. The win was the first victory in the first match of the NCAA DI college soccer season, after the weather moved kickoff to Thursday afternoon.  

The Redbirds trailed 1-0 after Green Bay struck in the eighth minute with the first goal of the contest. Illinois State answered just before halftime as Sammi Cenek scored her first career goal and the first goal of the season for Illinois State. Ava Watson played the ball in from the near side and Cenek scored a header to even the match at 1-1 in the 44th minute.  

Another Redbird scored her first career goal just after the break, as freshman Chloe Cline put Illinois State ahead with the game-winning goal. The Redbirds earned a corner kick in the 51st minute, which Jade Rehberger stepped up to take. Cline was at the far post and netted the goal after Mallorie Bernhart couldn't corral it.  

From there the Redbirds closed out the match, improving to 1-0 and winning their season opener for the first time since 2014.  

DeRose becomes the second head coach in program history to win their first game at Illinois State. She joins Drew Roff, who coincidentally beat Green Bay as well, 2-0 in his first game at the helm of the program in 2007. 

UP NEXT 

The Redbirds hit the road for the first time this season to take on Purdue Fort Wayne Sunday at Noon CT on ESPN+. 

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