Birds Host NIU, Butler This Week

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Soccer (2-3-1, 0-0-0 MVC) closes out its 2024 non-conference slate with a pair of home games this week as Northern Illinois (4-1-1, 0-0-0 MAC) visits Thursday and Butler (4-2-1, 0-0-0 Big East) comes to Normal Sunday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 7 PM Thursday and 1 PM Sunday on ESPN+ 

PUPPIES AT THE PITCH  

Illinois State will host Puppies at the Pitch Sunday as the Redbirds take on Butler. Fans are invited to bring their dogs to Adelaide Street Field to enjoy the last non-conference game of the season for Illinois State. 

Fans who choose to bring their dog must fill out a registration waiver prior to entering the facility. Once event staff confirms registration at the gate dog owners are welcome to roam the facility with their dog. Fans who don't pre-register their puppy will be asked to sign the waiver at the gate. 

ALL TIME SERIES 

Illinois State leads the all-time series over Northern Illinois 13-3-2, which includes a 15-match unbeaten streak. NIU won the first three meetings over ISU in 1996, 1997 and 1998 but the Redbirds have dominated the series since. ISU is 8-1-0 all-time at home against NIU. 

The two sides are meeting for the first time since 2021, when a brace from Natalie Vaughn-Low secured a 4-2 win for Illinois State. 

The Redbirds hold a 4-3-0 all-time advantage over Butler, which includes a 2-1-0 mark at Adelaide Street Field. However, Butler won 3-0 over Illinois State last year in Indianapolis.  

Illinois State has won two of the last three meetings, after wins over Butler in 2008 and 2009. Most recently, the Redbirds topped Butler 3-2 in Indianapolis in 2009, after building a 2-0 halftime lead. 

SECOND CLEAN SHEET 

Redshirt-freshman Madi Valenti earned her second shutout of the season Sunday at Western Illinois, which also marked her first career win. 

It is the first time since 2021 that Illinois State has tallied multiple shutouts on the road, after a scoreless draw at Purdue Fort Wayne Aug. 18. In total the Redbirds have just three shutouts on the road since the start of the 2022 campaign, two of which have come this season. 

CREATING OPPORTUNITIES 

The Redbirds generated a season-high 17 shots in the win over Western Illinois. It marked just the fourth time since the start of the 2022 season that Illinois State has tallied 15-plus shots in a single game. 

The Redbirds put 11 shots on frame, the most for Illinois State since the 2021 season and the first time since 2021 that the Redbirds have generated double-digit shots on goal. 

Illinois State also had 10 corner kicks in the win, which marked the second time this season the Redbirds have generated 10-plus corner kicks in a single a game. (12 at Oakland, Aug. 29) It is the first time since 2016 that Illinois State has posted multiple games with 10-plus corner kicks in a single season. 

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