NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State (1-2-1, 0-0-0 MVC) opens its post-Labor Day slate with a pair of in-state foes this week as Northwestern (3-2-0, 0-0-0 Big Ten) visits Adelaide Street Field on Thursday and the Redbirds travel to Western Illinois (0-3-0, 0-0-0 OVC) Sunday. Kick off is set for 7 p.m. Thursday on ESPN+ and 1 p.m. Sunday.
UPDATE: Sunday's game at Western Illinois will not be live streamed.
SERIES HISTORY
The Wildcats lead the all-time series by a 7-3-0 margin as the two sides meet for the first time since the 2021 campaign. Northwestern took the most recent meeting 2-1 in overtime at Adelaide Street Field. The Redbirds last took down Northwestern in 2011, when four-time MVC Player of the Year Rachel Tejada netted the game- winner in double overtime of her freshman year.
Illinois State holds an 8-2-2 advantage over Western Illinois all-time, including wins in the last two meetings. The Birds are unbeaten in six of the last seven meetings against the Leathernecks, with the lone loss coming in Macomb back in 2021.
IN STATE SHOWDOWN(S)
This week opens a three-game stretch for Illinois State against Land of Lincoln foes. Four of the Redbirds next five games are against in-state opponents.
In total Illinois State takes on six in-state opponents this season, which is tied for the most in a single season in program history. The 1997, 1998 and 2016 Redbird squads also played six in-state foes.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
At Illinois Aug. 25 the Redbirds started five true freshmen as Eiley Henderson, Chloe Cline, Isabelle Cameron, Kennedy Herman and Eve Gricius got the nod.
It marked just the second time since 2014 that Illinois State has started five true freshmen in a single game. In a 2017 scoreless draw at No.19 Marquette the Redbirds started Sarah LaFayette, Natalie Vaughn-Low, Ashley Santos, Jessica Denney and Alissa Ramsden, who were all true freshmen at the time.
In addition, this year is just the third season since the 2014 campaign that five total true freshmen have started for Illinois State in a single season, joining the 2022 and 2017 teams. Henderson and Cameron have started all four contests for Illinois State this year.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
