NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State soccer is set to host Drake at Adelaide Street Field on Thursday afternoon. Kick off is set for 4 p.m., and the contest will be available to watch on ESPN+.
The Redbirds enter Thursday's meeting with the Bulldogs after extending their unbeaten streak to eight games with a 0-0 draw against UIC Sunday in Normal. Illinois State also remains unbeaten through six contests in Missouri Valley Conference play.
With Sunday's draw against the Flames, the Redbirds tallied their 10th shutout of the season, which is the most in MVC and ranks tied for fourth in the entire country. The shutout total also ties the third most shutouts in a season in program history.
Redshirt Sophomore Madi Valenti earned her ninth shutout of the season, which ranks tied for fifth in the nation and third for the most in a season in Redbird history. With the shutout, Valenti also recorded her 14th overall in her career and now ranks fifth in program history for the most shutouts in a career.
After her performance on Sunday, which included two important saves, Valenti earned Goalkeeper of the Week honors for the third time this season. With the recognition, Valenti becomes the first Redbird since Kate Del Fava to earn three or more weekly awards in a season. Illinois State has also had a player recognized for a weekly award for the eighth consecutive week, the longest streak in program history.
The Bulldogs visit Normal as the No. 1 seed in the MVC with a 7-4-4 overall record and a 4-1-1 record through six conference games. In its last contest, Drake prevailed with a 1-0 victory over UNI. The Bulldogs are led by Lindsey Horner, who enters her 18th season at the helm of Drake after serving as an assistant coach for five seasons.
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