EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Sophomore Sosi Dadekian buried a penalty kick with 27 seconds remaining Sunday to cap Illinois State soccer's comeback from a two-goal deficit and to secure a 2-2 draw against Evansville at McCutchan Stadium. The Redbirds scored twice in the final six minutes of regulation to earn the draw, moving to 9-2-5 overall and 4-1-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play.

The draw marked Illinois State's first time overcoming a 2-0 deficit to earn a result since Sept. 22, 2019, when the Redbirds rallied for a 3-2 win over Stetson.

Illinois State recorded two shots in the first half, with Rylann Law putting an attempt toward the bottom-right corner that Evansville goalkeeper Brianna Chirpich saved and Maggie Dowling sending a shot wide. Goalkeeper Madi Valenti made a save on Evansville's lone shot on goal to keep the match scoreless after the first 45 minutes.

The Redbirds continued to push after halftime. Mikayla Carkhuff tested Chirpich with a shot toward the top-right corner, and Dowling followed with an attempt toward the bottom center that was stopped by the Evansville defense. Dowling and Law added further attempts as Illinois State looked to break through.

Evansville opened the scoring in the 65th minute when Josie Seehafer finished a pass from Brooklyn Robinson, sending the Purple Aces ahead 1-0 with a right-footed shot into the top-left corner.

Illinois State continued to create chances but faced a two-goal deficit when Robinson scored unassisted in the 85th minute, putting Evansville ahead 2-0.

The Redbirds responded just 39 seconds later, marking the fourth-fastest response goal in program history. Sammi Cenek fired a right-footed shot into the bottom-right corner to cut the deficit to 2-1 and give Illinois State momentum heading into the final minutes. After scoring her first goal of the season, the fifth-year Redbird immediately rallied her teammates, urging them to keep pushing as the clock wound down.

Illinois State kept the pressure on, with Law forcing another save from Chirpich on a shot toward the top center of the net. Dadekian also put an attempt on target, but Chirpich made the stop as the Redbirds continued their search for an equalizer.

The Redbirds' relentless pressure paid off with 27 seconds remaining when an Evansville handball in the box awarded Illinois State a penalty kick

Dadekian stepped to the spot and buried her attempt in the bottom-left corner, recording her third penalty-kick goal of the season and tying the match at 2-2. 

The goal moved Dadekian into a tie for third in program history with three career penalty-kick goals. Her three penalty kicks this season are tied for the most in a single season in Illinois State history and mark the program's highest single-season total since Annie Wayland recorded three in 2001.

The Redbirds finished with a 14-6 advantage in shots and a 7-3 edge in shots on goal, overcoming Evansville's two-goal lead with a determined late rally.

UP NEXT

Illinois State will return to action next Sunday against Drake in the Redbirds' final road game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. CT at Mediacom Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.