NORMAL, Ill. — No. 3-seeded Illinois State soccer (9-3-6, 4-2-5) is set to host No. 6-seeded Evansville (5-7-2, 3-5-1) in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinals on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at Adelaide Street Field. The match will be streamed on ESPN+. Admission at the gate is $15 for adults and $10 for youth. University students get in free with their student ID.
QUICK KICKS
• The Redbirds are coming off a 0-0 draw against the Valparaiso Beacons to end the regular season and earn the No. 3 seed in the MVC Tournament. It marked the Redbirds' first scoreless draw of the season.
• Illinois State posted an undefeated regular season at home (4-0-4) for the first time since going 7-0 in 2009.
• With the draw against Valpo, Illinois State also extended its home unbeaten streak to 16 games, which ranks third in program history and is tied for the fourth-longest active home unbeaten streak in Division I as of Nov. 6.
• Head coach Raleigh DeRose has made the MVC Tournament in all three of her seasons at the helm of the Redbirds (No. 7 seed in 2024, No. 4 in 2025).
• Illinois State earned a 2-2 draw against Evansville on Oct. 25, in which the Redbirds scored twice in the final six minutes. It was 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.
• Dadekian's three penalty kicks this season lead the MVC and are tied with Annie Wayland (2001) for the highest single-season individual total in program history.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
• Sunday's match will be the Redbirds' 38th all-time meeting with the Purple Aces.
• Illinois State holds a 21-9-7 advantage in the series.
• The Redbirds hold a 4-1-1 record against Evansville in the MVC Tournament, including a 2-0 record at home.
• The last meeting between the two squads ended in an exciting 2-2 draw on Oct. 25.
• Illinois State holds an 11-2-5 home record against Evansville, with the last match in Normal ending in a scoreless draw on Oct. 5., 2025.
• This is the first postseason berth for the Purple Aces since 2023.
• Evansville goalkeeper Brianna Chirpich ranks 39th in the nation and second in the MVC with 5.38 saves per match.
• Evansville ranks in the top five in the MVC in assists per game (1.14), points per game (3.86) and scoring offense (1.36).
TOURNEY TIDBITS
• Illinois State earned the No. 3 seed in the MVC Tournament and will host the quarterfinal round for the second straight season.
• Illinois State has won the MVC Tournament title seven times, the last coming in 2016.
• Illinois State holds a 23-16-8 overall record in the MVC Tournament, including a 9-2-3 mark at home.
• The Redbirds are 4-1-1 against Evansville in the MVC Tournament, including a 2-0 mark at Adelaide Street Field.
• The Redbirds are 1-0-1 all-time as the No. 3 seed in the tournament and 21-8-7 as the higher seed.
• The last time the Redbirds were the No. 3 seed was 2010.
• The No. 3 seed has won the MVC Tournament title twice and is 24-20-10 all-time.
• Illinois State and Evansville's last matchup in the conference tournament ended in 2-1 Redbird victory in the title match in 2016.
• The Redbirds scored six goals against Evansville in the MVC Tournament on Nov. 4, 2011, which is tied for the most goals in a tournament game in program history.
HOME SWEET HOME
Illinois State completed an unblemished home regular season for the first time since going 7-0 in 2009. The Redbirds' hold a home unbeaten streak of 16 games with a 7-0-9 record dating back to last season. It is the third-longest home unbeaten streak in program history.
The 16-game home unbeaten streak is tied for the fourth-longest active home unbeaten streak in Division I and the longest in the MVC as of Nov. 6.
SHUTOUTS LEADERBOARD
Goalkeeper Madi Valenti is in sole possession of second place in program history in career shutouts, earning her 25th against Valparaiso on Nov. 5. She is just the fourth Redbird in program history to amass 20 career shutouts.
26 - Haley Smith .....................................2016-19
25 - Madi Valent..............................2024-Present
23 - Becky Feldmann...............................1997-00
22 - Aryn Newsom...................................2010-14
17 - Allison Farrington..............................2001-03
CAREER SAVES LEADERBOARD
Goalkeeper Madi Valenti is working her way up the program record book in career saves, recently moving into fourth place in program history.
341 - Becky Feldmann........................1997-00
337 - Haley Smith...............................2016-19
301 - Aryn Newsom.............................2010-14
234 - Madi Valenti.......................2024-Present
199 - Andrea Shaw............................. 2003-06
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