No. 3-seeded Illinois State soccer travels to Carbondale, Illinois, for a Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal matchup against No. 2-seeded Southern Illinois on Thursday at 3 p.m. CT at Lew Hartzog Track and Field Complex. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
QUICK KICKS
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Illinois State is coming off a 1-0 overtime victory against Evansville in the MVC Quarterfinals. It is the second straight year the Redbirds have won in overtime in the quarterfinal round.
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With the win against Evansville, Illinois State extended its home unbeaten streak to 17 games, which ranks third in program history and is tied with Duke for the third-longest active home unbeaten streak in Division I as of Nov. 8.
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After being named back-to-back MVC Goalkeeper of the Year, Madi Valenti posted her 26th career shutout, and her ninth this season, against the Purple Aces, tying the program record for career shutouts that was set by Haley Smith from 2016-19.
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The Redbirds converted their fourth penalty kick of the season to defeat the Purple Aces in overtime. Illinois State's four made penalty kicks are tied for the second-most in program history, matching the 2001 season total, and are the most since the Redbirds converted six in 2002.
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The Redbirds are unbeaten this season when they outshoot opponents and when they score at least one goal.
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Illinois State posted an undefeated regular season at home (4-0-4) for the first time since going 7-0 in 2009.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
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Thursday's match will be the Redbirds' ninth all-time meeting with the Salukis.
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ISU holds a 5-2-1 advantage in the series.
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The most recent meeting between the two squads ended in a 1-0 victory for the Salukis in Carbondale on Oct. 11.
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Illinois State holds a 1-2-1 away record against the Salukis.
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SIU earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the conference tournament after finishing he regular season 13-4 overall and 7-2 in MVC play.
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The Salukis lead the MVC and rank in the top-20 in the nation with a .588 shutout percentage and a .765 W-L-T percentage. Goalkeeper Reagan Miller has five shutouts this season.
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Maya Dixon was named the MVC Player of the Year and Forward of the year after leading the Saluki attack all season with eight goals and two assists.
TOURNEY TIDBITS
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Illinois State earned a spot in the MVC Tournament semifinals for the second straight season with a 1-0 overtime win against Evansville on Sunday.
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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). She holds a 4-1-1 record in the postseason.
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Illinois State has won the MVC Tournament title seven times, the last coming in 2016.
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Illinois State holds a 24-16-8 overall record in the MVC Tournament, including a 10-2-3 mark at home.
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Illinois State is 1-0 against Southern Illinois in the MVC Tournament. The teams met in the tournament quarterfinals last season, when the Redbirds earned a 2-1 overtime victory.
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The Redbirds are now 2-0-1 all-time as the No. 3 seed in the tournament and 22-8-7 as the higher seed.
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The last time the Redbirds were the No. 3 seed was 2010.
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The No. 3 seed has won the MVC Tournament title twice and is 25-20-10 all-time.
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 17 games with a 8-0-9 record dating back to last season, which is the third-longest home unbeaten streak in program history. The 17-game home unbeaten streak is tied with Duke for the third-longest active home unbeaten streak in Division I and the longest in the MVC as of Nov. 8.
CONVERTING WHEN IT COUNTS
After 90 minutes of scoreless action, the Redbirds found the game-winner just over two minutes into overtime against Evansville. Rylie Monahan drew a foul inside the penalty area, setting up Mikayla Carkhuff for a penalty kick. Carkhuff converted in the 93rd minute to extend Illinois State's postseason run. The goal marked Carkhuff's third of the season and the first successful penalty kick of her career.
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The conversion marked the second time this season Illinois State scored on a penalty kick against Evansville and the Redbirds' fourth successful penalty kick of the season.
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Illinois State's four made penalty kicks are tied for the second-most in a season in program history and are the most in a season since the Redbirds converted six in 2002.
ALL-MVC HONOREES
Illinois State goalkeeper Madi Valenti was named the Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive season, headlining a group of four Redbirds recognized with All-MVC honors.
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Valenti becomes the first goalkeeper in program history to earn the conference's top goalkeeper honor in consecutive seasons and the fifth goalkeeper since the award's inception in 2011 to receive the distinction multiple times.
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Defenders Ava Watson and Grace Petrie join Valenti on the All-MVC First Team. The three selections mark the 68th, 69th and 70th first-team honors in program history.
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Watson earned her third career conference honor after receiving All-MVC Second Team recognition in 2024 and All-Freshman Team honors in 2023.
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Petrie earned her first All-MVC First Team selection after being named to the conference's All-Freshman Team last season.
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Sophomore forward Rylann Law was named to the All-MVC Second Team, earning her second consecutive conference honor after being selected to the All-Freshman Team last season.
CAREER SHUTOUTS LEADERBOARD
Goalkeeper Madi Valenti earned her 26th career shutout, and ninth of the season, against Evansville on Sunday to move into a tie for first in program history in career shutouts. Her nine shutouts this season rank 15th in the nation.
26 - Haley Smith ...............................2016-19
26 - Madi Valent........................2024-Present
23 - Becky Feldmann.........................1997-00
22 - Aryn Newsom.............................2010-14
17 - Allison Farrington........................2001-03
