Redbirds to Begin MVC Play at Murray State

After a historic finish to the nonconference schedule, Illinois State soccer will begin Missouri Valley Conference play against Murray State on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT at Cutchin Field. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+. 

SERIES BREAKDOWN

• Sunday's match will be the Redbirds' fifth all-time meeting with the Racers.

• Murray State holds a 2-0-2 advantage in the series.

• The most recent meeting between the two squads ended in a 1-1 draw on Sep. 18, 2025.

• Illinois State holds a 0-1-1 record at Cutchin Field.

• The Racers hold a 1-8-2 record this season with a win over Austin Peay and draws with UT Martin and Marshall.

• Six different Racers have found the back of the net this season.

• Murray State goalkeeper Griselda Revolorio leads the conference with 42 saves this season.

QUICK KICKS

• The Redbirds sit at 5-1-3 heading into MVC play, the first time in program history that ISU has had just one loss through the nonconference schedule.

• The Redbirds closed nonconference play on Sunday with a 3-1 victory over Western Illinois.

• The Redbirds beat Eastern Illinois 1-0, marking ISU's third shutout this season and the 20th of goalkeeper Madi Valenti's career.

• The Redbirds earned a 3-0 shutout victory over Purdue Fort Wayne last Sunday. With the win, ISU completed an unblemished home non-conference season for the first time since 2009.

• The Redbirds earned a 1-1 draw with Saint Louis, who received three vote in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll this past week.

• Kaya Durkee was named the MVC Defender of the Week after scoring her first career goal and aiding the Redbirds to a shutout over the Mastodons.

• The draw with the Northwestern Wildcats marks the Redbirds' first tie or win against a Power Four opponent since a 1-0 shutout over Pittsburgh on Sep. 3, 2017.

BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK

After scoring her first career goal against Purdue Fort Wayne, defender Ava Watson found the mesh twice more against Eastern and Western Illinois. She has now scored in three straight games, becoming the first Redbird to do so since Riley O'Brien in 2021.

FREAKY FAST

Maggie Dowling's goal against WIU came in 1:31, marking the sixth fastest goal scored in program history and the fastest since Abby Basler found the net in 1:23 against Missouri State on March 5, 2021. 

HISTORIC NONCON FINISH

With the victory over the Leathernecks, the Redbirds improved to 5-1-3 on the season, which is their best nonconference record since going 7-2-2 in 2012. This is also the first time in school history the Redbirds have completed their nonconference schedule with just one loss.

MADI'S 18TH WIN

Goalkeeper Madi Valenti made two saves against WIU en route to the 18th win of her career, moving her into sole possession of fifth place in program history in career wins.

FIRST CAREER GOAL X3

Three Redbirds scored their first career goals on Sunday against Purdue Fort Wayne. Maggie Dowling struck first in the 35th minute off assists from Rylann and Rowann Law. A few minutes later, Kaya Durkee notched her first career goal with a left-footed shot into the top center of the net. Ava Watson then capped off the first half with a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty arc.

• It marked Illinois State's first three-goal game since Oct. 13, 2024, against Indiana State.

• According to an SID survey, only four other schools have had three players score their first career goals all in the same game this season -- Oklahoma, Iowa State, North Texas and Stephen F Austin.

HOME SWEET HOME

With the win over Purdue Fort Wayne, Illinois State completed an unblemished home non-conference season for the first time since 2009. The win also extended the Redbirds' home unbeaten streak to 12 games with a 5-0-7 record dating back to last season. It is the fourth-longest home unbeaten streak in program history. The Redbirds return home Oct. 4 for a contest against UNI.

• The 12-game home unbeaten streak is tied for the 11th longest in Division I and the longest in the MVC.

TEJADA JERSEY RETIREMENT

Illinois State soccer legend Rachel Tejada will have her No. 14 jersey retired on Oct. 4 when the Redbirds host UNI, alongside ISU's annual Julie Heidecke/Alumni celebration.

• Tejada's No. 14 will be the second number in Illinois State soccer history to be retired, alongside the twelfth Redbird on the field, Heidecke's No. 13.

• The four-year letterwinner for the Redbirds is the only player in Missouri Valley Conference history to be named Conference Player of the Year four times.

• In her Redbird career, Tejada helped Illinois State earn three MVC regular-season championships and secure four straight MVC tournament titles.

• Tejada still holds the Redbird and MVC career records for goals (74), assists (42) and points (190).