CHICAGO – In a rematch of last season's MVC Title game, the Illinois State soccer squad extended their win streak to five and improve to 2-0 in MVC play following a 2-0 win over the UIC Flames on Sunday afternoon. During ISU's current win streak – which is the longest by the Redbirds since 2019 – the Birds have outscored their opponents 10-1, while improving to 7-1-3 this year and are 2-0 in the MVC for the first time since the COVID-altered 2020-21 season.
With her clean sheet – her fifth of the season – Illinois State goalkeeper Madi Valenti recorded her 22nd career shutout, which climbs her into a tie for the third-most in school history, alongside Aryn Newsom, and into a tie for the eighth-most in MVC women's soccer history.
After a defensive battle to start the match, the Flames had their strongest scoring opportunity with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first half when UIC was awarded a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) foul inside the box; however, Elyse Deschryver's attempt was thwarted by Valenti – the reigning MVC Goalkeeper of the Week – helping the senior keep the clean sheet in the opening half.
The Redbirds got their own VAR penalty kick awarded with just over five minutes remaining in the opening period, and Sosi Dadekian took advantage, beating the UIC goalkeeper to the bottom left portion of the goal, putting the Redbirds ahead 1-0, for the eventual game-winning score.
Both teams struggled to find footing out of the gate in the second half before Ava Watson added an insurance goal, scoring her fourth goal in her last five matches to put the Birds ahead 2-0. Despite constant pressure on the Redbird goal, Valenti answered every call and stopped six shots over the 90 minutes, moving past Andrea Shaw into fourth place in the school's career saves record book with 202 saves.
Riding back-to-back conference shutouts – the only team in the conference to now allow a goal in conference play this season – the Redbirds host the Northern Iowa Panthers on Sunday, October 4 at Adelaide Street Field with a 1 p.m. kickoff.
