Illinois State Soccer Prepares For Final Road Game In Match With Drake

Image Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics 

NORMAL, Ill. — Illinois State soccer is preparing for one of its biggest matches of the season as the Redbirds travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to face Drake on Sunday. The matchup will be Illinois State’s final regular-season road game, with one game remaining in Normal following Sunday’s contest.

The Redbirds are coming off a dramatic 2-2 tie against Evansville, where Sammi Cenek and Sosi Dadekian each scored within the final six minutes.

Illinois State enters the match with a 9-2-5 overall record and a 4-1-2 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play, currently sitting third in the conference standings. Southern Illinois and Drake are the two teams ahead of the Redbirds, and Illinois State lost to Southern Illinois earlier this season.

Sunday will mark the 30th matchup between the Redbirds and Bulldogs. Illinois State holds a 14-12-3 advantage in the all-time series and has won the previous two meetings, most recently defeating Drake in the postseason semifinals.

While the Redbirds have found recent success against the Bulldogs, Drake holds a 7-5-1 home record against Illinois State. Drake also remains unbeaten in conference play and at home this season. Illinois State is the only other Missouri Valley Conference team that remains unbeaten at home.

Drake features one of the conference’s top offensive players in Angela Gutierrez, who leads the Missouri Valley Conference with 10 goals. She also leads the conference in points and ranks among the top three in shots.

Freshman forward Alexa Alyward was named Missouri Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week after scoring twice and adding an assist last Sunday. Alyward ranks second on the team and fourth in the conference with seven goals this season.

The Redbirds will look to combat Drake’s offensive firepower with goalkeeper Madi Valenti. Valenti leads the conference with seven shutouts and ranks among the top five in saves with 60. She has also been named Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week twice this season.

Both teams have clinched spots in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, along with top-ranked Southern Illinois. Although Illinois State and Drake are guaranteed postseason berths, they are still competing for tournament positioning. Of the six teams that qualify, the top two receive byes directly to the semifinals, and both spots remain up for grabs.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday in Des Moines. 

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