Southern Illinois University
Indiana State University
Five Things to Know: Salukis at Indiana State
03/04/2021 | 1:30:00 | Women's Soccer
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Southern Illinois women's soccer team heads on the road to Terre Haute, Indiana to face the Sycamores of Indiana State on Friday, March 5. Fans are not permitted inside Memorial Stadium for the match, but the contest will be available to view on ESPN+ and in-game live stats.
1. LOOKING AT LAST WEEK: In the Salukis' first MVC contest, the maroon and white drew 0-0 in double-overtime to Valparaiso on Sunday. Sophomore Maddy Alaluf earned the second start of her career and defended the Salukis' net in all 110 minutes. The midfield-heavy match concluded with a steady three saves from Alaluf, followed by shots to Valpo's net by the Salukis front movement of Hailey Blanchard, Sam DeJulio, and Maya Warrior -- tying with her career game-high, two shots. Shots-on-goal came from senior defender Kathryn Creedon and freshman midfielder Ashlyn Henrie, late in second overtime and recording the first SOG of her career. The match was the program's third draw.
2. SCOUTING INDIANA STATE: The Sycamores are coming off a 1-0 home victory over Drake on Sunday as the lone Valley school to score a goal on Sunday. Freshman goaltender, Maddie Alexander recorded six saves against the Bulldogs, while freshman Katie Yankey gave Indiana State the lone goal of the match. Sophomore Chloee Kooker was named the MVC Defensive Player of the week on Tuesday, playing center back in all 90 minutes of play for the Sycamores.
Indiana State finished their 2019-20 campaign 3-11-2, with the lone Valley win coming from Valparaiso, 3-2, and a draw to Evansville, 0-0. They finished the season with a 12.9 shots-per-game average and .483 shots-on-goal percentage, led by now-sophomore Cece Wahlberg with 12 points (4G, 4A) and started all 16 games for the Sycamores. Wahlberg was also ISU's lone selection in the All-MVC Preseason First Team.
3. TWO GAMES IN: In SIU's 2021 start, the Salukis dropped to non-conference Western Kentucky, 4-0 on Feb. 20. With all 21 field players seeing the field, sophomore Maddy Alaluf started her first game of her career in front of the net and brought in a save. California native, Nicole Raventos took the second half of play in goal for the Salukis, recording the most time cumulatively and achieving 5 saves in the afternoon. Defender Kathryn Creedon earned three shots on the Lady Hilltoppers, two of which on goal during the 90 minutes.
4. MOVING AROUND: Because of injury and a strong freshman class, multiple Salukis have added to their resume in position changes. Spotak will now be in back along with Creedon. Juniors Maya Warrior and Kailyn Stone have moved up front to score goals for the Salukis, while there's competition in goal for SIU.
5. SPRING SOCCER: Due to COVID-19, the traditional fall soccer season was postponed into a spring format. Southern Illinois will play its first season of conference soccer as new joining members of the Missouri Valley Conference. Along with the eight-game conference schedule, the Salukis played one non-conference contest against Western Kentucky. The MVC Women's Soccer Tournament begins April 11. The NCAA Division I Women's College Cup will begin May 13.
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