
Soccer set to Face Redbirds on Saturday
09/24/2021 | 1:00:00 | Women's Soccer
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Salukis (0-8-1) are back to Missouri Valley Conference action taking on the Illinois State Redbirds (2-8) in Bloomington-Normal, Saturday, September 25 at 6pm. The match will be broadcasted on ESPN3, while in-game live stats are provided here.
A Look at Last Game:Â In a showcase of growth Sunday afternoon, SIU fell to the Racers of Murray State, 1-3. Senior foward/midfielder Hailey Blanchard scored the lone goal for the Salukis in the 24th minute, off of a upper crossbar shot back off the foot of sophomore Sam Dodd. Freshman defender Kylie McDermott topped the Dawgs with five shots, two on-goal, while junior keeper Maddy Alaluf got the start in goal and recorded eight saves.
So far in 2021: Southern Illinois opened up scoring in the 2-3 loss to Kansas City in their home opener, bringing in four shots-on-goal to SIU and fell starting last weekend to highly notarized Vanderbilt, 0-5 and losing 0-4 to Lipscomb on Sunday in another heavy-midfield match with keeper Ary Lougher earning her first collegiate start. On Thursday, SIU was upended by SIUE, 0-5. The last non-conference match at home, the Dawgs left answered, in a 0-2 loss to Bellarmine in midfield action. Starting conference, the Dawgs held Missouri State scoreless in the second half, but dropped 0-3 on Friday night in Carbondale. Hailey Blanchard scored the third goal of the Salukis' season, while SIU fell 1-3 to Murray State in their final non-conference game of 2021 on Sunday.
Scouting Illinois State:Â 4-7-1 (4-4 MVC) was the final 2020-21 season record for Illinois State, as the Redbirds topped fellow MVC opponents Evansville, Missouri State, and Northern Iowa. ISU drew 1-1 to Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Valley Tournament, overcoming and advancing on 3-0 penalty kicks, but fell in the semifinals 0-2, to eventual MVC champion Loyola.Â
In Spring 2021, the Redbirds topped Salukis, 3-0 in a midfield-heavy match up in Carbondale. The 2-8 Redbirds (0-1 MVC) have seen the back of the net 13 times, with four-goal wins over Eastern Michigan (4-0) and Northern Illinois (4-2). Illinois State sees the return of fifth-year senior Ashley Santos and Michaela Kirschten -- both named to the Preseason All-MVC team.
From the Preseason: The Salukis compiled a 0-1-2 record in 2021 exhibition matches, allowing only three goals. Sophomore Ashlyn Henrie has shined in her second season with SIU so far, recording one goal and one assist in the three games. The Dawgs opened exhibition play on Wednesday, drawing 1-1 to Southeast Missouri, while falling to UIC 0-1 on Friday, and turning up another 1-1 draw to Belmont in exhibition. Four freshmen and seven of ten Saluki newcomers saw action in the preseason.
Up in the Ranks: Junior keeper Maddy Alaluf holds steady at eighth in the Missouri Valley in saves per game (3.13), while freshman midfielder Ashley Scesniak tops the Salukis with 11 shots and fives shots-on-goal, teammates junior forward Kaitlin DuCharme, junior fowards Liz Brechtel, and Dodd follow closely behind with 10 shots. Scesniak, Blanchard, and junior forward Emma Spotak all have the goals in the book.
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A Look at Last Game:Â In a showcase of growth Sunday afternoon, SIU fell to the Racers of Murray State, 1-3. Senior foward/midfielder Hailey Blanchard scored the lone goal for the Salukis in the 24th minute, off of a upper crossbar shot back off the foot of sophomore Sam Dodd. Freshman defender Kylie McDermott topped the Dawgs with five shots, two on-goal, while junior keeper Maddy Alaluf got the start in goal and recorded eight saves.
So far in 2021: Southern Illinois opened up scoring in the 2-3 loss to Kansas City in their home opener, bringing in four shots-on-goal to SIU and fell starting last weekend to highly notarized Vanderbilt, 0-5 and losing 0-4 to Lipscomb on Sunday in another heavy-midfield match with keeper Ary Lougher earning her first collegiate start. On Thursday, SIU was upended by SIUE, 0-5. The last non-conference match at home, the Dawgs left answered, in a 0-2 loss to Bellarmine in midfield action. Starting conference, the Dawgs held Missouri State scoreless in the second half, but dropped 0-3 on Friday night in Carbondale. Hailey Blanchard scored the third goal of the Salukis' season, while SIU fell 1-3 to Murray State in their final non-conference game of 2021 on Sunday.
Scouting Illinois State:Â 4-7-1 (4-4 MVC) was the final 2020-21 season record for Illinois State, as the Redbirds topped fellow MVC opponents Evansville, Missouri State, and Northern Iowa. ISU drew 1-1 to Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals of the Valley Tournament, overcoming and advancing on 3-0 penalty kicks, but fell in the semifinals 0-2, to eventual MVC champion Loyola.Â
In Spring 2021, the Redbirds topped Salukis, 3-0 in a midfield-heavy match up in Carbondale. The 2-8 Redbirds (0-1 MVC) have seen the back of the net 13 times, with four-goal wins over Eastern Michigan (4-0) and Northern Illinois (4-2). Illinois State sees the return of fifth-year senior Ashley Santos and Michaela Kirschten -- both named to the Preseason All-MVC team.
From the Preseason: The Salukis compiled a 0-1-2 record in 2021 exhibition matches, allowing only three goals. Sophomore Ashlyn Henrie has shined in her second season with SIU so far, recording one goal and one assist in the three games. The Dawgs opened exhibition play on Wednesday, drawing 1-1 to Southeast Missouri, while falling to UIC 0-1 on Friday, and turning up another 1-1 draw to Belmont in exhibition. Four freshmen and seven of ten Saluki newcomers saw action in the preseason.
Up in the Ranks: Junior keeper Maddy Alaluf holds steady at eighth in the Missouri Valley in saves per game (3.13), while freshman midfielder Ashley Scesniak tops the Salukis with 11 shots and fives shots-on-goal, teammates junior forward Kaitlin DuCharme, junior fowards Liz Brechtel, and Dodd follow closely behind with 10 shots. Scesniak, Blanchard, and junior forward Emma Spotak all have the goals in the book.
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Players Mentioned
10.25.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame UNI - Jeremiah McClendon
Sunday, October 26
10.25.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame UNI - Eddie Robinson
Sunday, October 26
10.25.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame UNI - Nick Hill
Sunday, October 26
10.25.25 | Postgame Presser vs. Northern Iowa
Saturday, October 25













