TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State women's soccer will host their season opener this Friday (Aug. 18) inside Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. The Sycamores will face off with the Flames of Illinois-Chicago.

ISU enters the match coming off an exhibition win over Eastern Kentucky. The Sycamores edged the Colonels 2-1 with goals coming from Tessa Leong and Katie Wells.

Indiana State came out firing notching a goal in the first minute of play when Katie Wells beat an EKU defender on the right flank then knocked a cross into the box for sophomore Tessa Leong to slide and finish it off.

In the 32^nd minute of play Wells came away with the Sycamore's second goal of the match. The junior found herself on a breakaway toward goal after senior Kasey Wallace sent a long pass forward surpassing the EKU backline. Wells beat the keeper and found the back of the net making the score 2-0.

Despite a late goal from the Colonels, Indiana State held a strong defensive presence throughout play. Hannah Sullivan came away with a notable performance in goal making a total of ten saves, some of which kept the Sycamores in the game.

Lindsey Anstine and Wallace also provided solid performances contributing toward the team win in Richmond, Ky.

Indiana State will now open regular season play tomorrow inside Memorial Stadium.

The Sycamores will face off with the UIC Flames making the drive from Chicago, Ill.

UIC finished 2016 with a 6-10-2 record under the direction of head coach, Brian Rigby. The Flames are only entering their fourth season of intercollegiate competition, but have already established themselves as an organized and strong program.

The Flames are returning their top player Rebeca Pallo, who led the team with 13 points and six goals last season.

"The players are excited to start the season at home under the new lights at Memorial Stadium. The energy and effort this preseason has been fantastic and will need to continue heading into regular season play. Our focus is to get better every day in training and be prepared for a very well coached and talented UIC team on Friday night," said head coach Julie Hanley.

ISU will then turn around and host the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Sunday Aug. 20 at 1 p.m.

The Panthers are coming off a 5-13 season in 2016. Last year the Sycamores defeated EIU 2-0 with late goals coming from Pam Silies and Wells.

The match on Aug. 18 will kick off at 7 p.m. (ET) under the brand new lights in Memorial Stadium with Sunday's (Aug. 20) match taking place at 1 p.m. Admission to Sycamore soccer is free and the season opener will be televised world-wide on The Valley on ESPN3.

For the latest information on the Sycamore Soccer team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.