EVANSVILLE, Ind. – After a scoreless first half, Lauren Podolski broke the 0-0 tie with a strike in the 49th minute. Evansville would rebound and score three unanswered goals as the Purple Aces eliminated the Sycamores 3-1 in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Championship Tournament.
The loss means the end of the season for ISU, finishing with an 8-10-0 record and setting several team records during the year. In all, the Sycamores tied or broke nine individual and team records.
“We had a great first half,” head coach Vernon Croft said after the match. “We didn't lose from lack of effort, but we didn't capitalize on mistakes when Evansville ultimately did.”
Indiana State was strong in the scoreless first half, creating four corner kick opportunities to the Aces' one. The Sycamores were on the short side of a five to 11 differential in shots.
The scoreless drought would be broken in the 49th minute on Podolski's goal, assisted by Sarah Whiteley. The goal was Podolski's eighth of the year, tying the all-time mark set by Nichole Tiggs in 2004.
The lead would be short lived as Evansville's Mia Tofano scored the equalizer three minutes later on an assist from Kayla Lambert. The Aces found the game winner in the 62nd minute when Heidi Grey's shot from 25 yards got passed a slipping Rachel Rudzis in goal for the Sycamores.
The tandem of Tofano and Lambert worked together for the third goal of the game in the 76th minute as Tofano scored her 11th goal of the season.
Indiana State will now turn its focus to the 2007 season with its entire record-breaking line-up back. In all, the Sycamore attack set new season records in goals (28), assists (32) and points (88) setting a new standard for teams in the future.
