OPENING WHISTLE
Indiana State returns to the road for the Missouri Valley Conference opener on Saturday, September 22 when they travel to Evansville. Kick-off is set for 2:00 pm (ET) will be televised worldwide on ESPN3 -- a production of The Valley on ESPN.
Head coach Julie Hanley, in her third season at the helm, led ISU to their first conference tournament appearance since 2013 after a fourth place finish in the 2016 campaign. She then led the Sycamores to a nail biting penalty kick win over the Drake Bulldogs in the MVC Tournament to secure a spot in the semifinals. Thus far in 2018, she has led the Sycamores to four road wins for the first time since 2013 and is currently on a school-record string of four consecutive road matches without a defeat.
Katie Wells is in the midst of her senior season for the Sycamores. She was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Team after taking home second team all-league honors one year ago and first team plaudits as a sophomore. This season she leads the team and the Missouri Valley Conference with 20 points, leads the league in goal scoring with seven goals and owns six assists. She also leads the team with 20 shots. She has scored at least one point in each of the last six matches.
Of Indiana State's six victories so far this season, four have come on the road. The Sycamores saw a string of five consecutive matches undefeated end on September 14 against Western Michigan. It marked the first time since 2013 that Indiana State has enjoyed a streak of success that long. Indiana State enjoyed undefeated streaks of six matches three times (in 2006, 2010 & 2013) which is a record for the program.
With their shutout 8-0 victory over Chicago State on Sunday, September 16, the Sycamores improved to 4-0-1 when not allowing a goal
Indiana State's 6-3-2 record is the best among the league membership in non-conference play.
The Valley on ESPN, part of the Missouri Valley Conference's media rights agreement with ESPN, will feature most home soccer matches from all eight MVC institutions on the ESPN+ and the ESPN3 streaming platforms. The HD-quality telecasts are available on the ESPN app. Seven Sycamore games will be featured on ESPN+ while four will be shown live world wide on ESPN3.
MATCH PREVIEW
Evansville leads the all-time series by a 13-7-1 margin.
The Purple Aces have won each of the last four meetings in the all-time series, including a 2-1 victory last year at Memorial Stadium.
Indiana State is looking for their first victory over Evansville since October 18, 2013 -- when they Sycamores won 1-0 at Memorial Stadium.
The Sycamores are 1-9 all-time in Evansville with that one win coming on Halloween Night in 2002 -- a 1-0 Sycamore victory.
Sidney Ewing Strikes It Rich! Named MVC Newcomer of The Week
A third consecutive weekend of success for the Sycamore women's soccer program brings a third MVC weekly honor. Freshman Sidney Ewing has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week following her performances at Memorial Stadium as the Sycamores split against Western Michigan and Chicago State. Indiana State has now captured a different MVC weekly awards in each of the last three weeks. Danielle Varner took home MVC Defensive Player of the Week honors 14 days ago, Katie Wells was named the MVC Offensive Player of The Week last week and now Ewing takes home the newcomer honor. Ewing earned five points for the Sycamores over the weekend. She got the scoring started against Chicago State when she made a steal in the Sycamore's offensive half of the field, dribbled ahead to 25 yards out and blasted a shot past the Cougar goalkeeper for her second goal of the season. She then made a nifty assist of an Alina Steffen goal in the 20th minute as she dribbled the ball forward and into the penalty box on the left side of the field and made a cross pass which found Steffen in perfect position for the goal. Ewing was the benefactor of a Katie Wells pass from the middle of the field as she took the ball on the left side of the box and pushed it across the field and into the right corner of the net. Ewing finished the weekend with five shots, two goals and an assist.
Road Tested, Road Approved
Of Indiana State's six victories so far this season, four have come on the road. The Sycamores have gone undefeated in each of their last four road matches – marking the first time that has happened in program history. The Sycamores' four road wins are the most for the program since 2012. The Indiana State school record of five road victories in one season was set back in 2006. ISU opens the MVC slate on Saturday, September 22 when they travel to Evansville.
Katie Wells -- Owning The Sycamore Record Book
Senior Katie Wells, an Indianapolis (Warren Central HS) native currently ranks second best in school history with 56 career points scored and second all-time with 0.88 points scored per match. Her 19 career goals are tied for third most in school history. She is only 14 points off Laura Podolski's school record for career points scored. With her next goal, she will tie Maddie Orf for second all-time in career goals scored and is only six behind the school record, currently held by Lauren Podolski. She also owns 18 career assists which is second-best on the ISU career chart and only two behind Podolski for a share of the school record. Wells is vying to become just the third Sycamore in program history to record at least 20 career goals scored. Addiitonally her 50 career shots on goal are tied for the fifth most ever at ISU.
Leading The Valley And Near The Top In Defense
The Indiana State offense heads into the Missouri Valley Conference play by leading the league with 23 goals scored, That is five more than the next closest team -- Illinois State who has 18. The Sycamores are the lone team to average at least two goals per game as their 2.091 average also leads the conference. Indiana State's defense has been stout as well as they allow just 1.000 goals per match which is second best to Northern Iowa.
For Valley Openers
Indiana State is 5-13 all-time in Missouri Valley Conference openers, notably winning their very first conference opener against UNI in the program's inaugural season back in 2000. ISU is 1-0 vs. Evansville in a MVC lidlifter, having won 1-0 in 2003. The Sycamores have dropped each of their last nine MVC openers, looking for their a win in their first Valley match since a 3-2 win against Northern Iowa to open the 2008 MVC campaign.
8-0 Win Over Chicago State Was Most Goals Ever Scored Versus A NCAA Division I School
Indiana State's 8-0 offensive outburst against Chicago State proved to be the most goals scored for the Sycamores since they tallied nine on October 12, 2008 against Oakland City. ISU's eight goals against the Cougars are the most ever for the program against a NCAA Division I team. ISU improved to 5-0 all-time against Chicago State, and have beaten them by a cumulative score of 34-2.
Sidney Ewing and Caitlyn Eddy Know To Strike Fast
Indiana State senior Caitlyn Eddy provided a quick strike for the Sycamore offense on August 24 as it came in quick fashion, scoring with just 2:24 elapsed off the clock. It was the fourth fastest goal scored in the 18-year history of the ISU women's soccer program and the fastest since Leah Galton found the back of the net against Hofstra in just 84 seconds on September 7, 2014. Sidney Ewing gave that mark a run for the money against Chicago State on September 16 when she stole the ball and scored from 25 yards out just 2:0 into the match. Ewing's goal proved to be the fifth-fastest goal scored in ISU history. This season, the Sycamores have scored two of the five fastest goals in the history of the program.
UP NEXT
The Sycamores open the home portion of the MVC schedule when they host Loyola on Saturday, September 29. Kick-off is set for 7 pm (ET) live on ESPN3, a production of The Valley on ESPN.
