OPENING WHISTLE
Indiana State is home in Missouri Valley Conference play on Saturday, September 29 when they host Loyola at Memorial Stadium. Kick-off is set for 7:00 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 as well as a four match undefeated streak in road games for the first time in the history of the program.

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 22 shots. 

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 September 16, the Sycamores improved to 4-0-1 when not allowing a goal.

Indiana State's 6-3-2 non-conference record is the best among the league membership outside of MVC 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 
Loyola leads the way  over the Sycamores by owning a 6-3-0 advantage in the all-time series.

In Terre Haute, the series is tied at 2. ISU has won two of the last three in the series.

Loyola's last win in Terre Haute came on September 26, 2014 when they took a 2-0 decision at Memorial Stadium. They won the last meeting between the two clubs with a 3-2 victory on September 8, 2017 in Chicago.

Sidney Ewing Strikes It Rich! Named MVC Newcomer of The Week
A third consecutive weekend of success for the Sycamore women's soccer program brought a third MVC weekly honor. Freshman Sidney Ewing was 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 three of the last four weeks. Danielle Varner took home MVC Defensive Player of the Week honors three weeks ago, Katie Wells was named the MVC Offensive Player of The Week two weeks ago and Ewing took home the newcomer honor last week. 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 went undefeated in four consecutive road contests earlier this season for the first time in the history of the program. 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. The Sycamores next road chance comes on Saturday, October 6 at Missouri State.

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. Additionally her 51 career shots on goal are tied for the fourth most ever at ISU.

Leading The Valley Offensively And Near The Top In Defense
The Indiana State offense leads the league with 23 goals scored, which is three more goals than the next closest team -- Illinois State has 20. The Sycamores are averaging 1.917 goals per match which also leads the conference. Indiana State's defense has been stout as well as they allow just 1.000 goals per match which is tops in the league. Indiana State's 58 corner kicks on the season are the best in the Missouri Valley Conference.

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 
Indiana State hits the road to Missouri State on Saturday, October 6. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. (ET) and can be seen live nationally on ESPN+.