TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State and league-leading Illinois State battled it out in a defensive struggle during much of the first half, but a late Redbird goal before halftime and two back-to-back midway through the second half proved to be too much for the Sycamores in a 3-0 Redbird victory on a chilly night at Memorial Stadium.
 
Indiana State fell to 3-8-2, 1-2-1 MVC while Illinois State improved to 11-4, 4-0 MVC.
 
The Sycamores got a good look at the goal in the sixth minute when Celeste Wahlberg fired a pass to Sidney Ewing who shot went towards the top right corner of the framework but ended up as the first save of the night for Illinois State's Haley Smith. Ewing had a another breakaway in the 31^st minute and went one-on-one with the Redbird goalkeeper. This time she fired a shot at the middle of the goal but it was blocked by Smith and no one was home for the rebound due to the big breakaway to keep the game tied at 0.
 
Wahlberg got in on the action in the 37^th minute when she made an athletic shot at the top right corner of the framework which was barely deflected at the final moment as the match remained scoreless. Sarah Lafayette broke through for the Redbirds in the 39^th minute with a strike from 25 yards to put Illinois State ahead 1-0 in the late stages of the opening stanza.
 
In the second half, Danielle Varner took a shot in the 59^th minute but it proved to be Smith's fourth save of the match to keep the Redbirds ahead 1-0. Wahlberg had another good look at goal in the 66^th minute as she stole possession near midfield and dribbled down near the 18 yard mark. Her strong right footed strike was partially blocked and allowed Smith to make the save.
 
Illinois State extended their lead out to 2-0 in the 70^th minute on a goal by Hannah Mueller as she found the top back of the net in the middle. The Redbirds tallied their third goal of the match in the 71^st minute when Natalie Vaughn-Low put a long distance strike into the back of the net to stretch their lead out to 3-0.
 
The Redbirds owned a 21-7 edge in shots as well as an 11-5 advantage in shots on goal in their victory. Wahlberg and Ewing each had a pair of shots in the contest while Varner and Katie Sidloski each added a shot. Illinois State had a 6-2 cushion in corner kicks during the match.
 
Senior Hannah Sullivan finished the match with eight saves after facing 11 shots on goal.
 
The Sycamores return to Iowa for the second consecutive weekend when they travel to Drake on Sunday, October 20 at 2 pm (ET). The game will air live on ESPN3.