TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – For the first time since the 2018 campaign, Sycamore women's soccer has won back-to-back matches after securing a 1-0 victory over Southern Illinois on Friday afternoon.
 
The home win improved Indiana State to 2-1 (2-0 MVC) on the season while the Saluki soccer program fell to 0-2-1 (0-1-1 MVC). The win for the Trees also marked the first time since 2013 that they have earned back-to-back shutout victories, downing IUPUI 4-0 on Oct. 11, 2013 and Evansville 1-0 on Oct. 16, 2013.
 
The Blue & White found themselves in a battle to the end of the match, with the score tied at zero at just over five minutes remaining in regulation. Pushing an attack, freshman Sasha Thompson drove a ball to the far sideline, just right of the SIU goal where CeCe Wahlberg gained possession. Wahlberg managed to juke past two defenders and connect with the top-left corner of the net to give the Trees a 1-0 advantage.
 
Freshman goalkeeper, Maddie Alexander, managed to secure the victory for the Sycamores, recording one last save with 13 seconds on the clock after a prayer from Southern Illinois' Kaitlin DuCharme. Alexander had her second strong performance in-a-row, ending with six saves (five of which came in the second half) to earn the win.
 
Despite Friday's match being low-scoring affair, the ISU offense put pressure on Southern Illinois all afternoon. The Sycamores ended their day with 16 total shots, 10 of which were on goal, to keep SIU goalkeeper, Maddy Alaluf, busy for most of the afternoon. Wahlberg led the offensive effort with four shots and two shots on goal, while Danielle Varner tallied three shots and two on goal. Thompson, who recorded the assist on the match-winner, had two shots both on goal and Anna Holcombe came away with three shot attempts.
 
On the defensive side of the field the Trees were just as strong, holding the Salukis to just eight shot attempts, six of which were on target. The Sycamores also didn't allow a single corner kick for SIU during the match, ending with a 4-0 advantage.
 
Indiana State now looks to a Tuesday afternoon (Mar. 9) road contest with in-state rival Valparaiso at 3 p.m. ET. That match will be streamed live on the Valley on ESPN.