TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State returns home this week as the Sycamores take the field against Missouri State on Thursday afternoon. Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is set for 4 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+.
 
The Sycamores (1-5-8, 0-3-3) are coming off back-to-back shutout draws following a home 0-0 tie against UIC, while going scoreless in a tie at Southern Illinois this past weekend. Indiana State's defense has recorded five shutouts on the year including back-to-back contests to start the season at Louisville and Miami (Ohio).
 
The Sycamore defense stood strong against the Southern Illinois offense on Sunday at the Lew Hertzog Track & Field Complex. The Salukis outshot the Sycamores 18-3 in the contest and had the 7-2 edge in corner kicks on the field in a back-and-forth game on the field.
 
Carlie Jensen (two) and Mackenzie Kent combined for ISU's three shot attempts in the contest as the Sycamores were held scoreless for the sixth consecutive match on Sunday. Maddie Alexander posted five saves in the contest in her fifth shutout of the season.
 
The Sycamores remain in the hunt for a postseason berth with four matches to play in the regular season. ISU currently sits 10th overall in the conference standings trailing Illinois State (1-2-3 MVC), Belmont (1-1-4 MVC), and Valparaiso (1-1-4 MVC) for the final spots in the MVC Tournament field.
 
ISU looks to make their mark this week against a Missouri State team that has posted an 8-1-5 overall mark with a 3-0-3 record in Valley play. The Bears were picked first overall in the MVC preseason poll as voted on by the league's coaches. MSU received 120 points and 10 first-place votes after a 12-7-2 mark last season with a 7-2-1 record in conference play.
 
The Bears have lived up to the billing to date in the 2023 season with Missouri State picking up key wins over Oklahoma State and Tulsa, while adding a draw against Oregon in MVC play. MSU has outscored opponents 9-1 over six conference matches to date.
 
The Sycamores have scores six goals over the 2023 season paced by Maddie Helling's two on the year, while Lina Fasquelle, Mackenzie Kent, Chloe Tesny, and Adelaide Wolfe have all found the back of the net. Kent continues to lead the Sycamores with 25 shots and 13 shots on goal in 2023, while Alexa Mackey has 12 shots with nine on target on the year.
 
Alexander continues to pace the Sycamores with 58 saves while starting all 14 matches on the year. The senior's 58 saves are the second-most in a single season over her career (81, 2021), while her 224 saves put her 11 behind Emily Lahay (235, 4th) for fifth all-time in Sycamore history.
 
Gracie English leads Missouri State with five goals in the 2023 season, while Kaeli Benedict, Hailey Chambliss, and Carly Raunig have all scored three goals on the year. Overall, 12 Bears have scored on the season to date.
 
Camielle Day is Missouri State's leader in the goal posting 40 saves and seven shutouts overall on the year over 13 starts. She's allowed just seven goals over 132 shots faced on the year.
 
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