TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Caitlin Mullen and Maddie Helling both scored, while Isabella Hunter posted a pair of assists as Indiana State celebrated Senior Day at Memorial Stadium with a 2-0 win over Illinois State on Sunday afternoon.
 
Hunter sent the ball into Mackenzie Kent midway through the first half and the junior forward tapped it to Mullen on the top of the box to set up the first Indiana State (2-6-8, 1-4-3) goal. Mullen launched from 22 yards out over the hands of Illinois State (3-7-4, 1-4-3) keeper Audrey Brown to give the Sycamores the 1-0 lead in the 28th minute.
 
Indiana State continued to press in the second half as Hunter connected on a corner kick in the 53rd minute of the match. The cross sailed over the scrum in front of the net and landed at the feet of an unmarked Helling in front of the back post. The Sycamore defender one-timed the shot into the lower corner of the net to give the Sycamores the 2-0 lead.
 
The Sycamores continued to press throughout the final 30 minutes of the match and held possession throughout the second half in preventing the Redbirds from coming back. ISU held the 12-7 shots edge in the game and the 9-3 advantage in corner kicks overall.
 
Indiana State recognized 2023 seniors Maddie Alexander, Katie Yankey, Carly Hudnall, Carlie Jensen, Isabella Hunter, Audrey Stephens, Kloe Pettigrew, and Sasha Thompson in a pregame ceremony prior to kickoff.
 
The Sycamores dictated the tempo of the match early with Hunter firing her first shot of the match 37 seconds into play, while ISU was called offsides twice in the first five minutes. Hunter fired her second shot toward the net in the 16th minute and Helling added an attempt in the 27th before Mullen found the back of the net to give Indiana State the early 1-0 lead.
 
The second half mirrored the first as Indiana State's offense continued its aggressive attack on the net. Chloe Tesny posted her first shot on target in the match in the 48th minute as the Sycamores continued to pepper the net. Helling's goal in the 53rd minute gave the Sycamores a 2-0 advantage and ISU nearly made it a three-goal game in the 72nd minute, but the attack setup between Kent and Emma Elliott was not able to connect inside the box.
 
Alexander posted her sixth shutout of the season and third in the last four matches for Indiana State. The Sycamore goalkeeper recorded two saves over the seven Illinois State shots to keep the Redbirds off the board in the win.
 
Hunter recorded the first multi-assist game of her collegiate career on Sunday to go with a match-high three shots. Alexa Mackey and Helling also had two shots apiece.
 
Katherine Ashley had two shots for Illinois State with one on target to lead the Redbirds. Brown finished with two saves in goal in the loss.
 
The Sycamores snapped the longest scoreless streak in program history (seven matches) on Sunday afternoon as Indiana State enhanced its chances of qualifying for the 2023 MVC Tournament. Indiana State is tied for ninth in the MVC standings, trailing Evansville and Belmotn for the final spots in the Valley Championships with two matches to play.
 
Up Next
Indiana State makes the trip to Evansville, Ind. on Thursday night as the Sycamores take on the Evansville Purple Aces in Valley play. Kickoff at Arad McCutchan Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET
 
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