TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State heads to Evansville with postseason implications on the line as the Sycamores prepare to take on the Purple Aces on Thursday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium. Kickoff between ISU and Evansville is set for 7 p.m. ET with the match set to be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
The Sycamores (2-6-8, 1-4-3) snapped a seven-match winless streak this past Sunday afternoon as Indiana State topped Illinois State on Senior Day at Memorial Stadium, 2-0. Indiana State posted a trio of ties over the stretch in conference play to keep their postseason hopes alive with two matches to play in the regular season.
 
Indiana State sits two points back from Evansville (1-5-8, 1-2-5) for the final spot in the MVC postseason, while ISU sits four points behind Valparaiso. Based on the Valley's projections, Indiana State could finish as high as fifth in the conference standings heading into the week.
 
The Sycamores put one in the win column on Sunday afternoon as Indiana State dictated the tempo early against the Redbirds. Caitlin Mullen and Maddie Helling both scored in the match, 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.
 
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 goal. Mullen launched from 22 yards out over the hands of Illinois State 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.
 
Maddie 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.
 
The Sycamores' offensive prowess against the Redbirds snapped a seven-match scoreless streak as Mullen scored her first goal of the season, while Helling posted her team-high third on the year. Mackenzie Kent, Lina Fasquelle, Chloe Tesny, and Adelaide Wolfe have also scored on the year, while Hunter is the team-leader with three assists.
 
Kent is the team leader with 27 shots overall on the season with 13 shots on goal. Alexa Mackey had 15 shots with 10 on target, while Helling is the third Sycamore to post double-digit shots with 10 on the season.
 
Alexander remains the team leader in the net and is back among the Valley leaders in multiple goalkeeper statistical categories. The senior is third overall in shutouts (6), second in saves (68), fifth in goals-against-average (0.98), and sixth in save percentage (.819).
 
The Sycamores are 10-14-3 overall against Evansville dating back to the initial contest in 2000. Indiana State holds the all-time 8-3-3 edge on games played in Terre Haute, while Evansville retains the 10-2 advantage on home competitions in Evansville. Thursday marks ISU's first trip to Evansville since the spring of 2021 with ISU posting a 3-0-1 mark in the last four contests.
 
Evansville enters the match posting a 1-2-6 record over their last nine matches. The Purple Aces recorded six consecutive ties from Sept. 7-Oct. 1 before snapping the streak with a 1-0 win against UIC.
 
Seven different UE players have scored in the 2023 season, while Kaylee Woosley is the team leader with two assists. Nicole Benati is the team leader with 17 shots pacing five Evansville players to post double-digit shots on the season.
 
Myia Danek has been Evansville's primary goalkeeper on the year starting all 14 matches and playing 1215 minutes. She's allowed a 1.04 goals-against-average with 67 saves over 191 shots faced.
 
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