TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State closes out the 2023 regular season on Sunday afternoon with playoff implications on the line as the Sycamores host Murray State at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Racers is set for 1 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN+.
 
The Sycamores (2-6-9, 1-4-4) enter the weekend trailing Evansville for the final spot in the 2023 MVC Soccer Championships. Indiana State needs a win on Sunday and an Evansville loss to Missouri State to outright secure a spot into the postseason. An ISU win and an Evansville tie would swing the Purple Aces to the postseason courtesy of the MVC tiebreak scenarios.
 
Indiana State is in position to fight for the postseason courtesy of their 2-0 win last weekend against Illinois State, as well as Thursday night's 2-2 tie against Murray State. The Sycamores' four goals over the last two matches mark season highs for Indiana State in 2023.
 
Thursday night's match at Evansville was highlighted by Isabella Hunter's first collegiate goal, while Adelaide Wolfe scored her second goal of 2023 in the draw against the Aces. The 2-2 tie marked Indiana State's NCAA-leading ninth draw of the year and fourth in MVC play.
 
The Sycamores struck first as Hunter collected a loose ball inside the box. The senior midfielder fired past the keeper from seven yards out for her first collegiate goal over her ISU career to put the Sycamores ahead early. Indiana State's lead would remain through the first half as Maddie Alexander recorded three saves over seven early Evansville shots to keep it a 1-0 margin after the first 45 minutes of play.
 
Indiana State tied the match back up in the 83rd minute as Wolfe scored her second goal of the season off a set piece on a corner kick. Audrey Stephens launched the ball into the box toward an open gap just past the net. Wolfe caught the ball on the fly and redirected the shot with the header into the upper right corner to knot the match back up at 2-2.
 
The Sycamores return to Memorial Stadium after recording their first MVC win this past Sunday against the Redbirds. Indiana State snapped a seven-match scoreless streak in the 2-0 win over the Redbirds with Caitlin Mullen and Maddie Helling both scoring in the shutout over Illinois State.
 
Helling leads the Sycamores with three goals on the year, while Wolfe became the second Sycamore to post multiple goals on the season with her second on Thursday night. Hunter scored her first goal of the year and has posted three assists over the last three matches to pace the team.
 
Mackenzie Kent, Lina Fasquelle, Mullen, and Tesny have also found the back of the net in 2023, while Kent, Carlie Jensen, Alexa Mackey, Audrey Stephens, and Brooklyn Woods have also posted assists on the year.
 
Maddie Alexander has started all 17 matches in the 2023 season and recently moved into fourth all-time in the ISU record books with 242 career saves over her four seasons in the net. The Battle Creek, Mich. native has allowed a 1.04 goals-against-average, while adding 76 saves against 218 shots faced.
 
Murray State (5-8-4, 3-2-4) saw its three-match winning streak come to an end on Thursday night as the Racers secured a spot in the MVC postseason tournament. The Racers topped Northern Iowa, Illinois State, and Southern Illinois prior to falling to Drake this past Thursday, 2-1.
 
Mary Hardy leads the Racers with six goals and three assists on the season as the sophomore midfielder has posted team-highs with 42 shots and 24 shots on goal. Hailey Cole has four goals on the year, while Sydney Etter has two goals and a pair of assists to pace the Racers offense.
 
Griselda Revolorio and Jenna Villacres have split time in the net this season. Revolorio has recorded a team-high 10 match starts and a 0.76 goals-against-average, while Villacres has made seven starts with a 2.17 goals-against-average.
 
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