TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State closes out the road trip on Sunday afternoon as the Sycamores make the trip to Youngstown, Ohio, and Farmers National Bank Field as ISU takes on Youngstown State. Kickoff between ISU and YSU is set for 1 p.m. ET with the game set to be carried live on ESPN+.
 
The Sycamores (0-1-4) enter the match looking to rebound from their first loss of the 2023 season after falling 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Robert Morris. ISU dropped its first decision in the Paul Lawrence coaching era after a stretch of strong defensive performances that led the Sycamores to sit as one of just two teams in the NCAA that started with four consecutive draws to open the year.
 
Maddie Helling found the back of the net for the second consecutive match on Thursday afternoon as the junior defender collected Isabella Hunter's corner kick inside the box in the 62nd minute. She touched the ball off her right foot targeting the upper right part of the goal to tie the game up at 1-1. The Sycamore goal marked Helling's second goal in 2023 and ISU's third goal overall on the season.
 
However, RMU's Lidia Nduka swung the advantage back to the hosts 10 minutes later with the header off Paloma Swankler's cross inside the box for the eventual game-winning goal.
 
The Sycamore offense has started to show life posting back-to-back matches with double-digit shots as ISU posted 15 at Eastern Illinois and 11 more on Thursday against Robert Morris. It marked the first time since early October 2022 that ISU had recorded back-to-back games with double-digit shots as the ISU attack featured three players with at least three shots apiece in the match.
 
Helling's pair of early goals in the 2023 season gives her the early team scoring lead on the year through the first five matches. Chloe Tesny has also found the back of the net on the season with a goal at home against Marshall. Isabella Hunter, Carlie Jensen, and Alexa Mackey all have assists on the season.
 
Mackenzie Kent continues to provide a relentless attack atop the ISU offense with a team-high eight shots on the year with three on target. Helling and Sasha Thompson both have five attempts apiece, while Ella Gorrie, the 2022 ISU scoring leader, has four shots on the year.
 
Maddie Alexander continues to be the standard for the Sycamores in the goalkeeper position. The Battle Creek, Mich. native is one of two Sycamores to line up all 450 minutes on the year and is closing in on 200 career saves entering Sunday's contest with 191 stops over her time in the Blue & White. She currently boasts a 0.862 save percentage on the season and a 0.80 goals-against average against 71 shots faced on the year.
 
ISU faces another strong test in the nonconference schedule on Sunday as the Sycamores take on a Youngstown State team that has posted a 3-1-1 record heading into the weekend. YSU recorded a trio of wins at St. Francis, versus Akron, and at Duquesne to open the season, before falling to Canisius and drawing this past Thursday at George Washington.
 
Six different Penguins have scored on the year led by Chloe Weiland's pair of goals, while Taylor Berry has a goal and three assists over the first five matches. Regan LaVigna is another name to watch for YSU with a team-high nine shots on the season with three on target.
 
Brooklyn Kirkpatrick is the primary goalkeeper for YSU in 2023 lining up all 450:00 minutes for the Penguins this season. The senior has recorded 26 saves on 63 shots faced with a 0.867 save percentage on the season.
 
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