TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State is back in action this weekend as the Sycamores welcome Valparaiso to Memorial Stadium for ISU's Missouri Valley home opener. Kickoff time between the Sycamores and the Beacons is set for 1 p.m. with the game to be carried live on ESPN+.
 
The Sycamores (1-2-6, 0-0-1) were the lone team out of the Missouri Valley not to play on Thursday night as Indiana State drew the early season bye. Valparaiso (4-2-3, 0-0-1) made its MVC debut this past Thursday with a 1-1 draw at Evansville.
 
Indiana State continues to be one of the toughest teams in the country to pick up a win against heading into the matchup against the defending MVC regular season champions. The Sycamores' six draws are already program record, while ISU sits as just one of three teams in the NCAA Division I with six ties on the year. Kansas City (1-3-6) and UC Santa Barbara (2-3-6) are the only other two teams in to post as many draws.

The Sycamores recorded their team record-setting sixth draw of the 2023 season with the scoreless outing at Belmont last Sunday. Indiana State outshot Belmont 6-4 and held the 4-1 edge in corner kicks as ISU took over the momentum of the contest in the second half following a 50-minute lightning delay.
 
ISU had several opportunities in the second half against the Bruins as Carlie Jensen fired toward the net for the opening play of the second half. Lina Fasquelle added a shot on target in the 64th minute toward the top of the net, while Chloe Tesny attempted a shot in the 73rd minute to highlight the Sycamores' chances in the final 45 minutes, but the Sycamores were unable to find the back of the net in the scoreless affair.
 
The strength of the defensive backline has been key to Indiana State's play this year with ISU posting three shutouts in 2023 while allowing just one goal or fewer in seven of the nine matches. The Sycamores have shut out Louisville, Miami (Ohio), and Belmont to date this season, while garnering ties against Marshall, Eastern Illinois, and UT Martin.
 
Goalkeeper Maddie Alexander continues to be among the league's standouts in the net this season. The Battle Creek, Mich. native is currently second in the Valley in total saves (37), third in save percentage (.822) and fifth in goals against average (0.94). Alexander has started all nine matches for the Sycamores and surpassed the 200 career saves mark earlier this year becoming just the fifth Sycamore keeper to achieve the statistical milestone in program history.
 
The backline play of Brooklyn Woods, Maddie Helling, Adelaide Wolfe, and Kloe Pettigrew has settled into a good mix over the last few matches in head coach Paul Lawrence's first year at the helm. The quartet have been in the starting lineup together since Youngstown State and provided strength and experience in front of the net to limit opponent chances, including allowing just four shots in last Sunday's match at Belmont.
 
Offensively, the Sycamores have started to show signs of life following a slow start to the 2023 season. Helling (2) continues to lead ISU's scoring on the season thanks to a pair of early season goals, while Mackenzie Kent and Lina Fasquelle both scored in the Sycamores' 2-1 win over SIUE.
 
Kent remains the primary threat offensively with a team-high 19 shots and 10 shots on goal, while six different athletes have posted at least six shot attempts on the year. Sasha Thompson and Alexa Mackey have both seen more opportunities on the offensive side over the last few matches and remain players to watch on the Sycamore offense.
 
Valparaiso was picked second overall in the MVC women's soccer preseason poll garnering 107 total points and one first-place vote by the coaches. The Beacons returned 18 letterwinners including nine starters from last year's team, including reigning three-time MVC Goalkeeper of the year Nikki Coryell.
 
The Beacons started the year strong with back-to-back wins over Eastern Illinois and Northern Illinois, while adding draws at Kentucky, at Eastern Michigan, and at Evansville. Additional wins came at home against Chicago State and a 2-0 win at Youngstown State back on September 8.
 
Addy Joiner, a 2022 MVC All-Conference selection, is Valpo's primary offensive threat with five goals on the season in leading a Beacon offense that has featured seven players scoring on the year. Lindsey Dusatko has two goals to go with a team-high three assists, while Allie Anderson and Nicole Norfolk also provide a scoring punch for the team with multiple goals on the year.
 
Coryell has lined up all 810:00 minutes for Valparaiso this season surrendering 10 goals over the nine matches while posting 31 saves. She's posted a 0.756 save percentage and a 1.11 goals against average in 2023.
 
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