TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Sycamores begin Missouri Valley play this week as Indiana State makes the trip to Valparaiso, Ind. for a Thursday evening contest. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Beacons at Brown Field is set for 8 p.m. ET and will be carried live on ESPN+.
The Sycamores (5-2-2) had an impressive preseason slate that featured three wins at Memorial Stadium against SMWC, RMU, and Miami (Ohio) while recording two road victories at SEMO and SIUE. Indiana State fell two times on the road in the preseason against UT Martin (2-1) and Marshall (1-0). Two draws in the 2024 preseason came against Bellarmine on the road and Eastern Illinois at home.
The Sycamores are ranked second in the MVC after nine games of play in the 2024 season, scoring 22 goals (tied for 1st in MVC) and allowing only four goals scored (1st in MVC).
Indiana State continues to lead the Missouri Valley Conference in points (61), goals (22), assists (17), goals allowed (4), saves (48), shutouts (6), and corners (64).
This matchup will serve as the 20th matchup between the Sycamores and the Beacons, as Valpo leads the all time series 14-3-2.
Sycamore Standouts:
Indiana State put its fifth win in the column on the road at Ralph Korte Stadium behind a goal from Emma Famulak against host SIUE in the Sycamores' 1-0 win. ISU picked up a win despite SIUE holding a 14-7 edge in shots and a 8-6 advantage in attempts on target.
Indiana State picked up its go-ahead-goal in the 19th minute of Sunday afternoons contest when Emma Famulak recorded her second goal of the 2024 season to make it ISU 1-0 over the Cougars. Famulak picked up Quinn's free kick attempt and punched it into the top left corner of the goal past Haskell to give the Sycamores the early advantage.
ISU had single-digit shots (8) for only the second match this season, paced by Mackey's pair of shots on goal. Kent, Helling, and Quinn each had attempts on target, while Lehnert and Fairfax each recorded shots for the Sycamores in the victory.
Maddie Alexander picked up eight saves in the contest against the Cougars, to record the sixth shutout for Indiana State in the 2024 season. The Battle Creek, Mich. native remains the Sycamores' primary in goal this season as she continues to lead the conference in saves (46), shutouts (5), save percentage (.920), and goals-average-against (0.47).
The strength of the defensive backline has been key to the Sycamores play this year with ISU posting six shutouts in 2024 while allowing just one goal or fewer in eight of the nine matches. The Sycamores have shut out SMWC, RMU, Miami (Ohio), SEMO, EIU, and SIUE to date this season.
Kent continues to lead the Indiana State offense on the season with four goals (tied for 1st in MVC) while racking up eight points in nine games of play. Mackey records a team-high 19 shots (3rd in MVC) and 12 shots on goal. Kent is second on the squad with 18 shots (11 SOG) while Lehnert follows with 15 (10 SOG).
Brooklyn Woods has been serving as ISU's primary on free kicks and corner attempts where she totals 734 minutes for the Sycamores with two goals and a 0.692 shot on goal percentage in the 2024 season.
Wimberley Wright continues to be a play maker for the Indiana State offense, where she has been a consistent leader in assists this season, with 5. Wright, Lehhnert, and Mackey are all tied in points, with seven for the Sycamores.
Scouting Valpo:
The Beacons enter Thursday's contest with an overall record of 4-4. Valporasio was selected fifth overall in the MVC preseason women's soccer poll as announced by the conference office in mid-August.
John Marovich was named the third head coach in the history of the Valpo women's soccer program in January of 2008, following six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach. The 2014 Horizon League Coach of the Year and a member of the 2022 MVC Coaching Staff of the Year, enters his 17th season at the helm of Valpo women's soccer in 2024.
Freshman Hailey Wade was named the Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week after recording 17 saves against Wright State and Xavier last week. Wade posted an .850 save percentage in her 135 minutes of action.
A pre-season All-MVC selection, Addy Joiner leads the Beacons offensively in the 2024 season as she has four goals, two assists, 13 shots with seven on goal. Joiner was named MVC player of the week early this season after leading her team to a 2-1 victory late in the game against Milwaukee.
Up Next:
The Sycamores continue on the road this week as they continue MVC play with a matchup at UIC on Sunday, September 22 at 2 p.m ET.
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