TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State heads into the 2025 regular season opener on Thursday night as the Sycamores make the trek to West Lafayette, Ind. to take on Purdue. Kickoff between the Sycamores and the Boilermakers is set for 7 p.m. ET and will be carried live on B1G+, while live stats will be provided on the GoSycamores.com schedule.
 
The Sycamores head into head coach Paul Lawrence's third season at the helm looking to build off the potential shown in their Sunday evening exhibition match against SIUE. Indiana State utilized 26 different players in the match and three goalkeepers in the 3-1 win over the Cougars.
 
Indiana State controlled the pace and tempo throughout the match holding the 15-9 edge in shots (9-2 in shots on goal) with three different players scoring in their first action of the 2025 season. Riley Mathews, Kaitlynn Long, and Anna Chor all scored in the match as the Sycamores took an early 3-0 edge over the Cougars.
 
Goalkeepers Lola Minic, Delaney Timmons, and Alicia Perez split time in goal as the Sycamores look to replace All-Region keeper Maddie Alexander. The trio combined for one save while allowing one goal late against SIUE preventing the clean sheet.
 
The Sycamores exhibition success continues to highlight an offensive attack for Indiana State that has become a calling card under Lawrence after scoring a program-record 34 goals in 2024. Rising sophomore forward Alex Lehnert (six goals, three assists) and All-Region defender Brooklyn Woods (three goals, three assists) return to lead the Sycamore offense that featured 13 different players who scored a goal last season.
 
Woods, in particular, received marked preseason recognition as the Waukee, Iowa native was named to the United Soccer Coaches' Women's Players to Watch list, as well as to the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason First Team. She is the Sycamores' returning minutes leader, while also serving as the program's primary point person on corners and free kicks.
 
Indiana State's starting lineup in the 2025 exhibition against SIUE featured six newcomers to the lineup with Mackenzie Mills, Avery Oergel, Mathews, Minic, Jordan Goldstein, and Tori Angelo making their debuts on the pitch. Nine additional newcomers saw action after subbing throughout the match.
 
The Sycamores' balanced attack featured 11 different players launching shots in the match with Mathews, Skylar Cano, CharlieBleu Saunders, and Ella Roesch all attempting multiple shots in the match.
 
Purdue heads into the 2025 season sitting 11th overall in the Big Ten women's soccer preseason poll. Midfielder Megan Santa Cruz, defender Zoe Cuneio, and goalkeeper Emily Edwards were all recognized on the Big Ten preseason players to watch list as released by the conference office.
 
The Boilermakers recorded a 7-9-2 overall record over the 2024 season with a 3-7-1 record in conference play. Purdue added a 4-5-1 record at Fulk Field.
 
Indiana State heads into the Thursday evening match looking to snap a four-match skid against the Boilermakers dating back to the programs' inaugural contest back in the 2003 season. The Sycamores took on Purdue in an exhibition match last in 2023.
 
Purdue holds the 4-0 record all-time against Indiana State with the last regular season match coming in the 2017 season. The Boilermakers took the 6-0 win over the Sycamores and have outscored Indiana State 14-0 overall over the four matches.
 
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