By ISU Sports Information
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Ali Farkos netted the game-winning goal with 1:30 remaining and the Illinois State soccer team defeated Indiana State, 4-3, in a wild match to conclude the regular season Thursday night in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Things looked bleak for the Redbirds as Indiana State jumped out to a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the match. Maggie Richard went up into a crowd and headed in a corner kick service from Katie Wells to give the Sycamores a lead.
Despite outshooting Indiana State 14-5, the Redbirds went to the half trailing by one. In the second half, the Sycamores were granted a penalty kick after a tackle in the box, and they converted to take a 2-0 lead.
The Redbirds responded less than three minutes later when Lauren Koehl scored off an assist from Emily Dickman. The goal was Koehl’s fifth in conference play and cut the lead in half. In the 62nd minute, Riley Ebenroth tied the match with her first career goal. Ebenroth headed in a corner kick service from Ali Farkos.
With the match tied at two, the two teams battled for 17 minutes without a go-ahead goal, but in the 79th minute Bri Richards found herself in the middle of the box with the ball. After Richards was turned away twice from close range, she navigated through traffic and scored the go-ahead goal.
The goal was the third of the season for Richards, but the lead would not last long. 42 seconds later, Casidy Simonis drilled a 20-yard strike to tie the match at three. Simonis had entered as a sub just minutes before.
With time running out and the match tied, Haylee Eastridge sent a pass to the right side for Farkos. Farkos took a touch to set herself up and launched a rocket from 21 yards out. Farkos’ shot struck the left goal post and caromed into the net to give ISU a 4-3 win.
The win was ISU’s sixth of the season and the Redbirds finish the regular season 6-9-2 overall and 3-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
ISU held a 25-14 advantage in shots and held an 11-7 edge in shots on goal. Indiana State was whistled for 18 fouls and each team racked up six yellow cards in a physical match.
In the net, Vanessa Niestrom made four saves in 90 minutes of action. Koehl and Richards led the Redbirds with five shots apiece.
ISU now advances to the first round of the MVC Tournament and will host Loyola Sunday at 1 p.m. at Adelaide Street Field.
