Redbird women’s soccer earns NCAA berth with Valley title game win

Posted on November 6, 2016

Illinois State learns their NCAA schedule on Monday afternoon after earning the berth Sunday. (GoRedbirds.com photo)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer team (14-5-2, 4-0-1) advances to the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in program history after a 2-1 victory over Evansville (4-12-3, 3-2-1) Sunday. The Redbirds 14-game unbeaten streak is the longest unbeaten streak in program history.

“You can’t put into words how much it means for our team, for the staff and for the program,” head coach Eric Golz said. “The amount of progress that they’ve made in the past 12 months is impressive. I’m really proud of them; they’ve worked their butts off to prepare for this moment. I am incredibly proud of them.”

Although the Redbirds outshot the Purple Aces 10 to one in the first half, Evansville took the lead before the half was over. Evansville’s Montana Portenier cut around the Redbird defense in the deep right corner to service the ball inside the six. Bronwyn Boswell was able to get a foot on it to put it past freshman keeper Haley Smith in the back right corner of the net in the 37th minute

The Redbirds set the tempo for the remainder of the match, opening the second half with a goal of their own in the 52nd minute. Sophomore Kiley Czerwinski started the play with a high cross going inside the six. Senior Brooke Ksiazek was able to get a head on it and senior Paige Jarsombeck finished it off, putting in the back of the net past Evansville keeper Whitney Biggs.

ISU continued to keep control and took the lead, 2-1, in the 61st minute when senior Lauren Koehl got a foot on a cross from senior Brianne Richards and put it past Biggs in the far right corner. Koehl’s goal would be the game-winner for Illinois State.

The Redbirds maintained control for the remainder of the match, finishing with 20 shots to Evansville’s one. The Purple Aces only shot resulted in their only goal of the match in the first half.

The conference-champion Redbirds will now advance with an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. ISU will know their fate tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. when the NCAA selection show airs on NCAA.com.

“We are confident as we move forward. We have a good formula. We are ready to see where we go!” said Golz.

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