NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State soccer team (10-4-2, 3-2-0 MVC) earned its first shutout in Missouri Valley Conference play, blanking the Missouri State Bears (8-7-2, 2-2-1 MVC), 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field.  Lauren Koehl scored the game’s only goal, while Aryn Newsom stopped three shots for her first individual shutout since Sept. 16.

“Alyse Williams and Kristin Cooley had one of their best games as a center-back tandem, and Newsom made the saves that she has to make,” head coach Drew Roff said.  “Missouri State is a very difficult team to play, and I thought our backs kept their composure while being good with the ball.”

The lone goal of the match came from Koehl in the 65th minute.  Rachel Tejada shook off a couple of defenders on the right side of the penalty area before playing a ball over to Koehl, who was unmarked in the other side of the box.  Koehl collected the pass and fired it past Missouri State keeper Chelsea Voet for her first goal of the season.  The assist was Tejada’s team-leading seventh of 2012 and 35th point of the campaign.

“Koehl is one of our hardest-working players, and she has improved every week that she has been on campus,” Roff said.  “The one thing she had not done is put the ball away, so I think the goal was well-earned and well-deserved.  Tejada made a great play to get a piece of the ball and send it over, and Lauren buried a nice goal.

Cooley, Williams and Newsom combined with Sarah Carlson, Gabbi McArtor and Heather Sterling along the back line to earn the Redbirds’ fifth shutout of 2012.  The group, particularly Cooley and Williams, limited Missouri State leading scorer Rachel Weimer to just three shots, none of which came in the second half.

Offensively, each team fired nine shots overall.  Missouri State’s Michelle Sommer led all players with four, while Koehl and Anna Stinson each had three to lead Illinois State.

The Redbirds will close the regular season Thursday, Oct. 25 at Drake, their first road match in nearly a month.  A win for the Redbirds would earn them a bye into the semifinals of the MVC Tournament, while the Bulldogs would clinch the regular-season conference title with a win.  Kick-off is set for 6 p.m.

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