TERRE HAUTE, lnd. – Senior Allie Newsom’s goal in the 62nd broke a 1-1 tie and put the Redbirds ahead for good, as the Illinois State soccer team topped Indiana State, 2-1, Friday night at Memorial Stadium.  Hannah Leinert also scored for the Redbirds in their Missouri Valley Conference opener.

Newsom’s game-winner came when the ball was worked from the left side of the field to Dagny Olson.  Olson touched the ball to Newsom, who struck a shot from 22 yards out that deflected off Indiana State keeper Abby Keller and in to the back of the net.  The goal was Newsom’s second of the season, both game-winners, while Olson picked up her second assist of the campaign.

“They were really dropping off and putting a lot of numbers around Rachel Tejada,” head coach Drew Roff.  “It was important that one of our midfielders step up and hit one from distance.  Usually it’s probably more of an attacking-type midfielder, but Allie is dangerous.  She had a clean touch, so she brought the ball down and hammered a great goal.”

Leinert’s goal came in the 12th minute to give the Redbirds an early advantage.  Sara Stankoskey played a ball into the box from the right side that Leinert headed home for her fifth goal of the season.  Stankoskey’s assist was the first point of her career.

The Sycamores equalized less than five minutes later, when Abby Reed scored an unassisted tally in the 16th minute.  After a scoreless rest of the first half, Indiana State and Reed also mustered the best two chances early in the second.  Reed beat Aryn Newsom in a one-on-one opportunity in the 49th minute, but her shot hit the post.  Then, in the 58th minute, Newsom stopped Reed one-on-one to keep it a 1-1 game and set the stage for her twin sister’s game-winner.

The Redbirds mustered just six shots, their second-lowest total all season, compared to nine for the Sycamores.  Still, Roff was happy with his team’s ability to pull out the victory in the end.

“It definitely was not a work of art, but our team was gritty,” Roff said.  “We hung in there, and we played some of our better soccer towards the end of the game.  We did what we had to do, and any time you can get a win on the road in the Valley, you have to feel good about it.”

Illinois State continues MVC play next Sunday, Oct. 13, when it welcomes Loyola to Adelaide Street Field.

GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more. 

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