NORMAL, Ill. – Rachel Tejada recorded the third hat trick of her career, while the defense and goalkeeper Aryn Newsom combined to post their first clean sheet all season, as the Illinois State soccer team topped Southeast Missouri State, 4-0, Friday evening at Adelaide Street Field.  Ali Farkos added the other Redbird goal, the first of her career.

Tejada had not achieved the feat since Sept. 16, 2011, when she scored three times at Eastern Michigan her freshman season.  She scored twice in the first half, before capping the Redbirds’ (3-4-0) scoring with her third goal of the match, and fifth in the past three games, in the 57th minute.

“Her activity level these last three matches has been as good of a three-game stretch she has had in her career here,” head coach Drew Roff said.  “She’s defending well, playing with a lot of energy, creating things for other players and making herself available as a target player so we can play through her.

“I’m really pleased about how she is leading the team right now with that type of effort,” Roff added.  “When she’s giving that effort, other players tend to follow, so I’m very excited about that.”

After even play for roughly the first 15 minutes, Tejada and the Redbirds controlled the rest of the match.  Tejada scored her first goal in the 23rd minute, converting a straight-on opportunity from 16 yards out to put ISU up 1-0.  Farkos tallied from about the same spot in the 38th minute, receiving the ball from Hannah Leinert on a give-and-go and firing a shot into the back of the net to make it 2-0 ISU.

Tejada made it a three-goal lead as the first half wound down with an incredible individual effort.  In the 43rd minute, she stole the ball from a SEMO (0-4-1) defender at midfield, before racing towards the penalty area flanked by numerous Redhawks.  Tejada evaded every challenge before converting a one-on-one opportunity with Redhawk keeper Ashton Aubuchon to give the Redbirds a 3-0 halftime lead.

“That second goal that she scored is something that you just kind of have to sit back and appreciate,” Roff said.  “She took it to another level with a brilliant first touch, and was just too quick for them to adjust.”

Tejada tallied her third and final goal in the 57th minute.  Kyla Cross played a ball into the box from the right side that was pushed aside by Aubuchon.  Tejada was waiting in the area to collect the loose ball, and put it into the open net to make it 4-0 Redbirds.

ISU’s 19 shots were the most fired all season, while the defense limited the Redhawks to a season-best five attempts.  Newsom made two saves to post the shutout.

“We’ve had some trouble keeping a clean sheet this year, and that was a goal coming in,” Roff said.  “We said, ‘Hey, we know what they are going to try to do, but can we stop it?’ even though we knew they had a lot of pace up front.  Our defense did an outstanding job.  Alyse Williams led them really well back there.”

The Redbirds will next square off against No. 22 Marquette at Adelaide Street Field, Sunday at 1 p.m.

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

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