NORMAL, Ill. – Kyla Cross scored four of Illinois State’s nine goals, both single-game program records, in the Illinois State (9-4-2, 2-2-0 MVC) soccer team’s 9-2 victory over Indiana State (6-8-1, 1-2-0 MVC) on Senior and Heidecke Day, Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field.

Going in to Sunday’s match, the 2012 Redbirds had only scored three goals or more once, after doing it ten times in 2011.  Head coach Drew Roff knew the breakout offensive performance for this year’s team was coming, as long as it brought intensity for a full 90 minutes.

“Today was the first day in a long time that we took hold of the game from the first whistle and didn’t let up,” head coach Drew Roff said.  “We were ready for a breakout game, and I felt like we finally brought it to the table.  When we come to play, and everybody is on board, we have the potential to do some big things.”

Cross became the first Redbird in history to score four goals in one game when she got in behind the Sycamore defense on a through ball from Ali Farkos in the 84^th minute before converting to give the Redbirds their ninth goal of the match.  The eight points also eclipsed the previous program high of seven.

“Senior and Heidecke Day made it a great day to be on the field,” Cross said.  “We only have two games left in the season now, and we needed this win to get back into the conference mix.  It was awesome.  The team finally clicked.”

The Redbirds actually fell behind first, conceding a goal in the 13^th minute to Elle Steele.  However, Illinois State would go on to score six unanswered goals from there to grab control of the match.

Rachel Tejada scored her league-leading 13^th and 14^th goals of the season back-to-back in the 15^th and 20^th minute.  Abby Van Deventer played in Tejada on the first goal, while Heather Sterling found the ISU sophomore on the second goal for her first point of the season.  Van Deventer and Tejada switched roles on the next goal, as Tejada found Van Deventer with a long ball over the top to give the Redbirds a 3-1 advantage.  Cross rounded out the first half’s scoring in the 45^th minute by converting her own rebound past Sycamore keeper Erin Mitchell.

The offensive outburst continued in the second half, as Tejada found Van Deventer again in the 58^th minute for her fourth goal of the season.  Cross put home a rebound from a Rachel Bostick header in the 72^nd minute to extend the lead to 6-1.  Indiana State’s Sydney Loesing scored the Sycamores’ second goal of the game in the 73^rd minute, before Cross, Sarah Mussallem and Cross again rounded out the Redbirds’ scoring on helpers from Kayla Campbell and Farkos.

Tejada’s six-point performance matched her career-high, which she achieved three times last season.  It was Van Deventer’s second two-goal, one-assist performance of the freshman’s career, with the other coming Aug. 24 against Florida Atlantic.

Following the match, former Redbird Julie Heidecke was remembered in a ceremony in front of the Julie Heidecke Tribute Tree at the entrance of Adelaide Street Field.  Heidecke played for the Redbirds in 1997 before passing away in an automobile accident on April 29, 1998.  An award was established in her memory, given annually to a Redbird soccer player following Heidecke’s path in commitment, spirit, determination, leadership, sportsmanship, academics, morality and concern for others.  Junior Anna Stinson was presented with this year’s award, now in its 15^th year, in front of Julie’s parents and family.

“It is a huge honor,” Stinson said.  “What Julie stood for and her passion for soccer make this an honor for me to receive this award in memory of her.”

The Redbirds will complete their four-match home stand next Sunday, as they welcome the Missouri State Bears for a 1 p.m., kick-off.  After that, Illinois State will travel to Drake on Thursday, Oct. 25 to conclude the regular season.

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