Birds Fall to UIC in Wild MVC Quarterfinal, 4-2
CHICAGO – No.7 seed Illinois State soccer (6-10-4, 3-4-3 MVC) battled but couldn't overcome No.3 seed UIC (8-9-2, 6-2-2 MVC) Sunday in the MVC Tournament Quarterfinal, as UIC took a 4-2 victory at Flames Field.
UIC and Illinois State traded goals for the first 60 minutes, as the game was level at 2-2 heading into the final 30 minutes of play. UIC scored a pair of goals within five minutes and earned the win to advance to the MVC Semi-final.
Freshman Eiley Henderson scored in the 7th minute as Illinois State struck first. UIC couldn't clear a Redbird attempt, and Henderson got a touch on the ball to move into open space inside the box. She scored to the far post for a 1-0 lead and her team-leading third goal of the season.
UIC took control with back-to-back goals, once before the end of the first half to level the score in the 32nd minute and again to open the second half in the 49th minute.
Illinois State answered though as Erika Wells and Aniya Seymore connected on a corner kick for the second time this season. The Redbirds earned a corner kick on the far side, and Wells played the ball for a 61st minute header goal from Seymore. Wells tallied her team-leading fifth assist of the year while Seymore scored her second goal of the year.
The Redbirds took momentum from Seymore's goal to create a strong stretch of opportunities. Illinois State earned three corner kicks over a five-minute stretch near the 65th minute but couldn't break through.
UIC then jumped back ahead with goals in the 72nd and 76th minute for the win.
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