Birds Advance Over UNI in Opening Round of MVC Tournament, 1-0
CHICAGO – Erika Wells netted her first-career goal to help No.7 seed Illinois State soccer (6-9-4, 3-4-3 MVC) upend No.6 seed UNI (9-6-4, 4-3-3 MVC) 1-0 Thursday at Flames Field in the opening round of the MVC Tournament.
The Redbirds advance to take on host No.4 seed UIC Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN+.
Offensive opportunities were limited in the first half on Sunday amid high wind conditions in Chicago. Both sides settled in as the second half got going, but it was Erika Wells who put the lone goal on the board in the 60th minute. The goal came from the near side of the goalie box as Wells beat her defender and shot to the far corner. Wells is the 8th Redbird to score their first career goal this season.
From there Illinois State closed out the game for their first win at the MVC Tournament since 2019. Madi Valenti made five saves in the second half, including a diving stop in the 47th minute that kept the game scoreless.
The Redbirds become the first seven-seed to ever win at the MVC Women's Soccer Tournament as seven seeds were 0-3 all-time at the MVC Tournament heading into this year's championship.
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