The Illinois State women's soccer team fell 3-2 to No. 14 Missouri in women's soccer action Sunday.  The Redibrds held the Tigers as the game went into overtime, but fell in the 96th minute of the game.  Indiana State was the lone women's soccer winner in Sunday action.

No. 14 Missouri 3, Illinois State 2 (OT)

Jackie Rucinsky’s goal in the 49th minute gave the Illinois State women’s soccer team an early second-half lead over No. 22 Missouri; but a Tiger goal just over a minute later knotted the score at 2-2.  Battling to the end of regulation with a tie score, the teams took to an overtime period, and Mizzou netted a single goal in the 96th minute to take the game from the ‘Birds Sunday afternoon in Columbia, Mo.

 Illinois State drops to 3-4-2 on the year after the loss, and Missouri improves to 8-2-0, staying undefeated at home.  Both teams start their respective conference slates in the upcoming week.

The Redbirds were the first on the board, as junior midfielder Bethany Russ put a shot past Tiger goalie Mallory Forst at the 11:56 mark in the first period.  Russ’ goal, her third of the year, was assisted by Meghan Boler and gives the senior sole possession of the career assists mark in Illinois State history with 13.  The assist was also Boler’s fifth of the season, as she sits in a tie for third for assists in a season.

Missouri answered just before the half (34:25) as Elyse Nikonchuk netted her third goal of the season on an assist from Aria Hudetz.  Nikonchuk’s goal was a header from the corner that sailed past Redbird keeper Erica Goethel to tie the game at 1-1.

The teams were tied at the half with six shots a piece, while ISU was out-cornered in the first half, 3-1.  Missouri limited Illinois State’s shots in the rest of the game, owning the overall shot margin 26-9.  The Tigers also took more corner kicks by the game’s end, 7-1. 

Rucinsky gave the ‘Birds their second lead of the game, taking a pass from sophomore Mel Routledge and sending it past Forst just after the half.  Rucinsky is now tied for first on the team with four goals on the year, as well as eight total points. The assist was the second on the year for Routledge, as she is also in the three-way team tie for first with eight total points with Rucinsky and freshman Ammanda Wisniewski.  

At the 50:49 mark, Missouri’s Janelle Cordia knotted the score at 2-2, netting her fourth goal on the season.  Mizzou’s Mo Redmond and Hudetz were credited with the assist.  The teams battled the game’s remaining 48 minutes as the regulation horn sounded in a 2-2 tie.

Redmond booted the game-winning goal six minutes into the overtime period on a penalty kick, securing the Missouri win.   

Kowall described the call that resulted in the penalty kick.

Goethel tabbed nine saves on the afternoon in the Illinois State goal, allowing three goals in 96:32 minutes of action.  Forst recorded no saves for the Tigers.

 Other Scores Around the League

UNLV 1, Creighton 0

Indiana State 2, IUPIU 0

Western Illinois 4, UNI 1

Tulsa 1, Missouri State 0

Valparaiso 3, Evansville 0