SPRINGFIELD, MO. - No. 1 Illinois State (13-5-0, 5-1MVC) knocked off No. 2 Missouri State (12-5-2, 4-1-1 MVC) in an impressive 5-0 decision to claim the 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Tournament Title and the Valley’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Missouri State was the only team to defeat the Redbirds in regular season conference action this season with a close 1-0 victory. The two teams have met nine times prior in the MVC tournament; however this was their first meeting in the championship match.

Illinois State continues to rewrite the record books, tying the MVC record for goals in a tournament championship match with five. After tying MVC single-season record for goals on Friday, MVC Player of the Year, Rachel Tejada, recorded her twenty-first goal of the season in the championship match, taking over as the all-time leader in this category.

Kyla Cross of Illinois State was named this year’s Valley Tournament MVP, recording two goals including the game winner in the first half.

This marks the Redbirds third Championship title and will be their second trip to the NCAA Tournament under Head Coach Drew Roff. The NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer selection show will air live on NCAA.com at 4:30 p.m. ET on Monday, November 7.

2011 MVC All-Tournament Team

Laura Moklestad, Drake               

Erin Gunther, Creighton                               

Stephanie Thompson, Evansville              

Sam Conrad, Evansville 

Megan Cameron, Northern Iowa             

Kala Negus, Northern Iowa        

Christine Cross, Missouri State                  

Tiffany Laughlin, Missouri State                                

Grace Cross, Missouri State                                        

Natalie McCabe, Illinois State                    

Jessica Carlson, Illinois State                       

Rachel Tejada, Illinois State                        

Tournament MVP: Kyla Cross, Illinois State