CHICAGO (October 18, 2019) – The top spot in the Missouri Valley Conference table will be up for grabs on Sunday afternoon when the Loyola University Chicago women's soccer team battles fellow Valley unbeaten Illinois State in a 1 p.m. kickoff from Adelaide Street Field in Normal, Ill.
 
Last Time Out: Loyola grinded out a 2-0 win over visiting Valparaiso on Wednesday night, picking up a program-record tying seventh straight win to close out a perfect 3-0-0 homestand.  Juniors Lindsey Hardiman and Katharine Stephens both found the back of the net, while freshman goalkeeper Grace Droessler notched pair of saves to secure her fourth straight shutout and Loyola's fifth consecutive clean sheet overall.
 
vs. Illinois State: Like Loyola, Illinois State, which enters Sunday at 11-4-0 overall (4-0-0 MVC), brings a program-record tying win streak of its own into the weekend.  Following a 3-0 defeat of Indiana State on Wednesday, the Redbirds have rattled off nine consecutive victories, a run that dates back to a 3-2 setback to Illinois on September 8.  Now in his third season in charge in Central Illinois, head coach Brad Silvey's side landed third in the MVC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll.  The Redbird attack is spearheaded by Kate Del Fava, who leads The Valley with 13 goals this season, a mark that is tied for third nationally.  Abby Basler, who has also found the back of the net four times across 12 appearances, has a team-best five assists to her name.  Loyola will be tasked with besting Illinois State goalkeeper Haley Smith, who recently broke the program's all-time shutout record against the Sycamores.  Smith has racked up five straight shutouts, a run that has seen her goals against average drop to 1.02.  She also owns an impressive 0.811 save percentage in her 14 appearances.
 
Series Stuff: Sunday's clash marks the 20th meeting between Loyola and Illinois State in women's soccer.  The Redbirds have come out in seven of the last nine matchups to open up a 14-5-0 lead in the all-time series.  Loyola and Illinois State split a pair of meetings in Rogers Park last season, with the Redbirds picking up a 3-2 overtime win during the regular season before the Maroon & Gold gained a measure of revenge by defeating the Redbirds, 2-1, in the semifinals of the MVC Women's Soccer Championship.
 
Up Next: Loyola returns to the friendly confines of Loyola Soccer Park on Saturday, October 26 to host Indiana State in its 2019 home finale.  The Ramblers will honor their senior class in a special pregame ceremony prior to the scheduled 7 p.m. kickoff with the Sycamores.