Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Illinois State
Racers Set to Open MVC Play Against Illinois State
9/19/2026 3:34:00 PM | Women's Soccer
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State opens Missouri Valley Conference play Sunday against the one league opponent it has never lost to, hosting Illinois State at 1 p.m. at Cutchin Field.
The Racers are 2-0-2 against the Redbirds in a series that began in 2022 and has been played entirely in conference competition, winning 7-3 at home in the first meeting and 2-0 in Normal in 2023 before drawing 1-1 in each of the last two seasons. Sunday is a rematch of last year's Valley opener, a 1-1 draw in Normal on Sept. 18.
The Racers found their footing at the start of September, blanking Marshall on the road and beating Austin Peay 3-0 at home for the first win of the Ben Madsen era. Senior goalkeeper Griselda Revolorio leads the Missouri Valley with 42 saves and needs 49 minutes to pass Jenna Villacres for third all-time in program history, a mark she reaches before halftime Sunday.
- Revolorio also ranks fourth in Murray State history with 233 career saves and third with 17 shutouts, and her 1.09 career goals-against average is tied for third.
- Six Racers have scored in 2026 and none has more than one goal. Five of the six were the first of a player's collegiate career.
- Junior forward Breece Bass leads the team with four points, 18 shots and seven shots on goal, and she sits two goals shy of 10 for her career.
- Six of Murray State's seven goals have come at Cutchin Field, where the Racers are 1-2-1, and six have come after halftime.
- The opening goal should decide plenty. Illinois State is 4-0-2 when it scores first, while Murray State is 0-6-1 when it concedes first.
Scouting the Redbirds
- Illinois State is 5-1-3 under third-year coach Raleigh DeRose, the first time in program history the Redbirds have finished nonconference play with one loss and their best such mark since 2012.
- They arrive on a three-match winning streak, beating Purdue Fort Wayne 3-0 at home before winning 1-0 at Eastern Illinois and 3-1 at Western Illinois.
- Senior defender Ava Watson leads the team with three goals and has scored in three straight matches, the first Redbird to do that since 2021. Her seven points are tied for the team lead.
- Sophomore forward Rylann Law has two goals, a team-high three assists and a team-high 29 shots. Her sister, sophomore forward Rowann Law, has added two goals, as has Maggie Dowling.
- Graduate goalkeeper Madi Valenti owns a 0.78 goals-against average, a .781 save percentage and three shutouts this season, and she ranks fifth in Illinois State history in career saves and wins.
- The Redbirds have allowed seven goals in nine matches and are 1-1-2 when they get outshot.
