October 14, 2012
DOUBLE BRACE
Cross scores four to lead Illinois State

NORMAL, Ill. – Kyla Cross scored four of Illinois State’s nine goals, both single-game program records, in the Illinois State soccer team’s 9-2 victory over Indiana State on Sunday afternoon at Adelaide Street Field.

Illinois State improves to 9-4-2 (2-2-0 MVC), while Indiana State falls to 6-8-1 ( 1-2-0 MVC)

“Today was the first day in a long time that we took hold of the game from the first whistle and didn’t let up,” Illinois State head coach Drew Roff said. “We were ready for a breakout game, and I felt like we finally brought it to the table. When we come to play, and everybody is on board, we have the potential to do some big things.”

Cross became the first Redbird in history to score four goals in one game when she got in behind the Sycamore defense on a through ball from Ali Farkos in the 84th minute before converting to give the Redbirds their ninth goal of the match. The eight points also eclipsed the previous program high of seven.

The Redbirds conceded a goal in the 13th minute to Elle Steele.

Rachel Tejada scored her league-leading 13th and 14th goals of the season back-to-back in the 15th and 20th minute. Abby Van Deventer played in Tejada on the first goal, while Heather Sterling found the ISU sophomore on the second goal for her first point of the season. Van Deventer and Tejada switched roles on the next goal, as Tejada found Van Deventer with a long ball over the top to give the Redbirds a 3-1 advantage. Cross rounded out the first half’s scoring in the 45th minute by converting her own rebound past Sycamore keeper Erin Mitchell.

The offensive outburst continued in the second half, as Tejada found Van Deventer again in the 58th minute for her fourth goal of the season. Cross put home a rebound from a Rachel Bostick header in the 72nd minute to extend the lead to 6-1.

Indiana State’s Sydney Loesing scored the Sycamores’ second goal of the game in the 73rd minute, before Cross, Sarah Mussallem and Cross again rounded out the Redbirds’ scoring on helpers from Kayla Campbell and Farkos.

Tejada’s six-point performance matched her career-high, which she achieved three times last season. It was Van Deventer’s second two-goal, one-assist performance of the freshman’s career, with the other coming Aug. 24 against Florida Atlantic.

The Redbirds will complete their four-match home stand next Sunday, against the Missouri State Bears for a 1 p.m., kick-off.