McLean County Times

Illinois State University will commence its 29th season of women's soccer this week with a home game against Green Bay on Thursday, followed by an away match at Purdue Fort Wayne on Sunday. The Thursday game is scheduled for 2 PM at Adelaide Street Field and will be broadcast on ESPN+, while Sunday's game in Fort Wayne will start at noon, also available on ESPN+.

Raleigh DeRose begins her tenure as the head coach of Illinois State this season. She joins from Brown University, where she spent eight years and contributed to three Ivy League championships, four NCAA Tournaments, and several top-50 national RPI finishes.

Ava Watson returns to the team after being named to the All-MVC Freshman team last year. Watson played in all 16 matches during her rookie season in 2023, logging over 1,200 minutes and leading the team with three assists.

The Redbirds have added 17 new players to their roster for the 2024 season, including transfers Abby Hall (Seton Hall), Bella Hanisch (DePaul), and Ellie Arnold (USC Upstate).

This week's games mark notable meetings; Illinois State last faced Green Bay in 2016 and has not played Purdue Fort Wayne since 2013. Historically, Illinois State leads Green Bay with an 11-3-0 record and has won the past four encounters. Against Purdue Fort Wayne, Illinois State remains unbeaten with a record of 4-0-0.

Coach DeRose's family has deep ties to soccer. Her father Jim is Bradley University's winningest head coach who recently retired after a long career. Her brother J.R., a former standout goalkeeper at Mercer, has coaching experience at Bradley, North Carolina, and Mercer.

The Redbirds' current roster includes international players such as Ellie Arnold from England and Canadian players Izzy Cameron, Bella Hanisch, and Cyerra Hibbert. This marks only the seventh time in program history that Illinois State features four or more international players.

Returning players include sophomore Ava Watson who started all games last year; Audrey Brown who recorded her first shutout last season; Jade Rehberger who has been consistent over two seasons; and Sammi Cenek returning from injury.

With a significant number of newcomers—13 freshmen among them—the Redbirds lead the MVC in fresh talent additions this season.

For more information about tickets and updates on Illinois State sports events visit GoRedbirds.com or use the Illinois State Redbirds App.

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