Although the ISU soccer team did not have a nine-goal effort like its game on Oct. 14, one goal was enough for the Redbirds to get the win over visiting Missouri State on Sunday.

“I thought we did very well,” ISU head coach Drew Roff said. “We kept the ball moving and created some chances. Thought we maybe deserved to get another goal or two since we were knocking on the door. Overall, real solid performance, and we’re excited to get a win in conference and get ready for the next one.”

The goal came in the 65th minute courtesy of freshman Lauren Koehl and with an assist from sophomore Rachel Tejada. The goal was the first of the rookie’s collegiate career and was also the first points of her college career.

“For me to get my first point and everything and being a freshman, it’s pretty exciting,” Koehl said. “It was a really great ball from Rachel Tejada who crossed a perfect ball to me and I [finished] with my left foot.”

Roff was happy to see Koehl breakthrough and score.

“I told her before the game that she was due for a goal because she’d been playing really well,” Roff said. “She’s one of our hardest working players and she’s just continued to improve since she’s been on campus, so it was great to see her get rewarded for all her hard work and score a great goal.”

Daily Vidette Archive Photo: Freshman Lauren Koehl scored her first collegiate goal and ISU’s only goal to defeat Missouri State 1-0 at Adelaide Street Field on Sunday.

Both teams tallied nine shots, with ISU having five on goal compared to MSU’s three. The shutout was the first one for the ’Birds in Missouri Valley Conference play. Goalkeeper Aryn Newsom recorded three saves in the win and attributed part of the shut out to the Redbirds’ defense, led by senior Kristin Cooley and redshirt freshman Alyse Williams, in conjunction with seniors Sarah Carlson, Heather Sterling and sophomore Gabbi McArtor.   

“I definitely think we’ve been playing better than we have been and I also thought our defense did really well,” Newsom said. “This game was just as important as the [upcoming] game on Thursday, so for us to play under that kind of pressure and to bring that kind of effort, we’re going to have to do the exact same thing on Thursday. 

ISU will travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on top team Drake on Thursday. If the Redbirds win they will automatically earn a place in the semi-finals of the Valley tournament on Nov. 2 in Omaha, Neb. Otherwise they could have to compete in a play-in game to have a chance to participate in the tournament and defend their title. If the Bulldogs win they will clinch the regular-season MVC title. 

“This time of year, every game is so important … you want to be playing your best soccer because if you’re not playing well, you’re not going to set yourself up to win a conference championship,” Roff said. “I’m real pleased with our effort overall and pleased with the result and we’re going to try to keep building this as momentum is starting to go our way and keep playing soccer as long as we possibly can.”