CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS — #4 Illinois St. outlasted #5 Southern Ill. 2-1 in overtime on Sunday, advancing past the Salukis in a tightly contested NCAA Division I matchup. Chloe Cline scored twice for the Redbirds, including the golden goal in the 92nd minute, to secure the victory before a home crowd. The match remained deadlocked through regulation before Illinois St. finally broke through in the opening minutes of the first overtime period.
Southern Ill. struck first when Sophia Schlicklin found the back of the net in the 34th minute, giving the visiting Salukis an early advantage. The goal appeared to set the tone for a defensive struggle, but Illinois St. responded decisively before halftime. Chloe Cline equalized in the 58th minute with an assist from Danica Key, leveling the contest at 1-1 and shifting momentum toward the home side.
The Redbirds dominated possession throughout the second half, outshooting Southern Ill. 18-8 overall and generating seven corner kicks compared to the Salukis' two. Illinois St.'s pressure mounted steadily, though Southern Ill. goalkeeper Reagan Miller made five saves to keep the match competitive. The defensive intensity remained high on both sides, with neither team able to find a decisive second goal through 90 minutes of regulation play.
Overtime proved decisive for Illinois St. Chloe Cline capitalized on the extended opportunity in the 92nd minute, scoring the match-winner to secure the Redbirds' advancement. The goal capped a dominant performance by the home team, which controlled the tempo and created consistent scoring chances throughout the contest. Southern Ill. mounted limited offensive threats in the extra period, unable to generate the chances needed to force a penalty shootout.
Southern Ill. faced significant adversity when goalkeeper Lily Murray received a red card for abusive conduct in the 58th minute, forcing the Salukis to adjust their lineup during a critical moment. The numerical disadvantage compounded the team's defensive challenges in the second half, though substitute Reagan Miller performed admirably in net. Despite the setback, Southern Ill. remained competitive and nearly forced the match to penalties.
Illinois St.'s seven corner kicks proved instrumental in generating offensive opportunities, reflecting the team's sustained pressure on the Salukis' defense.