Wednesday night will see the Redbirds take the field at 7 p.m. CT for their season‑opening matchup against the Huskies, marking the 20th all‑time meeting between the two programs.
Illinois State holds a 13‑4‑2 edge over Northern Illinois, yet the series has been defined by surprise results, including a 2‑1 victory for the Huskies in 1996 and a 1‑0 win just last September that snapped a 26‑year drought.
Coach DeRose's Third Year Brings Momentum
Head coach Raleigh DeRose enters her third season after guiding the team to its first MVC Tournament title game since 2019 and securing a home championship host in 2016. Her tenure has been marked by a strong postseason push and a recruiting strategy that consistently adds talent through the transfer portal.
This offseason, DeRose welcomed six newcomers — two freshmen and four transfers — continuing a pattern of bolstering the roster with portal acquisitions each of the past three years.
The Redbirds return 22 players from the 2025 campaign, seven of whom logged over 1,000 minutes last season. Among them are Sammi Cenek, Madi Valenti and Ava Watson, each surpassing 3,000 career minutes in a Redbird uniform.
Valenti’s standout performance earned her the MVC Goalkeeper of the Year award, a first for the program since 2013. She posted 12 shutouts in 2025 and was recognized on the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division I Women’s All‑Midwest Region Third Team.
Both Valenti and sophomore Grace Petrie received preseason All‑MVC honors, and the team was projected second in the conference poll, earning two first‑place votes.
The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, giving fans across the country a chance to follow the action as the Redbirds look to build on their recent successes and extend their historic edge over the Huskies.