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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville women's soccer team put up a valiant effort in its Missouri Valley Conference Tournament semifinal match against top-seeded Illinois State Friday night at Arad McCutchan Stadium, but the Redbirds scored three second-half goals to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit and advance to Sunday's title match with a  3-1 victory.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Simone Busby posted a remarkable effort in goal, as she made a career-high 14 saves, including stops on a pair of 1-v-1 opportunities and several diving saves to keep Evansville (9-6-4) in the match.  Fellow sophomore Abby Springer scored her fourth goal of the season early in the first half for the Aces' lone tally.
 
Illinois State (13-6-0) controlled possession for much of the early part of match, forcing UE into an up-tempo game.  However, Evansville was able to mount a successful counter attack in the 11th minute, when senior Lauren Tiernan played a long pass from the middle of the field through the left side of the Redbird defense, setting up Springer.  Springer collected the pass, dribbled into the box and fired a shot inside the near post to give the Aces a 1-0 advantage.
 
ISU continued to apply pressure throughout the half, but Busby was able to stand her ground between the posts, as she turned away seven Illinois State shots in the opening 45 minutes.
 
UE nearly doubled its lead in the 23rd minute, when Evansville was awarded a free kick following a Redbird foul just inside 25 yards out on the left side of the pitch.  Senior Stephanie Thompson took the kick and sent a high, arcing ball to the far post that deflected off the crossbar and off the back of ISU goalkeeper Aryn Newsom before finally being cleared.
 
Evansville began to gain momentum near the end of the half, as Newsom made a pair of terrific saves on shots by Tiernan and freshman Bronwyn Boswell in the final eight minutes of the half to keep the Aces' lead at 1-0 heading into halftime.
 
UE attempted the first two shots of the second half, but Illinois State was able to draw even at 1-1 just under three minutes into the second half, as MVC Player of the Year Rachel Tejada headed in a cross from Dagny Olson in the 48th minute.
 
The Redbirds struck again less than five minutes later, taking advantage of a set piece opportunity.  After ISU earned a corner kick, Rhinna Krutz sent the service to the back post, where Hannah Leinert was able to head the ball inside the back post to give ISU a 2-1 lead.
 
Illinois State continued to keep the pressure on and was able to add an insurance goal in the 59th minute, when Leinert scored her second goal of the match.  Tejada and Kyla Cross set up the opportunity with a pair of passes that forced Busby off of her line, before Leinert was able to score into an open net from the top of the 18-yard box.
 
Evansville pushed forward late in the game, creating a pair of scoring chances, but a Newsom was able to make a save on a breakaway opportunity by Tiernan and Springer rang the crossbar with a shot from just outside the box in the 67th minute.
 
Tiernan led the Aces offensively with five shots, while Boswell added four and Thompson and Springer each attempted three.  Leinert led all players with eight shots, including seven shots on goal and Tejada finished the night with seven shot attempts.
 
Illinois State posted a 24-17 shot advantage on the night and took seven corner kicks to Evansville's three.
 
The Redbirds will play Indiana State, who defeated Drake, 4-0, earlier in the day, in Sunday's title match which is slated to kick off at 1:06 p.m.