Brian Drumm
- Box Score
UICUIC(4-2-0, 4-2-0)
UICUIC
(4-2-0, 4-2-0)
Final
1
IUPUIIUPUI
(4-0-1, 4-0-1)
Winner
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
|---|---|---|---|
| UIC UIC | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| IUPUI IUPUI | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Ed Holdaway (@EdHoldaway), IUPUI Sports Information
Senior Valentine Pursey nets the game's only goal in the 53rd minute
INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team continued its winning ways on Wednesday (Mar. 17) as the Jaguars outlasted visiting UIC, 1-0 at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium in a meeting among the Horizon League's elite. Senior Valentine Purseyscored off a Jessica Jacobs corner kick to account for the day's only offense and sophom*ore goalkeeper AP Woodall recorded her fourth shutout of the campaign.
It was Pursey's second score of the season and 27th of her IUPUI career while Woodall notched her seventh career clean sheet.
"I'm proud of our girls," head coach Chris Johnson said. "I thought our backs did a really nice job today in front of AP. I thought we were strong and limited their scoring opportunities. When they did get something on frame, we continued to rely on AP to come up with big saves when we needed them.
"Offensively, I thought we did a good job of creating some chances and playing some balls inside their box. V did a nice job of getting on the end of one for the winner and we made it stand up. All in all, this was a really good win for us over a top quality opponent."
IUPUI(4-0-1) pressed hard for the day's opening goal and had the better run of play for much of the first half. Elizabeth Bueckers misfired with a left-footed attempt from inside the 18 in the 11th minute and Miranda Ricks had a 20-yard strike tipped over the crossbar in the 14th minute for a corner kick.Sophom*ore Autumn Weeks had a look from the right side off a nice feed from Maya Turner in the 16th minute, but was just off target with her attempt.
In the 33rd minute, Pursey collected a pass from Sam Slimak and pushed a shot just over the bar from long distance as IUPUI outshot UIC 6-4 in the opening half.
Woodallcame up with the play of the half in the 38th minute, stopping a Savannah Jackson attempt from point blank range after an IUPUI giveaway deep in its own territory. UIC (4-2-0) put extensive pressure on the Jaguars' defense over the latter portion of the half, but was unable to sneak anything past one of the league's top defenses.
IUPUI was opportunistic in taking the lead as Jacobs corner kick went through the hands of UIC goalkeeper Lena Kurz and Pursey knocked home the winner. In doing so, Pursey tied Megan Hock for the program's all-time lead in game-winners with 15.
"We've been practicing free kicks and corners and all of our set pieces. Jess and Maya have been really consistent in getting the ball kind of right in the goal mouth and we're there to just put it in," Pursey said of her second game-winner in as many weeks. "I think it's just passion to get in the box. We always throw numbers forward, whether it's just a chance at open play, we've always got numbers in there. That feeling when you get a goal is just amazing and sometimes you've just got to be there to get that (final) touch."
While it wasn't always pretty defensively down the stretch, the Jaguars kept UIC off the scoreboard, including some harrowing moments in the closing 10 minutes. Maeve Riordan got a clean look, but fired wide of target and moments later, Jackson had a pair of shots blocked by defenders, the second of which resulted in a corner kick. UIC earned three of its five corner kicks in the closing nine minutes and had continual pressure down the stretch.
IUPUI finished with a 12-10 shot advantage and both sides closed with five corner kicks. Kurz and Woodall each made two saves as Pursey led the IUPUI attack with three shot attempts.
Johnson went deep into his bench, using 20 total players as only Grace Moore, Morgan Rymer and Natalie McNally played all 90 minutes in the field. Jacobs topped the reserves with 38 minutes, including starting the second half.
The Jags will be back in action next Wednesday (Mar. 24) when they trek to Youngstown State to face the Penguins at 2:00 p.m.. That match is slated to air on ESPN3.
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