INDIANAPOLIS - The Oakland women's soccer team had outscored its past four opponents by a 16-2 count, while on the flip side, the Jags had scored just one goal in their past four matches. Fighting for its postseason life, IUPUI needed to buck the trends on Thursday afternoon in a critical Mid-Continent Conference match at the Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

After falling behind 2-0 early in the second half, the Jags did just that in rallying for a 3-2 win - the program's first-ever over Oakland in 10 tries. 

Senior Stacy Downing fueled the comeback with her first two goals of the season in the final 15 minutes. 

"In order to get to the (Mid-Con) tournament, we knew we had to win," Downing said. "A tie wouldn't do us any good."

After Oakland's Kristi Tomczyk staked the guests to a 2-0 lead, the Jags began chipping away in the 53rd minute. 

Freshman Katrina McCrory bent a shot to the far post from 20 yards out off a long pass from senior April Osborn for her third goal of the year. Later, IUPUI received a penalty kick to knot the score at 2-2. 

Sophomore Emily Hicks put a shot on net from just inside the 18-yard box, that an OU defender got a hand on before it could get to goalkeeper Kim Herbst. The referee awarded IUPUI it's first penalty kick of the season, setting the table for Downing. 

Downing calmly stepped up and rolled a shot just past Herbst to the left post for her first score of the season. 

"I was glad to just a goal under my belt, because I hadn't been able to score all year," Downing said. "I knew when we got the PK, I would take it. I love taking PK's."

With just 3:02 left in the match, Downing scored arguably IUPUI's best goal of the season. Junior Angie Pilat carried the ball up the right side of the field before whipping a cross just outside the top of the box. Downing was on the receiving end, settling the pass before drilling a shot just inside the left post for her third career multi-goal game in an IUPUI uniform.

A frenzied Oakland (7-10-0, 4-2-0 Mid-Con) attack was unable to muster much of anything in the final three minutes as IUPUI (6-7-5, 2-2-2 Mid-Con) hung on for the win. 

The win was similar to last season's finale win over Oral Roberts. In both instances, IUPUI won by a 3-2 score and posted its first-ever win over opposing Mid-Con schools at the on-campus facility.

"The biggest part of it is that it's the last regular season game of the year," head coach Chris Johnson said. "Our seniors come out and they really come to play. While Jessie Mann didn't start, I thought she came in and did an excellent job for us in goal and getting the attack started on several occasions.

"I thought all our seniors did a great job - Sam (Sliney), Jen Scorniaenchi. Mia (Moody) came off the bench today and gave us some good minutes. Stacy obviously came up big when it counted."

This season though, Johnson is hoping it's not a finale. The Jags need Centenary to either get a win or tie in Saturday's match at Western Illinois to give IUPUI its first trip to the Mid-Con Tournament since 2001.

Senior Jessie Mann recorded her first win of the season in reserve duty in goal. She made four saves in 45 minutes, while freshman Jamie Farrell made three saves. 

Herbst stopped four of IUPUI's seven shots on goal. For the match, IUPUI outshot Oakland 22-17, led by Downing's five attempts. Jessica Boyle led Oakland with five shots and added an assist on Tomczyk's second goal of the day.