INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team got a critical win on Sunday afternoon, beating Centenary College 2-1 at Kuntz Stadium. The victory snapped IUPUI's seven game winless string and was the Jaguars' first home triumph of the season.
Freshman defender Anna Pigg scored the eventual game-winner in the game's 52nd minute.
Junior Lindsey Warfield lofted a long corner kick to the far post, finding Pigg, who pounded a shot just inside the upright past Centenary goalkeeper Ali Hilsher from point blank range. It was the rookie's first career goal and Warfield's first career assist.
"I can't be disappointed with the two goals," IUPUI head coach Chris Johnson said. "I thought we had opportunities to get some more.
"Anna did a good job in the back and came up and put one away. It was just a fantastic play."
Centenary (4-9-2, 0-4-1 Summit) took advantage of a botched IUPUI clearance to make it 2-1 with just over 16 minutes left. Chelsea Cardwell corralled the miscleared ball and played it to Stefani Robbs. Robbs put the ball on net, as it glanced off IUPUI goalkeeper Jamie Farrell's hands and into the left side of the net for her fourth score of the season.
"It was not the way we wanted to end the game, obviously," Johnson said. "We need to be a little more vigilant in clearing the ball. Rather than getting a touch on it and knocking it 10 yards, we need to make sure we clear the zone."
IUPUI (2-9-3, 1-3-1 Summit League) had the lead nearly all day, scoring just 8:39 into the match.
Senior Angie Pilat set up freshman MaryBeth McMillan's fourth goal of the year in the game's ninth minute.
Pilat worked deep into the right corner of the field, before rolling a cross just beyond the six-yard box. McMillan settled the pass before tracing a diagonal shot past Hilsher.
"I was really pleased with Angie Pilat today," Johnson said. "Her work rate up front was terrific. She's going to score soon - it's coming. For now, she's doing a lot of good stuff up top."
Centenary missed a golden opportunity in the 24th minute when Lauren Cheaney got loose on a breakaway against Farrell. Farrell was caught well off her line, but managed to disrupt Cheaney's attempt, forcing the shot to trickle just wide of the open net.
Farrell finished with four saves.
The Jaguars nearly made it 2-0 before halftime as sophomore Lisa Kruse put a bullet on net on a loose ball inside the 18-yard box, but Hilsher came up with one of her four stops.
IUPUI outshot Centenary 19-10 overall and 6-5 on net.
The Jaguars wrap up their home slate next Friday night when they host IPFW in another critical Summit League contest.
"We control our own destiny now," Johnson said. "We're pleased that we got four points this weekend and we need to go out and get more points next weekend."
