MACOMB, Ill. - Playing in wet, rainy conditions, the IUPUI women's soccer team took conference leader Western Illinois to the brink before falling 2-1 at MacKenzie Alumni Field on Friday. WIU got the game-winner off the foot of Misako Inaba in the 97th minute.
After a scoreless first half, IUPUI took the lead early in the second half as senior Angie Pilat continued her late season surge. The crafty forward took a pass from sophomore Leslie Walker and turned it into a breakaway with WIU goalkeeper Julie Remes. Pilat got the better of the matchup, scoring her third goal of the season to make it 1-0 less than five minutes into the second half.
The lead stood until the host Westerwinds got a goal from Kelsey Pillsbury with just 10:31 left in regulation. Keeley Murray played a cross into the middle of the 18-yard box where the 5-foot-9 Pillsbury went above the crowd to head a shot past IUPUI goalkeeper Jamie Farrell.
Inaba ended the upset bid by scoring the game-winner against the Jaguars for the second time in as many years. Katelyn Wisner played the ball to Inaba, who was well beyond the top of the 18. From there, Inaba made a couple of moves before drilling a right-footed shot on net. The ball went through Farrell's hands to hand IUPUI its first overtime loss since Aug. 30, 2002.
"We played well - we played right with them," IUPUI head coach Chris Johnson said. "They've got a good team. They're well coached and do a good job."
WIU (13-2-1, 6-0-0 Summit) outshot IUPUI 19-7 overall and 11-3 on net. Farrell made nine saves for the Jags while Remes needed two saves in the victory.
IUPUI (3-11-3, 2-4-1 Summit) opened the overtime on the attack, getting well played crosses from Sheri Levack and Lindsey Warfield early in the period. Both times, IUPUI attackers were unable to get on the connecting end of the passes though.
"We were in their end at the start," Johnson said. "We had our chances. Pilat could've had a couple more (goals), but that's part of the game."
Walker led IUPUI with three shots while Pilat attempted two.
The Jaguars close out the regular season next weekend when they fly to Cedar City, Utah to face Southern Utah. Both teams are grappling for the No. 4 spot in the upcoming Summit League Tournament, to be held in Rochester, Mich..
