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INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team endured a physical beating on Sunday at Kuntz Stadium, but scored a late goal in a 1-0 victory over Indiana State. Sophomore Natalie Holland scored her first career goal in the 83rd minute of play when she drilled a rebound into an open net.

The win was IUPUI's third straight.

Indiana State (2-9-0) was whistled for 21 fouls while the Jags (6-5-0) were assessed just 12.

"Indiana State and us is always a physical game," IUPUI Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "We're two very similar teams. We're still trying to find ways to be consistently successful and whenever you're doing that, there's going to be some physical play involved."

The 5-foot-3 Holland was in amongst the physical play for nearly the entire match in the midfield.

"We just try to control the midfield every game. I think me, Margaret (Allgeier) and Kat (McCrory) usually do a good job of that," Holland said. "Me and Margaret, our goal each game is to win every single ball in the middle."

"It's feels better to go in hard against someone than to have someone go in hard against you."

However, the defensive minded Holland happened to be in the right spot at the right time for Sunday's game-winner. 

After a foul was called at the top of the 18, junior Katrina McCrory lined up the free kick from just beyond the top of the box. The junior midfielder bent her shot over a four player defensive wall, on which ISU goalkeeper Taylor Nelson made a spectacular diving save to her left. But, she could not corral the ball, allowing Holland to work through the scrum to blast a shot into the open net.

"Natalie has been tremendous for us all year long," Johnson said. "This year, her consistency is much more than what it was last year. She's giving us an offensive threat, taking the ball down the field and taking some shots. She's really developing into a kid that a lot of teams are going to have to deal with in the middle of the field.

"Just like on the goal, she does a good job of getting involved on set pieces too."

Offensively, the Jaguars outshot Indiana State 24-10, including 15-3 after halftime. McCrory led the Jags with six shot attempts and Holland and Alison Smith tried three each. 

Despite putting just one goal away, IUPUI narrowly missed a couple other opportunities. Midway through the second half, freshman Alex Baer had a header fly just left of the post after Amanda Snyder played a beautiful cross into the 18-yard box. 

Later, McCrory's chip shot deflected off the right post after she had worked free in the midfield. Alicia Brock also had two attempts narrowly miss in the second half.

Indiana State's Laura Hall had back-to-back looks on goal in the second half, including one that was played off the back line by an IUPUI defender. She led ISU with three attempts, all of which were on frame. 

Junior goalkeeper Jamie Farrell made five stops in her fourth shutout of the season, which ties for the IUPUI single-season record. It was the ninth shutout of her IUPUI career. Nelson made eight stops for ISU. 

The Jaguars return to action next Friday when they head north to take on Oakland in an important Summit League match. Kickoff is slated for 4:00 p.m. in Rochester, Mich..