Box Score I Box Score (.pdf)

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team scored a pair of second half goals to come-from-behind to knock off Murray State on Tuesday evening, 2-1. The victory extended the Jaguars' school record winning streak to eight straight after starting the year 0-2.

"I think Murray State's definitely a strong team," Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "They've had some losses against some bigger SEC schools, but other than that, they've been very successful. They won a couple conference games this past weekend.

"Beating them keeps us going in the right direction going into conference, but we need to come out with a little more urgency and a little more intensity to come out and put teams away."

IUPUI (8-2) controlled play for most of the scoreless first half, outshooting Murray State 7-1 before halftime, but was unable to take advantage on the scoreboard. Murray State (4-5-1) broke through with a goal just 21 seconds into the second half when IUPUI turned the ball over deep in its own territory and allowed Danielle McMurray to roll a shot past Jamie Farrell for the game's first score.

The IUPUI attack continued to apply pressure until Katrina McCrory tied the game in the 53rd minute with her fourth goal of the season. Junior Kelly Williams carried the ball up the left side and slid a pass to McCrory, who then worked past a defender before placing a shot inside the left post.

"Kat's definitely capable of beating people in one-on-one situations," Johnson said. "That's probably one of her strongest attributes out there on the field. It was a great goal."

The game-winner came courtesy of junior Natalie Holland in the 78th minute. Senior Stephanie Hoffman flared a corner kick into the 18-yard box where the ball bounded free to Holland, who collected the ball and drilled a blast past MSU's Katie Walsh for her second goal in as many games.

McCrory nearly added some insurance in the 80th minute when her strike glanced off Walsh's hands and off the crossbar before deflecting back into the field of play. 

On the day, IUPUI outshot the Racers 16-6 overall and 8-3 on frame. McCrory, Holland and Megan Hock each tried three shots while only one MSU player, Rachel Wright, had more than one attempt.

"We've shown that we have a lot of different offensive weapons that can go out there and put the ball in the net," Johnson said. "Kelly Williams brought the ball up a few different times and played some nice balls into the box. We've got the weapons. There needs to be a little more urgency to what we're doing to kind of put some of those chances away.

"I think we're still growing as a team and learning how to win on a consistent basis. In a game like this, maybe the focus wasn't on this as much as it needs to be. We still need to go out and play the best we're capable of playing and not playing just a little better than the opposition."

Walsh made six stops in goal for Murray State and Farrell needed just two saves in the victory.

IUPUI now hits the road for its first three Summit League matches, beginning at Western Illinois on Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. from Macomb.