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INDIANAPOLIS - Despite depositing a goal less than three minutes into the match, the IUPUI women's soccer team struggled to shore things up defensively as the Jaguars fell 5-1 to visiting Cleveland State at Carroll Stadium on Friday (Aug. 24) night. Junior Kristin Pierce netted her first goal of the season in the opening minutes, but CSU's Jaime Avona recorded a hat trick to lead the Vikings past the Jaguars.

Pierce broke the ice just 2:37 into play by netting her second career goal with a drive through traffic from the top of the 18. Following an IUPUI corner kick, the ball ping-ponged off some defenders and came free to the top of the penalty box, from where Pierce laced a shot past CSU goalkeeper Sarah Wood. However, the lead would be short-lived for the Jaguars as the visiting Vikings scored twice in the next 13 minutes.

The first came from Valerie Stahl when she chipped a shot over Giselle Guzman, who was off her line after punching a crossing pass out of harm's way. The deflection came right to Stahl who finished the play with a lofted shot into an open net. In the 16th minute, Avona scored the first of her three goals, tallying from in close off a short Vickie Havas rolling cross. 

IUPUI (0-3) had a chance to pull even in the 43rd minute when sophomore Brenna Parks found herself in the clear with Wood out of position, but hit her shot over the crossbar just before halftime.

CSU (2-1) peppered reserve goalkeeper Kristin Haseley from the get-go in the second half, beginning with an Avona goal in the 60th minute. Later, Stahl scored her second of the game from in close and Avona capped the three-goal game in the 73rd minute by angling a shot past Haseley. IUPUI missed another golden opportunity midway through the second half when freshman Paxton Ott had an open net, but misfired just wide right of the post, leaving the score at 3-1 at the time.

Cleveland State outshot the Jaguars 23-15 and 13-8 on frame. Shea Levi led the way with seven shots, putting four on goal while sophomore Taylor Heidorn led the IUPUI attack with three attempts. Junior Ashley Doreski and Pierce both put two tries on target, but Wood finished with seven saves in the victory. Guzman made one first half stop before Haseley made seven in the second half while facing a 15 shot assault from the Vikings.

IUPUI will cap the weekend with a 1:00 p.m. match at Bowling Green State on Sunday (Aug. 26) before returning home and then heading to Ball State next Friday (Aug. 31).