Box Score I Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Highlights I Chris Johnson Postgame I Tori Minnich Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team battled back from an early deficit and claimed a 1-1 tie against Green Bay in both teams home opener at a steamy Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Friday (Aug. 23) night. Freshman Tori Minnich netted a goal in her first career match in the game's 56th minute and both team's defenses clamped down from there. 

IUPUI (0-0-1) fell behind 1-0 in the 32nd minute when Hekla Palmadottir popped a shot over the head of senior goalkeeper Giselle Guzman for the season's first goal. Palmadottir caught Guzman well off her back line and easily chipped a shot over the Jaguars' netminder, thanks to an assist from Heidi Hartmann. 

The Jaguars battled back early in the second half, getting a nifty combination play to account for the hosts only score of the night. Freshman Catherine Raster worked her way along the sideline immediately in front of the IUPUI bench, before centering a pass to sophomore Kalli Shepler-Tucker. Shepler-Tucker angled an attempt in front of Green Bay goalkeeper Katy Pilarzyk and had it targeted for the far post. Minnich ended any doubt, poking the ball just inside the post for her first career score. 

"I liked the fact that we battled back from one goal down," IUPUI Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "Last year we lost on one goal seven times. This year, we've got some offensive firepower.

"I liked our speed running up and down the field. Tori made that run to the far post and was where she needed to be. (The freshmen) are gaining a level of comfort with one another and this is just their first game."

Minnich sat out the Jags' lone exhibition match, but made an immediate impact and logged plenty of minutes on Friday. 

"It was never racking," Minnich said of her first game action. "I saw (Raster) running up with the ball and I know when Cat has the ball, you run to the far post and she'll get it there. 

"As a forward, you play like you want the ball in the net."

Less than a minute later, it seemed as though Green Bay took a 2-1 lead on a Ahna Logan header, but the score was disallowed when a Phoenix attacker was whistled for a foul for holding Guzman. Given new life, the Jaguars seized momentum and controlled possession for much of the final 20 minutes of regulation. 

Once the game went to overtime, IUPUI had the better scoring opportunities, but neither team could scratch in the extra sessions. Shepler-Tucker hit a brilliant shot from straight away in the 94th minute, but Green Bay keeper Nastacia Behle got a hand on the ball and punched it off the crossbar. On the ensuing corner kick, Shepler-Tucker had an attempt roll wide of frame. Both teams were running on fumes in the second overtime and combined on just one shot attempt. 

IUPUI's best scoring chance of the first half came in the 23rd minute when Taylor Heidorn, who had just come on the field, had a 20-yard drive stopped by Behle, diving to her right.

Green Bay outshot the Jaguars 21-12 and 8-7 on goal while IUPUI tied its school record with 21 fouls called. Shepler-Tucker paced IUPUI with four shot attempts while Palmadottir had seven tries, primarily in the first half. 

Not lost in the draw was the effort of the defensive core, specifically freshman Maddie Riedford and senior Kristin Pierce in the middle. 

"Our back four is always strong. Looking at the stats from last year, they had a lot of shutouts and one goals games, so we expect a lot from the back four," Minnich said. 

Guzman, coming off a First Team All-Summit League effort a year ago, made seven stops in her 2013 debut. Behle, who sat out the second half before returning in goal for both overtime periods, made six saves for the Phoenix. 

IUPUI will continue the homestand on Sunday (Aug. 25) when the Jaguars host the University of Indianapolis at 1:00 p.m. at Carroll Stadium. Fans in attendance will receive free #imajaguar t-shirts while supplies last as part of the campus wide Weeks of Welcome.