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Chris Johnson Postgame |
Maddie Riedford Postgame
INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team put forth a strong defensive effort, but was unable to solve one of the nation's top defensive squads as the Jaguars played Valparaiso to a 0-0 scoreless draw at Carroll Stadium on Friday (Sept. 13) night. Both teams had their chances to dent the back of the net, but ultimately came up empty as the Jaguars notched their third straight shutout at home.
"I liked the great 110 minute effort," Head Coach
Chris Johnson said. "I thought that we played against a very good team tonight. We were able to connect passes, get forward in the attack and create opportunities more so than we've done this year. That's a solid team - they've beat Northwestern this year, they beat DePaul this year and we had good opportunities to win the game.
"We had the chances. We've got to learn to put those opportunities away a little better than we did tonight and we're going to win some games. Overall, it was a great 110 minute effort."
IUPUI's (3-2-2) best scoring chance was in the game's first three minutes when freshman
Tori Minnich got loose in deep into the Valparaiso box. The diminutive rookie took one too many touches before hitting a shot that was blocked away by Erika Schoemann for a corner kick. All total, the VU defense kept the Jaguars without a shot on goal until early in the second half.
The IUPUI defense was equally stingy as
Giselle Guzman's only real test of the first half was a save off a Kelsey Draper header in the game's 23rd minute.
The second half saw both sides get better opportunities, including a drive by Valpo's (4-2-1) Allegra Godfrey in the 63rd minute that freshman
Nicole Kulovitz made a game saving stop against, diving to her left. The 5-foot-10 rookie just got her left hand on the ball, pushing the shot outside the right post.
"That play was kind of a scramble, (Kulovitz) saved our butt," freshman
Maddie Riedford said. "We picked it up after that - it was a scary moment."
"Nicole's a big girl," Johnson said. "She looks like she's not going to get to stuff, but definitely does. She's very quick and agile and she's shown tonight that we're going to be able to depend on her."
The Jaguars had a great scoring chance in the 71st minute when freshman
Catherine Raster beat her defender on the right sideline and centered a pass to sophomore
Kalli Shepler-Tucker. Shepler-Tucker composed and hit a right-footed shot right at VU goalkeeper Kristen Manski, who has allowed just two goals in seven starts this season.
Moments later, Shepler-Tucker rolled a dangerous cross through the Valpo box, only to see an initial forward miss on the play and
Paxton Ott's attempt at the far post fly over the crossbar.
Valpo ended the night with a 19-16 shot advantage, with Manski making five saves for her fifth shutout of the year. Guzman made two first half saves before Kulovitz made two stops in the final 65 minutes. Shepler-Tucker led all players with five shot attempts, putting three on target, while Minnich and
Taylor Heidorn had three shots each. VU finished with a 10-5 edge on corners, including getting three in the second overtime period.
"I think we did really good pressuring up top and I think that really helped us," Riedford. "The back line was really strong. It really helps because we practice all on the back line and we've played together every game. We're getting a lot better at knowing how each other plays.
"We definitely need to cut down on the (opponent's) corners, but I think we stayed composed and got the ball out well."
IUPUI moved its record to 3-10-3 all-time against Valpo and remained undefeated at home this season.
The Jaguars will return to action on Friday, Sept. 20 when they host Ball State at Carroll Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff. IUPUI cap the busy weekend by hosting Butler on Sunday (Sept. 22) in a regionally televised match on Hometown Sports & News (HTSN) at 1:00 p.m.. Greg Rakestraw (pxp) will call the action on that broadcast.
