INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team capped the regular season with a 2-0 win over Omaha on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 2) at Carroll Stadium, earning the program's first Summit League Tournament berth since 2009. Freshman Krissy Kirkhoff scored twice in the opening 11 minutes and classmate Catherine Schmidt garnered a shutout in goal in the win. 

The win was IUPUI's fifth in six games in conference play as the Jaguars head to the four-team Summit League Tournament in Denver. 

"I'm really proud of our girls," IUPUI Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "They're repeatedly done what they needed to do to get results. That's all you can ask of them. They knew what the goal was today and they went out and achieved it. 

"Going into the season, one of our goals was to make the conference tournament. I'm really proud of how far this group has come to achieve this goal."

Needing at least a draw to earn a spot in the postseason tournament, the Jaguars wasted little time jumping in front, thanks to Kirkhoff's eighth goal of the year. Sophomore Tori Minnich played a ball forward to Kirkhoff, who was then loose on a breakaway. The rookie cut the ball back to her right before rolling a shot past Omaha (5-12-2, 3-3-2 Summit) goalie Haley Shelton less than two minutes into the match. 

Kirkhoff struck against in the 11th minute on a similar finish, this time created by Kalli Shepler-Tucker's through ball. Kirkhoff's ninth goal gave her the most by an IUPUI player since Alicia Brock scored the same number in 2008. Meanwhile, Shepler-Tucker's sixth assist matched the IUPUI single-season record and gave her 14 for her career, one shy of tying the school record. 

IUPUI (7-9-3, 5-3 Summit) continued to stay on the attack, getting quality looks from both Grace Perkowitz and Hayley Shelton later in the half. 

The second half began with the Jaguars determined to get a third goal as Kirkhoff and Minnich continued to guide the attack, but the UNO defense held strong. Junior Lauren Kulaga tested the Omaha defense with a drive from the top of the 18 in the 60th minute. 

The always emotional senior day just missed a great senior moment in the 77th minute as the Jaguars' three fourth-year players just missed converging on a goal. Taylor Heidorn slid a pass to her right to Anna Rode, who connected with a wide open Brenna Parks. Given some time, Parks drilled a shot just high of target from distance. 

Omaha didn't put a shot on frame until the 76th minute when Nyoke Dumba played a long ball on frame that Schmidt easily played with her feet. The Mavs best scoring chance of the game was in the 84th minute when Kyla Booker angled a brilliant ball towards the far post from 30 yards out. However, Schmidt retreated towards her line and punched the shot off the crossbar and back onto the field of play. 

IUPUI closed with a 19-11 shot advantage and 11-3 edge in shots on goal. Both Kirkhoff and Minnich tried a game-high four shots each. Shelton made nine saves in the loss while Schmidt needed three saves in her second career shutout. 

The Summit League Women's Soccer Championships will be hosted by Denver at CIBER Field on Nov. 6-8. Pairings and game times will be forthcoming very shortly.