DENVER - Playing in the postseason for the first time since 2009, the IUPUI women's soccer team ultimately fell short of their goal with a 1-0 loss to No. 3 Denver at DU's CIBER Field on Thursday night (Nov. 6). Denver deposited the game-winner in the 58th minute when Brooke Boothe scored from 14 yards out after Lauren Conley's original shot attempt was blocked by an IUPUI defender. 

Denver (10-8-1) advances to take on top-seeded South Dakota State in Saturday's championship match while IUPUI's season ends at 7-10-3. The loss snapped the Jaguars' season-best three-game winning streak.

IUPUI was on the defensive from the outset as the Pioneers took the game's first seven shots until Taylor Heidorn sent a shot high in the 27th minute. Second Team All-Summit League goalkeeper Catherine Schmidt made three of her four saves before halftime as DU outshot the Jaguars 11-1 before the break.

The Jaguars finally got a shot on target in the 51st minute when junior Kalli Shepler-Tucker tested DU goalie Tina Vargas with an attempt. Just more than six minutes later, Denver tallied the game's lone goal. 

Stella Norman started the play, resulting in Conley's initial attempt, which was blocked back towards Boothe. Boothe capitalized on the chance, netting her third goal of the season past Schmidt. 

IUPUI's offense continued to struggle to get shots against the Pios defense, finishing with just four attempts against DU's 16 tries. Shepler-Tucker put another shot on frame in the 82nd minute and senior Anna Rode had a shot go wide after Shepler-Tucker's corner kick in the 89th minute. 

The Jaguars' best scoring chance of the game came late when Lauren Kulaga pinged a volley on the outer portion of the right post after a scramble in front of the DU net. The junior's shot went beyond Vargas' outstretched arms and ticked the woodwork before going beyond the endline. 

Vargas needed two saves to blank the Jaguars while IUPUI finished with five saves. Schmidt was aided by a team save in the second half. Schmidt finished the year with a 6-4-4 mark in goal, including winning her final five decisions of the regular season. 

IUPUI will bring back the bulk of its roster for a return run in 2015, including Freshman of the Year Krissy Kirkhoff and talented goal scorer Tori Minnich.