Box Score Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Chris Johnson Postgame Interview

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team went toe-to-toe with Xavier in non-conference action at Carroll Stadium on Tuesday (Sept. 2) night, but came up on the wrong side of a 2-0 decision. Xavier (1-3) scored a goal in each half and the Jaguars had an apparent game-tying score negated late in the match before being ultimately shutout. 

Xavier's Kenadie Carlson scored the decisive goal in the 19th minute before Megan Dalton added insurance in the 81st minute. Xavier goalie Katie Markesbery recorded five saves in the shutout win while IUPUI (1-3-1) sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Kulovitz registered six saves, including stopping a penalty kick early in the second half. 

"I'm not much into moral victories, but it definitely shows that we're a lot further along than we were a couple years ago when we played Xavier," IUPUI Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "I thought our kids battled hard and played well. I think Xavier is a team that is the equivalent of the top teams in our conference. 

"We played with them for a long time and took it to them in the second half. I'm very happy with the way our girls played and I think it shows we're moving in the right direction. Now we just have to give a consistent effort like that every time we step out on the field and I think we're going to be okay."

Carlson made a great individual effort for the game's first goal, carrying the ball up the right sideline in front of the Jaguars' bench before angling to goal near the corner of the 18-yard box. Left virtually unimpeded, Carlson blasted a shot past Kulovitz from in close for an early 1-0 lead. 

In the 25th minute, IUPUI earned an indirect kick inside the 18-yard box, but Alyssa Fox's attempt didn't get past the four-player Xavier wall. The Jaguars' best scoring chance of the first half came late when freshman Val Ostrowski found a seam and put a left-footed shot on target, only to have it knocked down by a Xavier defender before getting to frame.

It seemed to be a precursor of things to come as the Jaguars had the better run of play to start the second half.

Freshman Krissy Kirkhoff put a strike on target in 46th minute, but moments later, Xavier earned a PK when Carly Alfano was pulled down from behind on a breakaway. Kulovitz made her most impressive stop of the night, diving to her left to engulf the shot and keep the Jaguars within striking distance. 

"She came up big time right there," Johnson said. "She made a heck of a play on her part. From then on, we got the next two or three shots on goal were from because of that right there."

With momentum clearly on their side, the Jaguars got quality chances from Kirkhoff and Hayley Shelton, the latter of which missed rolling inside the right post by a matter of inches. In the 72nd minute, freshman Leia Peterman had a header ring off the crossbar after a Kalli Shepler-Tucker corner kick. 

IUPUI seemingly equalized late in the match when Tori Minnich rolled a shot inside the right post, but the shot was negated as the sophomore was called for a foul after getting tangled with a Xavier defender. 

Xavier all but buried the Jaguars in the 81st minute when Catherine Allon played a long lead pass to Dalton, who scored from just inside the penalty area. 

XU outshot the Jaguars 17-14 overall and 8-5 on frame. 

IUPUI will cap the two-game homestand on Friday (Sept. 5) when they host Northern Kentucky at 6:00 p.m. at Carroll Stadium. As part of the campus-wide Weeks of Welcome, the university is hosting a Jag Prowl, including free food and t-shirts at the Tower, culminating with attending the Jaguars' match against the Norse. Admission to all IUPUI home soccer events is free of charge, while standard university rates may apply.