at South Dakota (Oct. 23 - 5:00 p.m.): Live Stats
at Denver (Oct. 25 - 2:00 p.m.): Live Stats I Live Video

VERMILLION, S.D. - Riding a recent Summit League win at Western Illinois, the IUPUI women's soccer team will hit the road for a pivotal two-game trip this weekend, beginning at South Dakota on Friday night (Oct. 23) at 5:00 p.m.. The trip will conclude with a regionally televised match at Denver on Sunday (Oct. 25) at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. 

IUPUI (6-6-2, 1-2-1 Summit) enters the weekend No. 7 in The Summit League standings and needs to collect some road points to move towards the top four spots to qualify for the postseason tournament. 

KIRKHOFF HONORED, AGAIN
Sophomore Krissy Kirkhoff earned Summit League Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season (fourth time in her career) earlier this week. She scored two second half goals in the win at Western Illinois, marking her second multi-goal game of the season (fourth of her career). In doing so, Kirkhoff became the fourth player in school history to score double-digit goals in a season and sits with 27 points, six shy of tying the school record.  

MISS ASSIST
Senior Kalli Shepler-Tucker moved into a tie for the program's all-time lead in assists at Omaha (Oct. 9), delivering a through ball to Kirkhoff for the Jaguars' lone score. It was her first assist of the season and 15th of her collegiate career, tying her with Sheri Levack for the top spot. 

70 CLUB
Senior Lauren Kulaga made her 70th career start at Omaha (Oct. 9), becoming the sixth player in school history to hit that number. In doing so, she joined Margaret Allgeier (78), Karrie Reising (73), Katrina McCrory (71), Anna Pigg (70) and Kara Conger (70). 

FIRST TIMERS
IUPUI has had back-to-back games with a player scoring their first career goals. At Western Illinois on Sunday (Oct. 18), freshman Maryna Clark netted her first career goal late in the contest. Two days prior against Oral Roberts (Oct. 16), senior Meghan Day netted her first career goal, coming in her first start of the season. They became the fifth and sixth Jaguars to score their career goals this season, joining freshman Becca Spitalniak, sophomores Leia Peterman and Beth Parks and Kulaga.

FOR STARTERS
IUPUI has had 19 different players start at least two matches this season, although five have started all 14 matches. Injuries have played a major role in the patchwork starting lineups as expected starter Sierra Bryant suffered a season-ending injury in the third match of the season and another expected starter, Catherine Raster, missed the first month due to injury. 

ACADEMIC HONORS
For the seventh straight year, the IUPUI women's soccer team earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award on Sept. 23. Teams with a 3.0 GPA or greater are recognized nationally for their achievements.  

NEWBIES
Nine different players have made their IUPUI debuts this season, with a combination of two Division-I transfers, two redshirt freshman and five true freshmen. Of the newcomers, true freshman Braegan Lyon leads the group in minutes played (733), followed by Spitalniak (542) and Jessica Flores (535). 

AMONG THE LEADERS
Below is a look at where IUPUI players rank in The Summit League statistical leaders entering the weekend:
Goals: Kirkhoff (2nd / 10), Minnich (t-4th / 6)
Assists: Kirkhoff (t-1st / 7), Shelton (t-6th / 4)
Points: Kirkhoff (2nd / 29), Minnich (6th / 14) 
Shots: Kirkhoff (1st / 61)
Game-Winners: Minnich (t-2nd / 3), Kirkhoff (t-7th / 1), Perkowitz (t-7th / 1), Spitalniak (t-7th / 1)
Saves: Schmidt (5th / 65)
Save Percentage: Schmidt (5th / .783)
Goals Against Average: Schmidt (4th / 1.41)
Wins: Schmidt (3rd / 6)
Shutouts: Schmidt (t-5th / 2)

SCOUTING THE JAGUARS
IUPUI is 6-6-2 on the season and 4-3 in true road matches. Kirkhoff and Minnich have led the attack, combining to score 16 of the team's 25 goals and attempt 87 of the squad's 185 shots. Kirkhoff (10 goals, 7 assists) has become one of the league's top targets, while Minnich (6 goals, 3 game-winners) has been clutch in her scoring ability. Sophomore Hayley Shelton has turned in four assists from the midfield while junior Catherine Raster has a goal and three assists since returning from injury.  

Sophomore goalie Catherine Schmidt has a 1.41 goals against average and 65 saves in 14 starts. 

SCOUTING THE COYOTES
South Dakota is 5-11 overall and 2-3 in Summit League play. Three of the Yotes five wins have come at home this season. Corey Strang leads USD in scoring with 12 points (4 goals, 4 assists) and is followed by Sammie Villwock (3 goals, 2 assists) and Brenna Bills (3 goals).

In goal, Sydney Hardin has started 10 of 14 matches and recorded a 1.66 goals against average and 47 saves.  

SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Denver is 1-11-1 on the season and 1-3 in Summit League play. Stella Norman leads Denver in scoring (2 goals, 1 assist) and is followed by Taylor Ivins (1 goal, 1 assist). The Pioneers are winless at home this season, going 0-5 overall and 0-2 in Summit League play. 

Defensively, Cassidy Rey has played the majority of the team's minutes in net, posting a 1.76 GAA and 49 stops. 

SERIES RECORDS
IUPUI is 3-0-3 all-time against USD and 1-0-2 in the three meetings in Vermillion. IUPUI won last year's meeting by a 4-1 score in Indianapolis as Raster, Kirkhoff, Alyssa Fox and Taylor Heidorn scored goals. 

The Jaguars are 1-3 all-time against Denver and 0-3 in the prior three meetings in Colorado. Denver knocked the Jaguars out of last year's Summit League Tournament with a 1-0 outcome in the Mile High City. IUPUI won the regular season meeting between the two schools by a 2-0 count thanks to goals from Perkowitz and Kirkhoff.

UP NEXT
IUPUI will cap the 2015 home slate next weekend, hosting North Dakota State (Oct. 30) and South Dakota State (Nov. 1) at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. Kickoff will be 7:00 p.m. on Friday night and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. IUPUI will recognize the senior class of Bryant, Day, Kulaga, Perkowitz and Shepler-Tucker following Sunday's match.