Valparaiso (Aug. 19 - 7:30pm): Live Stats I Ticket Information I Parking Information
at Ball State (Aug. 21 - 2:00pm): Live Stats

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team will open the 2016 season this weekend by facing a pair of in-state opponents in non-conference action. The Jaguars will usher in the campaign with a Friday night (Aug. 19) home match against Valparaiso at 7:30 p.m. at Michael A. Carroll Stadium, followed by a Sunday afternoon (Aug. 21) trip to Ball State.

Ticket and parking information for Friday's match is available at the top of the page. Like always, IUPUI home events are FREE of charge for IUPUI students with a valid JagTag.

Head Coach Chris Johnson enters his 14th year at the helm of the program and is the winningest coach in IUPUI women's soccer history. His squad was recently picked to finish sixth in The Summit and boasts a strong core, returning the bulk of last year's starting lineup. Included in that group is junior forward Krissy Kirkhoff (12 goals) and senior Tori Minnich (6 goals). Kirkhoff (8 assists), Hayley Shelton (4 assists) and Catherine Raster (3 assists) are the team's top assist leaders.

Junior goalie Catherine Schmidt comes off a season in which she started every match, recording a 1.41 goals against average and 82 stops. She'll be aided by veterans Sierra Bryant and Maddie Riedford in front of her.

LAST TIME OUT
IUPUI played Western Michigan to a 2-2 draw, thanks to a pair of goals from senior striker Catherine Raster. Forwards Krissy Kirkhoff and Tori Minnich collected assists

Raster scored the game's first goal in the ninth minute and added another score in the 51st minute. The goalie duo of Catherine Schmidt and Sophia Lipka combined on nine saves and each allowed a score.

ON THE POSTER
Senior back Samantha Bathurst will be featured on Friday night's gameday poster.

SCOUTING THE CRUSADERS
Valpo went 7-8-3 last season and 3-6-1 away from home. VU returns top scorer April Cronin (7 goals, 3 assists) and starting goalie Sydney Galvez-Daley (1.20 GAA, 43 saves) from last year's club. 

Valpo went 1-0-1 in the preseason with a 4-2 win at Western Illinois and a 2-2 draw against Ohio.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Ball State is coming off a 14-3-3 campaign and an unblemished 6-0-1 mark at home in 2015. The Cardinals lost last year's top scorers Chelsy Swackhamer (9 goals, 3 assists) and Abigail Boswell (10 goals) but return starting goalkeeper Alyssa Heintschel (0.63 GAA, 47 saves). Five different BSU players had at least three goals a season ago as Ball State outscored opponents 35-13.

BSU opened the preseason with a 1-0 win over Marshall and will host Eastern Kentucky in their opener on Friday night.

SERIES RECORDS
IUPUI is 3-10-4 all-time against Valpo and the two teams haven't met since 2014.
IUPUI is 2-4-2 all-time against Ball State and the two teams haven't met in the regular season since 2013.