INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team opened Summit League play with an impressive 2-0 victory over South Dakota on a rainy Friday night (Sept. 30) at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium. Sophomore Braegan Lyon tallied her first career goal in the game's 22nd minute for the game-winner and junior Krissy Kirkhoff netted her 23rd career goal on a penalty kick for second half insurance. 

IUPUI improved to 7-4-1 overall and 1-0 in Summit League play while South Dakota dipped to 1-10-1 and 0-1 to start league play. The Jags also improved to 5-0 at Carroll Stadium this season, having outscored foes by a 15-1 margin. 

"It's wonderful," Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "I'm very happy with how the girls played and very happy with the effort level they put out right away. My hope that this is one of many in a (winning) streak and we get this thing going."

The match got off to an ominous start as play was halted after less than three minutes due to lightning in the area. After a 40 minute delay, the teams returned to the pitch and played underneath a steady shower for much of the opening 45 minutes.

After regrouping after the rain, the Jags finally hit paydirt with a successful corner kick in the 22nd minute. Senior Alyssa Fox sent the ball in to Leia Peterman, who headed the ball across the six-yard box to Lyon. Lyon then pushed a header past USD goalie Parker Rytz for her first collegiate score. 

"We've been practicing it and honestly, if Leia wasn't there to get it on my head, then it wasn't going in," Lyon said of the goal. "I think Leia for that and Alyssa's good ball."

"It wasn't precisely how we drew it up, but it creates some opportunities inside the six that we were able to finish tonight," Johnson said of the goal. 

As the rain intensified, both teams struggled to connect passes, but IUPUI ultimately closed the half with a 1-0 lead. 

In the second half, a successful build in the final third led to a penalty kick in the 49th minute. A hand ball in the penalty area led to an easy call and Kirkhoff cooly rolled the ensuing shot inside the left post for her second score of the season. The Jaguars' two-time All-Summit League pick had missed the last nine matches due to injury before returning to play 56 minutes on Friday night. 

From there, the IUPUI defense shouldered the load over the final 40-plus minutes with junior goalie Catherine Schmidt needing three saves for her sixth career clean sheet. 

"I thought our back line really held together well," Johnson said. "Maddie (Riedford) has been a brick wall for us all year long and I really love what she's brought to the table. 

"I thought they had a lot of set pieces that we were giving up in the second half, but we were still winning those balls. Cat Schmidt stayed on her line and kept things organized in the back in front of her and it was a great shutout for them to get today."

USD finished with a 12-9 shot advantage, but put just four on frame against the stingy Jaguars' backs. 

IUPUI will continue the Summit League homestand on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 2) when the Jags welcome Denver at 1:00 p.m.. That match is FREE to IUPUI students with a valid JagTag and is just $5 for adult tickets.