LEXINGTON, Va. - It wasn't for a lack of opportunities, but the IUPUI women's soccer team was shutout for the first time in the 2016 season on Sunday (Sept. 4) as the Jags dropped a 1-0 count to VMI. VMI's Kristen Whitehurst tallied the game-winner in the 38th minute to account for the game's lone score.

"This was definitely a winnable game, so it's disappointing in that regard," IUPUI Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "Seven or eight times, we rolled balls across their box and the chances that we've been finishing all year, we just didn't finish today."

Junior Sarah Jacobs had a good scoring chance fly wide of target in the 25th minute and moments later, Maryna Clark helped create a dangerous chance that didn't come to fruition. Clark sent the ball in and both Catherine Raster and Denise Veldman were unable to get the finishing touch before a VMI (3-2) defender cleared the ball away. 

A missed clearance helped VMI finally tally on a header as Whitehurst netted her second score of the year. 

"Their best chances came on restarts and we gave them a couple deep in our territory. (The goal) wasn't a thing of beauty; kind of a hustle and scrap goal, which they're very good at and have been very successful with," Johnson said. "They've got some really good athletes - just some really big and really fast kids that gave us trouble."

The second half was much of the same all the way up until the final whistle. Junior Hayley Shelton had a quality look in the 59th minute and Veldman hit the crossbar in the 71st minute. 

With the final seconds ticking down, senior Alyssa Fox just missed getting on the end of a cross and pushed her shot high of target. 

IUPUI outshot the Keydets 16-15 and had a 6-3 advantage on corner kicks. Junior goalie Catherine Schmidt was saddled with the loss and ended the day with five saves. 

The Jags return to action on Friday, Sept. 9 when they face Eastern Illinois at 3:00 p.m. in Charleston.