Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Highlights I Miranda Ricks Postgame I Natalie McNally Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team ran its winning streak to five on Friday night (Sept. 15), opening Horizon League play with a 1-0 overtime win over Cleveland State at Carroll Stadium. Sophomore netminder Sophia Lipka recorded her fifth straight shutout to move her scoreless streak to more than 455 minutes while freshman Miranda Ricks tallied the game-winner in the 96th minute. Seniors Krissy Kirkhoff and Hayley Shelton earned assists on a night in which visiting Cleveland State (4-6, 0-1 Horizon) dominated much of the score sheet, but came up short. 

The win was IUPUI's first-ever Horizon League victory in any sport. 

IUPUI (6-3, 1-0 Horizon) was outshot 20-11 overall and 7-4 on frame, but got the timely score to match the program's longest winning streak since the 2009 season. Shelton shifted a ball out wide to Kirkhoff who muscled past a defender before crossing a ball through traffic. Ricks got on the business end of the cross and squared up a shot past CSU goalkeeper Jamie Daniels for her second score of the year. It was Ricks' lone shot attempt of the night as much of the run of play was at the opposite end of the field. 

"It feels awesome. It's such a good feeling to go out and battle and have (the goal) be at the end and that be the game is a great feeling," Ricks said of the winner. "Honestly, a lot was going through my head. It came in the air, so I knew that it was going to be off the volley. I thought inside of the foot or laces and I went inside of the net side netting and it went in."

"It wasn't always pretty, but I thought we did a good job of sticking with the game plan and making the most of an opportunity when it presented itself," IUPUI Head Coach Chris Johnson said. "We have some girls who are kind of nicked up, so we aren't able to rest as many girls as we would like. (Cleveland State) is a hard team to play because they play a very direct, physical style. 

"He's doing a good job with that program and honestly, we were lucky to get a result tonight."

Cleveland State was the aggressor from the outset, outshooting IUPUI 9-2 before halftime, forcing Lipka to make four first half saves. Jenna Prathapa was dangerous throughout, working out wide against the Jaguars' defense. IUPUI was limited to just two Jessica Flores attempts in the first half, but made some adjustments at the break to increase opportunities in the second half.  

Still, IUPUI had precious few quality builds, but had a true scoring chance go by the boards in the 62nd minute. Braegan Lyon had an initial attempt knocked down with the rebound coming to Valentine Pursey just beyond the 18. Pursey worked to her right before getting enough of a crease to get a clear shot attempt off. Daniels made the initial stop, but Shelton swept through to collect the rebound. However, she was unable to get a turn to fire on frame. 

CSU's best build of the second half came in the 86th minute when McKenna Vento ripped a shot over the head of Lipka and off the crossbar. Earlier in the half, Aliani Lorenzo tested Lipka with three shots on frame in less than three minutes, all of which resulted in saves. Lipka, the reigning #NCAASoccer Player of the Week, closed with seven stops, upping her total to 51 on the season. 

"It's awesome to get shutouts. It's always the goal on defense," freshman Natalie McNally said. "(Lipka)'s been making great saves that have kept us in every game. She's a big part of our shutouts and it's great to have her back there."

Lipka's 455 minutes without yielding a goal is the second-longest streak in school history and is just six minutes shy of IUPUI Hall of Famer Jamie Farrell's all-time mark of 461:01, set in 2006. Lipka's six shutouts this season are already the second-most in a single-season in school history as well, trailing Farrell's school record total of eight, which she achieved in both 2008 and 2009. 

Kirkhoff and Shelton both upped their career assist totals to 14 and are both two shy of matching Kalli Shepler-Tucker's all-time record of 16, which she set from 2012-15. Kirkhoff also took over sole possession of third-place on IUPUI's all-time scoring list with her 64th point on Friday night. She's 10 points shy of tying Megan Hock's all-time mark of 74. 

IUPUI will cap the weekend at Marian on Sunday (Sept. 17) with a 5:00 p.m. kickoff.