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NORMAL, Ill. - The IUPUI women's soccer team erupted for four second half goals, including a pair from freshman Elizabeth Bueckers, as the Jaguars routed Illinois State on the road, 4-0 on Monday night (Oct. 1). Both Emma Chambers and Miranda Ricks delivered two assists each and sophomore Valentine Pursey registered the game-winner early in the second half. 

The IUPUI (5-6-3) defense recorded a fourth straight shutout and ran the Jags' winning streak to three-in-a-row as junior goalkeeper Sophia Lipka matched her season-high with 11 saves. It was the Redbirds' first home loss of the season in six games. 

"Soph just stonewalled them. She made three or four saves on balls that they feel like they should've put away," head coach Chris Johnson said. "She made some saves to keep us in the game long enough until we could get the offense going."

"We knew going it they'd be a hard team but our girls didn't shut down," Lipka said. "My defense played solid as always and played as tough as they could with all of the players that ISU threw forward. It's always nice to be able to have games where I can back up my defense like they do for me every other time. That's the kind of heart we need every game moving forward."

Lipka was an impenetrable wall in goal, particularly in the second half after Pursey put IUPUI in front in the game's 49th minute. Chambers launched a free kick to the back post where Pursey went high above traffic and redirected a header for her third score of the year. 

The game stayed 1-0 for nearly 30 minutes as Illinois State (6-6-2) made things tense for much of the second half. However, Lipka was up to the task on every occasion, stopping multiple quality chances as part of her 11-save night. 

IUPUI got the cushion it needed in the 78th minute when senior Jessica Flores had a near impossible flick of a Miranda Ricks corner kick redirect past ISU keeper Jenny Scara. Flores' second score of the year opened the floodgates as IUPUI ultimately scored three times in just more than three minutes. 

Bueckers made it 3-0 when she got on the receiving end of a Chambers ball driven to the top of the six-yard box. Bueckers and Scara converged on the ball at the same time and the carom popped nearly straight in the air and into the ISU net. Moments later, Bueckers was left unmarked in the ISU box and angled a header back against the grain off a Ricks cross. 

IUPUI was outshot 20-9 overall and 11-5 on target. However, the Jaguars' offense had a breakout performance with a season-high four scores. 

"I think this game really proved that we have turned a corner offensively and as a whole team," Bueckers said. "We are really starting to connect and finishing those two services off for me is really another confidence booster. All credit to Miranda and Emma with the perfect services again right to my head."

Bueckers took over the team lead with her third and fourth goals of the season while Ricks upped her assist total to seven. Lipka earned her league leading sixth shutout of the season and 17th of her college career. The Jaguars rotation of backs put in a workmanlike effort against ISU's fast, athletic attack. Morgan Rymer played a team-high 84 minutes in the defensive midfield while Bri Denny and Natalie McNally both played nearly 80 apiece in the back third. 

The win improved IUPUI to 2-1 all-time against Illinois State. The Jaguars will return to action this Saturday (Oct. 6) when they face Northern Kentucky at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.