Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Chambers Postgame I Johnson Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team put up a solid showing in its lone exhibition on a steamy Saturday (Aug. 11) as the Jaguars played SIUE to a scoreless draw at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium. SIUE moved to 1-0-1 in preseason competition, having already breezed past Evansville earlier in the week. 

Head coach Chris Johnson's team had glimpses of beauty mixed with thorns as both offenses were well behind the defenses for the bulk of the day. IUPUI was outshot 10-6 overall, but neither side had major threats as the bulk of the contests was played between the 18's. 

"I thought the team showed good energy out there at times. We've got some young kids that are going to help us out," Johnson said. "Emma Chambers is a kid that hasn't started a lot or played a lot for us; I thought she was good in a lot of different spots out there on the field. She really worked hard in the offseason and it shows out here. She's going to be a really solid player for us this year.

"I thought Liz and V up top has the potential to be a very good combination for us. They have to continue to learn how to work together."

Sophia Lipka and AP Woodall combined to make five saves in the shutout while SIUE's Jensen Schoch went the distance at the opposite end, making two stops. 

IUPUI had some chances in the first half, the best coming on a pair of Bueckers attempts in the 15th minute. Bueckers got behind the SIUE defense courtesy of a Jenna Sterr long ball up the left side. Bueckers had an initial attempt knocked down by Schoch and the rebound attempt rocketed off a Cougar defender and beyond the endline. 

IUPUI was outshot 6-2 in the first half, although Lipka, the reigning Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year, faced little duress in making two stops. 

The second half opened with SIUE on the offensive, thanks in part to some shaky distribution from Woodall in the opening few minutes. However, both times, the rookie netminder was up to the task in stopping Cougar attempts. 

IUPUI had offensive chances as well as Chambers tried to sneak a shot inside the near post from her left midfield position and Valentine Pursey nearly snuck in behind the SIUE defense off a nifty feed from Jessica Flores before the attempt was cast aside by a defender. 

Bueckers and Chambers had a team-high two shots each while the latter played a team-high 80 minutes in her newly found starting role. Johnson had 20 different players play at least 14 minutes as he pieced and patched lineups and groupings throughout the day. 

"I thought it was a good start for the season," Chambers said. "I'm really excited to see where it's going to go. We had a lot of good chances and didn't give up too much, so I'm excited to see."

"The back line was solid all day," Johnson said. "I thought Bri in the middle in the second half and Becca the whole game were solid in 1-v-1 defending situations. I think we have very good strength to six people in that (defensive) space and at the end of the game, we played a few of those outside backs as outside mids and I think that's something we're going to continue to experiment with. 

"I think those six backs are probably our strongest, most experienced group on the field."

IUPUI will open the regular season on Friday, Aug. 16 when the Jaguars host Marian University at 5:30 p.m. at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium. Admission is FREE for IUPUI students with a valid Crimson Card and general admission seating is just $5.