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RICHMOND, Ky. - The IUPUI women's soccer team's early season road woes continued on Sunday (Aug. 26) as the Jaguars fell at Eastern Kentucky, 3-1, at the steamy EKU Soccer Field. EKU's Sarah Owusu scored twice and Bailee Bounds netted the game-winner for the hosts. Sophomore Miranda Ricks accounted for the Jaguars' only offense of the day, depositing her first goal of the year early in the second half. 

"It was a much better performance today and probably our best overall performance of the year," head coach Chris Johnson said. "It's getting better and we're finding some things - it's just not where we want it to be yet. It's super hot down here, but it's hot for [Eastern Kentucky] too and we're just not super deep. 

"We're getting closer but we're still not necessarily making the little plays that help you win games yet. It'll come, but it's not there yet."

IUPUI (1-3) had early scoring chances from the outset as Johnson recalled three opportunities in the opening minutes when his team threatened. However, poor execution prevented the Jags from capitalizing and it was the Colonels that scored the game's first goal in the sixth minute. Forced to chase the game, the Jaguars were unable to draw even before the half, trailing 1-0 at the break. 

EKU added some insurance in the 57th minute when a sloppy clearance allowed Bounds to fire at Sophia Lipka from inside the 18 for her first score of the season. 

IUPUI retaliated with an answer less than a minute later when freshman Elizabeth Bueckers setup Ricks' score. Ricks drove a shot in the upper-left corner of the net for the Jaguars' third goal of the young season. However, EKU squashed hopes of a comeback in the 61st minute when Owusu slipped a shot past Lipka for a 3-1 lead. 

Eastern Kentucky closed with a 17-8 shot advantage and 8-1 edge in corner kicks. Lipka made four saves in the loss while EKU's Zoe Aguirre needed two saves in the win. 

Johnson opted to change the team's formation and personnel prior to Sunday's match in an effort to jumpstart his squad. 

"I thought Jessi Cowen did some good things out there and I thought Miranda played really well today," Johnson said. "We're getting closer and getting back to training will only help us."

A season ago, Johnson's team sat 1-3 after an overtime home loss to EKU and the longtime Jaguars' head coach was unsure of where the season was headed. That squad went on to win back-to-back road decisions by identical 1-0 scores to ignite a 12-game winning streak. 

This year's team will look to replicate efforts with a pair of road games forthcoming on the schedule. 

IUPUI will be back on the road next weekend, beginning with Friday's match at Eastern Illinois at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The Jaguars will cap the two-game weekend at Toledo on Sunday (Sept. 2).