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TOLEDO, Ohio - The IUPUI women's soccer team allowed a pair of first half scores and continued to struggle to close scoring chances as the Jaguars fell at reigning Mid-American Conference champion Toledo on Sunday (Sept. 2), 2-0. 

"It's good and it's getting better, but it's still not good enough to win the game," head coach Chris Johnson said. "It's kind of like a broken record at this point, but it's kind of where we're at. We had [offensive] chances and we defended pretty well, but it just wasn't good enough today.

"I challenged the midfielders at halftime because we just weren't getting much out of them in the first half. I thought they did a good job of responding in the second half and it showed at both ends of the field. It just needs to continue to get better for us to get results."

The opening half of the first half was decided by penalty kicks as both sides earned an opportunity. Toledo (3-1-1) earned the game's first PK in the 15th minute and capitalized when Natalie Knauf scooted a shot past Sophia Lipka to break open the scoring, ultimately resulting in the game-winner. IUPUI earned a chance to equalize a few minutes later, but Miranda Ricks yanked her attempt wide of target as the Rockets remained in front. 

The Rockets made it 2-0 in the 37th minute when Alex Troy banged a header off the underside of the crossbar and just past Lipka for her first score of the year. 

A trio of freshmen nearly got the Jags on the board late in the first half when Renae Blevins and Elizabeth Bueckers helped setup a Megan Wurth drive from the top of the 18, but the Jaguars' rookie hit her attempt right at Toledo goalkeeper Katie Wilson. 

IUPUI was in the attacking third more frequently in the second half, but was still unable to solve Wilson and the Toledo defense. Sophomore forward Jessi Cowen was problematic for the Rockets at times on the left side and classmate Jillian Steinbrink just missed a pair of chances. Steinbrink blasted a shot from 20 yards out in the 80th minute, but was just off target in the direction of the right post. 

Sophomore Natalie McNally also had a restart fly just high of target in the closing minutes as well. 

Toledo outshot the Jaguars 13-8 and 9-5 on target. 

Lipka was her typical brilliant self in net, recording seven saves, including stonewalling a drive from Toledo's Hannah Scafaria late in the match. Lipka also benefited from a nifty clearance from Becca Spitalniak in the game's early going as the senior defender retreated to keep an attempt from tucking just inside the far post after the IUPUI keeper had come off her line. 

"We didn't leave Soph open and exposed much today. She made some saves on some balls that were right to her, but it's not like she had to go sprawling out to make diving saves throughout the day," Johnson said. 

IUPUI will return home to host Taylor University on Wednesday night (Sept. 5) at 7:00 p.m. at Carroll Stadium. Admission is FREE for IUPUI students with a valid Crimson Card and adult tickets are just $5 at the gates.