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CHICAGO - The IUPUI women's soccer team continued its trend of building beautiful defensive cakes, but finally put the icing on top as the Jaguars edged UIC on the road on Wednesday night (Sept. 26), 1-0. Junior goalkeeper Sophia Lipka registered her 15th career shutout and freshman forward Elizabeth Bueckers made it stand as she redirected a header home in the game's 75th minute for her first career game-winner. 

Senior Braegan Lyon and sophomore Miranda Ricks assisted on the score to give IUPUI its first Horizon League victory of the season and first true road win of the year. 

"I was really pleased with the effort," head coach Chris Johnson said. "They tried to put our backs under pressure, but Jill and Jenna got up the field and helped us out a little bit. I thought Emma and Morgan in the midfield were pretty good and did a good job of winning balls for us and getting us going the right direction.

"Defensively, I thought we did a good job of keeping them in front and really keeping them in check."

Bueckers goal came after Lyon dropped a throw-in to Ricks on the right side, who then crossed the ball into traffic. The Milwaukee-native got on the business end of the cross to easily angle home her second career goal. 

"It honestly was so relieving to finally finish off a play like that because we have had so many chances," Bueckers said. "I think it was the best put together 90 minutes of the season. Miranda just played a perfect ball to the top of the six and all I had to do was redirect it."

IUPUI (3-6-3, 1-1-1 HL) dominated possession for long stretches and strung together passes all over the field. However, getting the finishing touch continued to be problematic, despite the disproportionate number of chances. 

DJ Veldman hit the crossbar in the 28th minute and came up empty after a stellar cross from the right side late in the first half. 

Early in the second half, Valentine Pursey single-handedly put the heat on UIC (2-10, 1-2 HL) keeper Haley Leanna, getting some quick attempts early in the stanza. Sophomore Jessi Cowen was on the end of a long lead pass, but called for an unfortunate foul as Leanna and a UIC defender collided on the play. 

Bueckers finally changed the tone and relieved the pressure with the header goal late in regulation. The Jaguars' defense killed the game from there, repeatedly fending off forwards to earn goal kicks and allowing just one shot from distance in the closing minutes. 

"Miranda, Jessi and V did a good job of working hard to create opportunities. Then we went to the bench and brought in three more girls that did a good job of continuing to create more opportunities. Right now, we have six girls that are working hard and doing what we ask of them up there," Johnson said. "We're still not quite connecting on the finishing end, but it's better. 

"From our goal to 80 yards up the field, I thought it was our best effort of the year."

IUPUI finished with a 19-11 advantage in shot attempts and 10-4 margin in shots on goal. After going 110 minutes without allowing Detroit Mercy a corner kick on Saturday, the Jags allowed UIC just one corner kick in 90 minutes on Wednesday night. 

Pursey finished with a game-high seven shot attempts, putting six on target. Bueckers had four shots off the Jaguars' bench while Veldman and Jessica Flores closed with two each. 

Lipka made four saves in earning her fourth shutout of the season and extending her personal scoreless streak to 203 minutes. 

IUPUI will return home to host Youngstown State at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 29) and will honor the senior group of Flores, Lyon, Leah Minnette, Becca Spitalniak and Veldman prior to kickoff. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as Scott Agness (pxp) will be on the call.