Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Highlights I Veldman Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team recorded a third straight shutout and got second half goals from Valentine Pursey and Denise Veldman as the Jags roared past Youngstown State, 2-0 on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 29). Veldman, who was among five players honored on Senior Day before the game, netted her first career score while Pursey pumped in her 15th career tally for the winner. 

"I'm proud of the ladies today. I thought everyone up and down the roster contributed to this win," head coach Chris Johnson said. "Defensively I thought we did a good job of keeping things in front of us and not allowing them many dangerous opportunities at all. Offensively, we're getting there. We're creating chances and now it's just a matter of continuing to capitalize on those chances when we get them. 

"We've done enough the past two games to get these two wins, but it only gets that much harder when you have to go on the road."

The typically dependable IUPUI (4-6-3, 2-1-1 HL) defense continued to do what they've done of late and that's keep opponents' off the scoreboard. In fact, the Jags kept things cleaner than usual as YSU managed just one shot on goal for the day - a Katie Hackos drive in the 41st minute that Sophia Lipka plucked without incident. 

The defense bided time for the offense to finally get on the board in the game's 60th minute. Freshman Elizabeth Bueckers slipped a ball between a pack of YSU defenders to Pursey, who drove a left-footed opportunity into an open net. The middle official conferred with an assistant referee before confirming the game's first score. 

Later, Veldman surprised even herself with her first career tally to give the hosts some wiggle room. Junior Bri Denny played a long ball to the top of the six-yard box where Veldman had made her run. The ball glanced off her shoulder and then head before redirecting to the right of the keeper for her first career score. 

"It feels awesome," Veldman said. "Our season's been a little tough - we've got some highs and we've got some lows. This is definitely a high for all of us and a high for me on Senior Day. I haven't scored that many goals, so it feels pretty cool to score it on Senior Day. 

"I definitely think this is the right time to get these highs in. We're turning it around at the right time."

The Jaguars won consecutive games for the first time this season on an afternoon in which they outshot the Penguins 18-7 overall and 9-1 on frame. Lipka needed just one save to extend her scoreless streak to 293 minutes without allowing a score. It was her fifth shutout of the season and 16th of her three-year collegiate career. 

Pursey, Veldman and Natalie McNally attempted a team-high three shots each with all three of Pursey's attempts going on frame. Sophomore Miranda Ricks nearly broke open the scoring in the 50th minute when she beautifully bent a 25-yard shot past YSU keeper Kate McEachern, but off the far post. McEachern finished a busy day with seven saves while Sammy Salatino and Hackos had two shot attempts each for YSU (1-10-2, 0-4 HL). 

IUPUI will step out of conference on Monday (Oct. 1) when the Jaguars take on Illinois State at 6:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+.