Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf)

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Junior Miranda Ricks recorded a goal and an assist and redshirt freshman goalkeeper AP Woodall notched her second shutout of the weekend as the IUPUI women's soccer team rolled on the road at Southern Illinois on Sunday (Sept. 1), 2-0. Ricks set up classmate Valentine Pursey's first half game-winner and added some late insurance on a free kick as the Jaguars improved to 2-1-1 to start the season. 

Southern Illinois dropped to 3-2 to start the campaign. 

"It was a very physical match and we could have had a couple of penalties called for us, but the ref was young and I thought struggled a little with the physicality of the game," head coach Chris Johnson said. "V's goal was the result of about five connected passes in a row. Miranda got one on a free kick as Megan (Wurth) ran near post, distracting their keeper and the ball went straight in."

Pursey broke the ice in the game's 36th minute, taking a feed from Ricks before depositing her second score of the year and 19th of her collegiate career. It was also Pursey's tenth career game-winner pulling her into sole possession of third-place on the Jaguars' all-time list. 

The score held at 1-0 until the 82nd minute when Ricks blasted a long free kick past SIU reserve goalkeeper Dariana Mihalache for her first score of the year. 

"Road games are always challenging, playing in a new place with an away crowd," Ricks said. "I knew coming off the bench with the score 0-0, I had to help put a couple goals away. My assist to V really got the momentum going and then it felt great to cap it off with a goal of my own."

At the defensive end, Woodall had a busier day than she did in her debut against Western Illinois, but still dialed up a shutout with three saves in 90 minutes. Woodall withstood an SIU flurry late in the first half, facing three shots in a matter of seconds, before IUPUI quickly countered with Maya Lacognato at the other end. While Lacognato didn't tally, her breakaway led to a corner kick and just minutes later, Pursey put home the winner. 

IUPUI outshot the Salukis in each half and finished with an 18-15 advantage. Pursey and Lacognato had four attempts each and senior midfielder Emma Chambers had three shot attempts, including an early tester in the game's second minute. 

Freshman Autumn Weeks earned her first career start in a return trip to her home state and helped anchor a defense, alongside fellow Illinois-natives Natalie McNally and Jillian Steinbrink. Johnson continued to use his bench liberally to start the season, utilizing 20 different players on Sunday. 

"We got a solid performance from Autumn, V, Miranda and Natalie in the back," Johnson said. "All in all, I'm happy with getting a win on the road."

Woodall, who didn't record a save in Friday's 110 minute shutout against Western Illinois, extended her personal scoreless streak to 200 minutes to start her college career. 

"It was a hot day so we knew we were going to have to work for it," Woodall said. "Work rate from the front all the way to the back kept the intensity going throughout the game. It was nice to get some goals and a victory, but we can't celebrate too long because we have a game on Thursday."

IUPUI will return home to host Eastern Kentucky on Thursday night (Sept. 5) at 7:00 p.m. at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium. As part of the campus wide IUPUI Weeks of Welcome, Thursday's game is Women's Soccer Spirit Night, presented by SAPB. Like always, admission is FREE for IUPUI students with a valid Crimson Card.