INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team was just good enough to continue its unbeaten start to the Spring 2021 season on Wednesday (Mar. 10), sneaking past Wright State, 3-2, at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium. The Jags profited from an early Wright State own goal and got tallies from Josie Denton and Valentine Pursey in the win. Wright State scored twice in just more than two minutes in the first half to build a 2-1 lead before seeing the hosts come from behind to advance to 3-0-1 on the year. Wright State dipped to 2-3 on the season. 

"I thought we were pretty good," head coach Chris Johnson said. "We weren't necessarily as sharp as we'd like to be, but I thought we did some good stuff in terms of playing through Maya Turner and creating some chances early in getting in behind them. Defensively, we had a couple lapses, but we were good enough to get the job done. 

"The wind kind of wreaked havoc on the game and changed the complexion of the game at times. It made it challenging to move the ball up and down the field and keep possession, but I kind of thought that would play into our favor. I'm proud of the ladies for sticking with it and getting the result."

IUPUI drew first blood as Wright State put a ball in the back of its own net in the eighth minute. The Jaguars drew a free kick roughly 35 yards out from goal and Grace Moore's service skipped off a Wright State defender, off the underside of the cross bar and into the Raiders' net for the day's first strike. However, a defensive miscue at the other end helped Wright State pull even in the 20th minute when an IUPUI defender was called for a handball in the box, leading to a penalty kick. WSU's Michelle Rings blistered a shot against the wind past AP Woodall for her first tally of the campaign. 

Two minutes later, Lauren Borchert scored in transition for the Raiders, calmly rolling a shot past Woodall for her first score of the year. 

IUPUI was able to get equal before intermission as Denton tallied her first career score, making a run in from the left side. The play began with Maya Lacognato working up the right side and she shifted a pass into the middle channel to freshman Jessica Jacobs. Jacobs played Denton into space, allowing the senior striker to drive a shot past WSU goalkeeper Jessika Seward. 

"Jess had it on the opposite side. We actually talked about it before we came in off the bench. She found me and I just placed it one-time," Denton said of her first career score, coming in her 33rd career game. "It's been a long time coming, but i couldn't do it without my team behind me."

The scored held at 2-2 until the 55th minute when Pursey got on the business end of a Maya Turner corner kick for the game-winner. Turner bent a phenomenal corner to the back post where Pursey soared above traffic and headed a shot just over the endline. The Jags continued to bully the ball near the endline before play was ultimately blown dead and IUPUI was awarded the score. 

From there, the IUPUI defense dropped anchor and defended well against the wind, keeping the WSU attack from seriously threatening. Woodall closed with five saves while Seward went without a save at the other end. 

Junior Elizabeth Bueckers attempted five of the Jaguars' 11 shots but was unable to get any on frame. Pursey had three attempts from her midfield spot. Borchert led WSU with three attempts. 

The win gave IUPUI a third win over Wright State in the past four meetings after originally dropping the first seven meetings between the two schools. IUPUI also remained near the top of the table in the Horizon League, having now accumulated 10 points in the team standings. 

"I'm proud of the ladies. We have a resilient bunch and that showed today. We need to continue to protect our home turf and we've got another tough one coming up next week with UIC," Johnson said. 

The Jaguars will return to action next Wednesday (Mar. 17) when they host UIC at Carroll Stadium.