RICHMOND, Ky. - Senior Elizabeth Bueckers registered just the tenth hat trick in IUPUI history but the Jaguars came up on the wrong side of a 4-3 overtime result at Eastern Kentucky on a rainy Thursday (Aug. 19) in Richmond. EKU's Gretta Gunn rolled a shot past IUPUI goalkeeper AP Woodall in the 94th minute to cap a wild affair to start the season. 

"I think we've been really good at getting it done in the finishing third. We scored as many goals in the run of play today as we did all last spring season," Bueckers said. "We're struggling with experience in the back line as three out of four defenders going into overtime were freshmen. 

"All credit goes to (Makenna Collins) and (Hannah Roberson) for stepping up in starting roles as freshmen and really holding it down back there, but we have to figure out how to keep the ball out of the net. We will definitely take it as a learning experience and come back stronger next game."

Bueckers was an unstoppable force offensively, tallying twice in the first half and putting IUPUI ahead 3-2 in the 73rd minute with a clean strike. However, the traditionally tidy IUPUI defense had a shaky start on a sloppy surface to open the season and allowed an equalizer just more than two minutes later. 

IUPUI (0-1) fell behind in the opening minutes, but ultimately moved in front by halftime. Bueckers tied the score at 1-1 in the 14th minute from in close after sophomore Sam Slimak slid a centering pass to her fellow attacker. Bueckers' shot attempt hit off the hands of EKU goalkeeper Marah Krick before rolling over the end line for the season's first score. Junior Maya Lacognato also earned an assist on the play by springing Slimak free up the right side. 

In the 30th minute, Bueckers was flattened inside the EKU penalty area by a defender while trying to receive a pass from Slimak, leading to a penalty kick. The referee immediately placed the ball on the spot and Bueckers drilled a shot past the EKU goalie for her third career multi-goal game. 

EKU equalized early in the second half when an IUPUI giveaway ultimately led to the Colonels gaining a corner kick. EKU's Myla Sharpless bent a ball to the back post where the 5-foot-9 Kara Haas headed a bullet past Woodall to make it 2-2. The score remained tied until the 73rd minute when Bueckers tallied again. Freshman Abbey Renner launched a long ball in behind the EKU back line to an unmarked Bueckers, who settled the pass and laced a shot easily past Krick. The EKU bench pleaded for an offsides call, but to no avail as Bueckers capped the first IUPUI hat trick since November 2017. 

That lead lasted just more than two minutes before the Colonels scored on another corner kick as Ali Kirk redirected Sharpless' service past Woodall. 

Gunn ended the day's events with the winner early in the first overtime period. 

Defensively, IUPUI benefited from the woodwork in the first half as EKU's Hope Evans had a shot hit the crossbar in the 28th minute and Maddy Lemery, who had scored the game's first goal, was unable to redirect the rebound on frame. Later, Gunn harmlessly hit the right post from a tough angle in the 42nd minute. 

Bueckers accounted for the bulk of the IUPUI offensive display, attempting four of the team's nine shots and putting three on target. Renae Blevins had three shots from her midfield post as IUPUI was outshot 22-9 and 7-5 on frame. EKU also finished with a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks. 

Woodall finished with three saves and Krick had two for the hosts. 

The Jaguars will now return home to host Marian University on Monday night (Aug. 23) at 7:00 p.m. at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium.