COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The IUPUI women's soccer team will officially kickoff its 2022 campaign on Thursday night (Aug. 18) when the Jaguars take on Tennessee Tech at 7:00 p.m. CT (8 Eastern) before closing the weekend with a road contest at SIUE on Sunday (Aug. 21) at 2:00 p.m. CT (3 Eastern). This season marks head coach Chris Johnson's 20th year on the IUPUI sidelines.

Despite some strong showings, the Jaguars were winless during the preseason, suffering road losses at Butler (2-0) and at Eastern Illinois (2-1). At Butler, IUPUI had a strong defensive showing, yielding both goals in less than a minute early in the second half, despite a stellar performance from sophomore goalkeeper Ashton Kudlo. The offense created chances against a stout Butler formation, but was unable to scratch. At EIU, IUPUI outshot the host Panthers and got a late score from Emma Antoine off an assist from rookie goalkeeper Arissa North, but ultimately fell 2-1. The Jags gave up a goal in each half, the first of which came on a penalty kick. 

Johnson's team boasts five seniors, Maya Lacognato, Alex Ludolph, Grace Moore, Abbie Schad and Maya Turner, all of whom have played significant minutes throughout their careers. Lacognato owns nine career goals (four game-winners) and six assists, having made 46 career appearances. 

Kudlo made a pair of starts in goal for the Jaguars a season ago, allowing just one goal in 183 minutes with a 0.49 goals against average and a shutout. 

IUPUI was recently picked to finish seventh in the Horizon League this season according to the preseason coaches poll, released on Wednesday. 

SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH
Tennessee Tech was 1-1 in the preseason with a win over North Alabama (2-1) and a 2-1 home loss to ETSU. The Golden Eagles went 6-6-4 last season with a 3-3-1 mark at home. They return their top two scorers from last season in Chloe Smith (4 goals, 4 assists) and Meredith Nye (3 goals). 

SCOUTING SIUE
SIUE was recently picked to win the OVC in 2022 and defeated Western Illinois by a 3-0 score in exhibition play. The Cougars went 11-7 last season and won the OVC title before then falling at Notre Dame in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Last year's SIUE squad outscored foes by a 37-21 margin and return Lily Schnieders (7 goals, 5 assists) and Maria Haro (7 goals, 4 assists) in attacking roles. 

ALL-TIME SERIES
-IUPUI is 0-1 all-time against Tennessee Tech, having suffered a 5-0 loss to the Golden Eagles at home on Oct. 20, 2002. 
-IUPUI is 1-1 all-time against SIUE, having defeated the Cougars by a 2-1 score in Indianapolis on Aug. 29, 2014 and falling on the road in Edwardsville, 2-0, on Aug. 30, 2013. 

UP NEXT
IUPUI will return home to host a pair of matches against Bellarmine (Thurs., Aug. 25 - 7pm) and Western Illinois (Sun., Aug. 28 - 1pm). Thursday's contest with Bellarmine will cap off a men's and women's doubleheader and will be broadcast on ESPN+.