HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The IUPUI women's soccer team tasted defeat for the first time this season on Thursday night (Sept. 22) as the Jaguars fell on the road to Northern Kentucky, 3-0. NKU's Emilie Doersching scored the game's first two goals in a six-minute span of the second half to help the Norse to their first victory of the campaign. The hosts added a late cushion goal in the shutout victory. 

IUPUI (5-1-4, 1-1-1 HL) got off to a slow start, allowing NKU possession deep in its attacking third before the Jaguars finally gained their footing. The Jaguars tilted possession in its favor before halftime, ultimately outshooting the Norse by a 6-2 margin in the opening stanza. Both Sam Slimak and Maya Lacognato had two shots each in the first 45 minutes with Lacognato getting the team's best look on a nifty turn and fire from in close in the eighth minute, that was knocked down by an NKU defender. 

IUPUI continued to control the action to start the second half, including getting a restart in the 52nd minute that Leah Shumate pinged off the crossbar. Carlie Werner earned the free kick as she was trampled by an NKU defender, roughly 25 yards from goal.

However, the game pivoted in an instance as NKU tallied a go-ahead score in the 59th minute. NKU's Kayla Vogt put an initial attempt on frame that short-hopped to IUPUI goalkeeper Cailynn Junk. Junk made the stop, but the rebound went free to Doersching, who powered a shot home for NKU's first score of the year. 

Just more than five minutes later, Doersching struck again, this time getting the finishing touch on a ball just outside the six-yard box as the defense was unable to clear a NKU corner kick. 

NKU added some late insurance in the 78th minute when Taylor Abbott set up a Shannon Crogan goal as the Norse attacker was left unmarked making a run through the middle of the box. 

IUPUI had late looks from Slimak and Emma Manolovic to breakup the shutout, but both were unsuccessful.

NKU (1-5-1, 1-2 HL) finished with a 17-14 shot advantage and 9-3 margin in shots on goal. The Norse also enjoyed a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Junk, making her first career start, collected six stops. 

IUPUI will return home to host Wright State at noon on Sunday (Sept. 25) at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. That contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Jonathan Matthes (pxp) describes the action.