INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team will kickoff the 2023 campaign with back-to-back home games this week, hosting Southern Indiana (Aug. 17) and Southern Illinois (Aug. 20) at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium. Thursday's opener will be broadcast on ESPN+ while Sunday's match with SIU will be free of charge as part of a doubleheader with the men's team on a campus-wide Spirit Day at Carroll Stadium.

IUPUI went 4-0-3 in non-league play last season and 2-0-2 at home with wins over Murray State and Evansville as part of a 9-4-6 campaign. 

Head coach Chris Johnson's 2023 team was recently picked to finish sixth in the #HLWSOC Preseason Polls, keyed by returning all-leaguer Sam Slimak. Slimak scored a pair of goals in the 4-1 preseason win at Eastern Illinois and also assisted on Emma Antoine's score. Leah Shumate also scored a pair of preseason goals, tallying at EIU and in the 3-2 loss at Toledo. Freshman Avery Bangert also had a preseason score. 

In goal, junior Ashton Kudlo returns to the IUPUI lineup where she went 8-2-6 with six shutouts and a 0.88 goals against average. Behind her, sophomore Cailynn Junk went 1-2 with a shutout and 1.40 goals against average. Other key returning field players include sophomores Sarah Henson (2 goals, 2 assists) and Kailyn Smith (1,411 minutes) and seniors Emma Antoine (6 goals, 2 assists) and Alex Stocker (919 minutes). 

Four freshmen were awarded starts in the preseason opener with Katie Hoog, Caroline Kelley, Shannon Ott and Emily Tobin all earning a nod. Tobin responded with an assist from her attacking position.