INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI women's soccer team opened the 2023 campaign with a solid 2-0 win over Southern Indiana at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Thursday night (Aug. 17), powered by goals from a pair of rookies. Shannon Ott delivered the game-winner in the 17th minute and classmate Caroline Kelley found paydirt in the 55th minute to supply the offense. Junior Ashton Kudlo recorded three saves to earn her eighth career clean sheet. 

"It feels pretty good, but it's a team effort," Ott said of the season opening win. "I'm just proud that we all worked together and got a dub."

Ott snuck a right-footed shot just inside the near post for her first collegiate score early in the first half, setup by Kailyn Smith's long diagonal ball for the assist.

"They switched the ball and they played me and I was dribbling down the line. And I made a move around the girl and I was going to cross it, but then I saw the goalie shift to the right and I took my chance and I hit it and it went in," Ott said of her score. 

IUPUI continued to apply pressure, largely behind Emma Antoine's speed in the attack, but were unable to get anything additional past  USI's Anna Markland before intermission. 

Kelley doubled the margin in the 55th minute with a rocket from the right side, thanks to an assist from Antoine. Antoine led Kelley into a gorgeous turn and the rookie striker capitalized with an insurance tally. 

Moments later, the skies opened up as sheets of rain blanketed Carroll Stadium for much of the second half, making connecting passes nearly impossible. After the rain subsided, Kudlo preserved her clean sheet with her best stop of the night coming in the 82nd minute when she snared an attempt by Reese Frericks from point blank range. 

IUPUI (1-0) finished with a 12-8 shot advantage and limited USI to just three attempts on target. Senior Sam Slimak paced the IUPUI attack with three attempts. 

"I thought it was kind of a very gritty, gutsy performance," head coach Chris Johnson said. "(Southern Indiana) came out and really kind of brought the energy in the first half. We were able to match that energy and kind of exceed it a little bit.

"I'm very happy to have two freshmen come out and get two goals in our first game of the year. It was a good all around team performance."

IUPUI will close out the season's opening week on Sunday (Aug. 21) when the Jaguars host Southern Illinois at 1:00 p.m. at Carroll Stadium. Admission will be FREE of charge as part of Spirit Day and IUPUI students in attendance will receive FREE t-shirts while supplies last and can register to win a FREE 32'' television at halftime of the subsequent men's game at 4:00 p.m.