HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The IUPUI women's soccer team earned a much deserved result in its Horizon League opener on Thursday night (Sept. 14), playing Northern Kentucky to a 1-1 draw. Senior
Emma Antoine netted the game's equalizer in the 25th minute after the Jaguars had conceded in the 18th minute.
Antoine, the reigning Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week, tallied her second goal in as many games and was consistently the team's top threat on Thursday.
IUPUI (6-2-1, 0-0-1 HL) went down a goal in the 18th minute when Megan Molner snuck a shot past
Ashton Kudlo for her first score of the year. Molner got free at the back post after IUPUI cleared a corner kick, eluded a pair of defenders and sneaked a shot home from in close for the game's first goal.
The Jaguars retaliated when senior
Sam Slimak played Antoine in behind the NKU (3-1-4, 0-0-1 HL) defense for a breakaway opportunity. Antoine pulled the trigger early - from nearly 25 yards out - beating NKU goalkeeper Mickayla Kowalski, who was charging hard off her back line.
"Going down a goal early was tough - we were playing with some good intensity," Slimak said. "I thought everyone played with a lot of grit and we battled against a solid team. I'm very proud of (Antoine) and how hard she works. It was a good first conference game, getting a point on the road, but we are ready to keep building off of it.
"We're excited for Sunday's home game."
Play stayed level for the most part with the Jaguars frequently connecting passes and NKU finding opportunities in the attacking third, leading to an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. Slimak was presented a good opportunity in the 51st minute when
Caroline Kelley found her in transition, but hit her shot high of frame.
At the opposite end, Kudlo and the IUPUI back line dodged some dicey moments down the stretch, but rarely allowed an attempt to get to frame. Kudlo finished with three saves while Kowalski made four for the Norse.
Antoine led the IUPUI attack with three shot attempts and four others had two tries. IUPUI outshot the Norse 12-9 overall and 5-4 on target.
The Jaguars will return home to host Cleveland State on Sunday (Sept. 17) at 1:00 p.m. at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.
