INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indianapolis women's soccer team opened the 2024 campaign with a 1-1 draw on opening night of the college soccer season at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on a rainy Thursday (Aug. 15) evening. Sophomore Caroline Kelley tallied the team's lone score on a night that featured two separate weather delays, causing the contest to span over three hours. Maia Ransom and Emma Frey collected assists while senior Ashton Kudlo made five saves in net. 

Toledo's Kaema Amachree netted an equalizer in the game's 79th minute to cap the scoring. 

"I think our kids fought to the very end. I think we weren't as composed on the ball the last 20 minutes of the game, but our kids put forth a great effort," head coach Chris Johnson said. "We were able to get a few young people some minutes out there and I think they showed that they're going to play hard to the very end."

Just over five minutes into play, the game was halted due to lightning in the area, sending the teams back to their respective locker rooms.

After the first delay, the Jaguars opened the season's scoring in the game's 11th minute when Kelley scored from in close off their first corner kick of the evening. Frey angled a pass to Ransom, who blasted a ball into rain soaked traffic in front of the net. Kelley collected and scored from the left side for her ninth career tally. 

Play was halted once again before halftime as a steady downpour left the turf unplayable, ultimately making for a two-hour opening half of play. 

IU Indy (0-0-1) flirted with danger for much of the second half as the visiting Rockets outshot the hosts 12-2 after the break and 15-5 for the evening. Amachree finally found paydirt in the closing minutes after taking advantage of a giveaway and blazing a shot over Kudlo from long distance. That came after Amachree had near misses in both the 67th and 72nd minutes against a depleted Jaguar back line. 

Kudlo preserved the draw with an impressive stop against Carys Bourbeau in the 84th minute. Offensively, the Jaguars struggled to turn offensive opportunities into shot attempts as Kelley finished with two of the team's five attempts. 

The Jaguars were doubled up in corner kicks by a 6-3 margin.

The Jaguars will return to action next Thursday (Aug. 22) when they face Lindenwood at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+.