INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indianapolis women's soccer team will officially open the 2025 campaign on Thursday night (Aug. 14) when the Jaguars welcome SIUE for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Carroll Stadium. The match marks the IU Indy debut of head coach Angela Berry White after she took over the program prior to the Spring 2025 schedule. Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance of game day as the department continues to operate with fully digital tickets in 2025.

Thursday's game will be broadcast on ESPN+ as Scott Agness (pxp) is on the call.  

On the field, White's squad returns a glut of talent from last year's team and boasts three former First Team All-Horizon League performers over the past two seasons. Senior midfielder Emma Frey was a first team honoree last season while junior forward Caroline Kelley was a second team selection in 2024. Kelley was the 2023 Horizon League Freshman of the Year while Emma Antoine and Kailyn Smith were both first team honorees that season. 

Kelley is the team's top returning goal scorer with five tallies last season while Frey contributed four goals and five assists from the midfield. Two of her scores earned national recognition as she was featured on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 plays in successive weeks last season. Frey and junior defender Katie Hoog topped the team in minutes a season ago while Smith played all but one minute of the season's final 15 matches. 

Antoine enters her sixth season with the program after being limited to just two appearances last year. She registered 10 assists in 2023 and has 11 goals in 62 career games. Another veteran, Hannah Roberson, is playing a fifth season after totaling three goals (two game-winners) in 19 appearances last season. 

The group of newcomers is headlined by a trio of transfers in graduate goalkeeper Sarah Bambrick, redshirt sophomore defender Lilly Ma and redshirt freshman forward Olivia Hopper. Bambrick, who made 45 appearances in four seasons at Reinhardt (Ga.) University, takes over as the No. 1 goalkeeper in her final collegiate season. Ma started both preseason tilts in the defensive third while Hopper scored a goal in the exhibition opener at Evansville. True freshman Anika Guenther provided an offensive lift in the preseason finale against Illinois while fellow rookie Maci Sammons also showed well in the midfield. 

White's inaugural group is a blend of rookies and experience as the Jaguars have 11 true freshmen in this year's recruiting class, but also 11 upperclassmen on the roster. 

QUOTABLE
"I'm happy to be here because it is my hometown. I've seen the growth of our city and this university from afar, so to be part of it and in the heart of it - it speaks volumes in terms of their belief in me and I'm just very excited to be here and take it to new heights," White said. "Preparation is key and that's doing everything and anything possible to beat your opponent. Preparation is key everyday." 

SCOUTING SIUE
SIUE is coming off a 2-7-7 campaign and was recently picked to finish seventh of 10 teams in the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Preseason Polls. Junior goalkeeper Sarah Bozeman was named a Player to Watch after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Memphis. Senior forward Savannah DeFini is the Cougars top returning scorer, having registered 13 points (5 goals, 3 assists) a season ago. 

INSIDE THE SERIES
IU Indy is 2-2 all-time against SIUE and 1-1 in the two meetings in Indianapolis. SIUE won the most recent meeting, 3-2, in Edwardsville in 2023. Seven current Jaguars appeared in that contest, including Emma Antoine, Sarah Henson, Kailyn Smith, Katie Hoog and Caroline Kelley all earning starts in that contest. 

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will trek to Eastern Illinois on Thursday, Aug. 21 to continue a stretch of three straight Illinois opponents to start the season.