Box Score In a challenging conference matchup, IU Columbus suffered a 3-0 defeat against IU East on Saturday, October 12. The loss dropped the Crimson Pride to 2-8-1 overall and 0-5-0 in conference play.
From the opening whistle, IU Columbus found themselves under intense pressure from a relentless IU East attack. The visitors dominated possession and created numerous scoring opportunities, outshooting the home team by a staggering margin of 29 to 1.
Despite the onslaught, IU Columbus' defense, led by goalkeeper Mallory Gilley, held firm for much of the first half. Gilley put in a gutsy performance, making several crucial saves to keep her team in the game. However, the pressure finally told in the 9th minute when IU East's Morgan Grudich broke the deadlock with an unassisted goal.
Coming out for the second half, IU Columbus hoped to mount a comeback. But their plans were quickly derailed as East's Denise Davalos doubled the lead in the 77th minute with another unassisted goal. The visitors sealed the victory just five minutes later when Rylee Meyer found the net, securing the 3-0 win.
As the game wore on, IU Columbus struggled to gain a foothold. Managing only one shot throughout the match, with just one on target, the team's offensive woes were evident. Nataly Cruz provided the team's only attempt on goal but couldn't find a way past IU East's keeper Kylie O'Leary.
Despite the scoreline, IU Columbus continued to battle until the final whistle, with the entire team working tirelessly to limit the damage. Mallory Gilley finished the match with an impressive 14 saves, highlighting the pressure the Crimson Pride's defense faced throughout the 90 minutes.
The match saw an even distribution of fouls, with both teams committing 5 each, indicating a competitive spirit despite the difference in shots and possession. IU East also dominated in corner kicks, earning 11 to IU Columbus' 1, further emphasizing their control of the game.
The Crimson Pride are still in search for their first conference victory. They return to action next Thursday, October 17, on the road at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.
