KOKOMO, Ind. — The IU Kokomo women's soccer team saw its two-match winning streak come to an end Saturday evening, falling 3-0 to unbeaten River States Conference opponent Rio Grande at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.
The Cougars (4-8-2, 2-2-1 RSC) faced a tough test against the RedStorm (12-0-1, 5-0-1 RSC), who entered the contest without a loss this season. Rio Grande held a 13-1 advantage in shots on goal, but IU Kokomo goalkeeper
Liz Godfrey delivered a strong performance between the posts, making 10 saves across 90 minutes.
First Half
- Rio Grande wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Stephanie Beaulieu found the back of the net just 1:11 into the match to give the RedStorm an early 1-0 advantage.
- Godfrey helped keep the Cougars within striking distance, turning away a Beaulieu attempt in the seventh minute as Rio Grande continued to apply pressure through the opening half.
- IU Kokomo began creating opportunities later in the period, with Kaitlyn Swartzendruber sending an attempt wide in the 33rd minute before having another shot blocked in the 43rd.
- Godfrey added another save in the 42nd minute, while Cloey Thomas earned a late corner kick opportunity for the Cougars. Rio Grande carried its narrow 1-0 lead into halftime.
Second Half
- The Cougars came out of the break looking for an equalizer, as Thomas put an early shot on goal that was turned away by the Rio Grande goalkeeper before sending another attempt wide.
- Godfrey continued to stand tall in goal, recording three saves during a stretch of sustained RedStorm pressure to keep the deficit at one.
- Rio Grande doubled its advantage in the 68th minute when Beaulieu scored her second goal of the match off an assist from Aida Monteserin Torviso.
- The RedStorm added a third goal in the 80th minute, with Jayden Thornton finding the back of the net off a pass from Karah Allison.
- Godfrey made three additional saves down the stretch, while Hannah Hermansen had a late shot blocked as the Cougars continued battling until the final whistle.
Top Performers
- Liz Godfrey anchored the IU Kokomo defense throughout the contest, playing all 90 minutes in goal and finishing with 10 saves against a dangerous Rio Grande attack.
- Cloey Thomas helped generate opportunities offensively, recording two shots, including the Cougars' lone attempt on goal.
The Cougars return to action Thursday, October 22, when they host IU Columbus in another River States Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Kokomo Municipal Stadium.
For the latest news, updates and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, X and Instagram.
