INDIANAPOLIS — IU Indy put on a clinical offensive display Wednesday night, overwhelming Purdue Fort Wayne 3-0 in a lopsided NCAA Division I matchup. The Jaguars controlled possession throughout and capitalized on their opportunities in the second half, with Emma Antoine, Lindsey Castillo, and Kailyn Smith finding the back of the net to secure a convincing home victory.
Antoine opened the scoring in the 50th minute when she finished a chance set up by Castillo, giving IU Indy the breakthrough it had been threatening all match. Castillo doubled the advantage just three minutes later in the 53rd minute, this time assisted by Emma Frey, as the home side's attacking rhythm finally translated into goals. Smith sealed the result in the 81st minute with another Frey assist, putting the match beyond doubt and capping a dominant second-half performance.
The first half saw IU Indy create numerous chances without finding the net. Caroline Kelley, Sarah Henson, and Emma Frey all had opportunities but couldn't convert, while Lindsey Castillo's early shot went wide. Purdue Fort Wayne offered little in attack, with Scarlett Webster's blocked attempt representing the visitors' only real chance. The Mastodons' defense was under constant pressure, and it was only a matter of time before the Jaguars broke through.
IU Indy came out with renewed intensity after halftime, immediately putting Purdue Fort Wayne on its heels. The home side's midfield controlled the tempo, and the attacking players moved the ball with purpose. Within minutes of the restart, the breakthrough arrived, and once Antoine scored, the floodgates opened. The Jaguars' confidence visibly grew with each goal, and Purdue Fort Wayne had no answer for the onslaught.
The statistics told the story of a one-sided affair. IU Indy dominated with 27 shot attempts to Purdue Fort Wayne's four, and converted three of their 13 shots on goal. The Jaguars also earned eight corner kicks compared to none for the visitors. Purdue Fort Wayne goalkeeper made 10 saves to keep the deficit from ballooning further, while IU Indy's keeper needed just two saves in a relatively comfortable evening.
Frey was instrumental in the second half, providing two assists and constantly threatening down the flank. Castillo's movement in the attacking third created space for teammates and she capitalized with her own finish. Antoine's composure in front of goal was evident on her strike, while Smith's late goal put an exclamation point on the performance.
The result snapped a difficult stretch for IU Indy, which had drawn at Oakland just four days earlier before this loss to Green Bay. The Jaguars improved to 4-11-3 overall with this victory, while Purdue Fort Wayne fell to 2-15-1 after the defeat. The Mastodons, struggling at the bottom of the standings, couldn't generate any offensive momentum against a team that found its rhythm in the second half.
IU Indy returns to action this weekend looking to build on this performance, while Purdue Fort Wayne will seek to bounce back from a lopsided loss that underscored the gap between the two programs at this stage of the season.