IU women's soccer team looks to extend unbeaten streak on road

If the IU women’s soccer team is going to extend its five game unbeaten streak, it will have to do it on the road tonight in Indianapolis against in-state foe Butler.\nThe Hoosiers go into the game with an overall record of 4-1-1, with a loss to then-No. 13 Florida and an upset win over No. 19 USC. The Bulldogs of Butler are 2-3-1.\nSophomore forward Liz Holby said contests against in-state opponents are always important.\n“Of course we strive to win every game, but I think (matches against in-state rivals) do matter,” Holby said. “We are their big game, so they are always going to come and give us a strong a challenge.”\nHolby scored the game-winning 86th minute goal against Ball State on Sunday as the Hoosiers won 2-1. Freshman midfielder Chloe McKay had the first goal of the match when she put a shot in from more than 20 yards out. It was McKay’s second goal of the season.\nHolby and McKay haven’t been the only underclassmen making noise this season. The top four point leaders on the team are all underclassmen, including two freshmen: McKay and forward Leigh Anne Cummings.\nMcKay said she is actually surprised at how well she is handling the transition between playing in high school and college.\n“(Being one of the team’s leader in points) feels good – surprising, but good,” McKay said. “Some people say that college is the next step above high school, but I think it’s the next two steps. I am still adjusting to it.”\nPoints are assigned by the statistics players gather during games. A goal is worth two points, and an assist is worth one.\nSophomore midfielder Christie Kotynski leads the team with seven points off of two goals and three assists. Next is McKay with five points from two goals and one assist, and Cummings with four points off of two goals. Sophomore forward Kristin Arnold has three points and rounds out the top four point leaders.\nAfter Butler, the Hoosiers will host Evansville at 2 p.m. Sunday. After Evansville, the Hoosiers will start their Big Ten season, hosting Northwestern Friday, Sept. 28.\nThe team knows every game becomes more important when the Big Ten season kicks off.\n“Every game is going to be a challenge, and that’s what I’m excited for,” sophomore defender Jessica Boots said of the Big Ten season. “To really test our team, to see how good we are and if we can come back day after day and prove to ourselves and everyone else around us that we can really do it.”\nThe Hoosiers square off against Butler tonight at 7 p.m. at Kuntz Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.