In a conference match-up Friday night, the Oakland University women’s soccer team defeated IUPUI 1-0 at OU Soccer Field.

To kick off the Halloween weekend, with fans in the stands sporting a variety of costumes with the men’s soccer team leading the way, the Golden Grizzlies moved one step closer to the Summit League title.

Returning home after a three-game road trip which included losses to Kansas City and Fort Wayne, Oakland came in to the match-up tied with Western Illinois and North Dakota State for second place in the Summit League.

Oakland was able to get it going early with energy on offense, holding the Jaguars without a shot for almost 15 minutes on the way to taking a 14-3 shot attempt advantage in the first half.

Though both teams ended the half scoreless, there were plenty of chances for Oakland to get on the board that came up short.

During the7th minute, junior forward Meghan Reynolds attempted a shot from front and center of the opponent’s goal that curved right, hitting the goal post.  Junior forward Serena San Cartier had another shot go wide right during the35th minute of play.

The Jaguars didn’t make it easy for the Oakland offense with a jolt of physical play during the final 10 minutes of the half that helped keep the match close into the second period.

“They haven’t given up a lot of goals all year so we knew coming into it that they were going to be a big challenge for us,” said Head Coach Nick O’Shea. “I felt like we could have maybe had four or five goals but they work hard and are organized defensively.”

In the second half, the Golden Grizzlies continued their aggressive play with Sophomore Midfielder Erin Ring active on both sides of the ball.

The active play by Ring factored in what proved to be the only score between the two teams. During the59th minute of play, senior midfielder Alyssa Fulton ended up on the receiving end of a wide cross from Ring and converted the goal on a header for her first goal of the year.

“I saw that Erin beat her defender, so I just ran hard coming across the field and I knew it was perfect when I made the play,” Fulton said.

Despite the goal IUPUI kept up the defensive pressure, making it difficult for Oakland to have a chance at a second score.

The Jaguars were unable to parlay a good defensive effort into anything on the offensive end

, never created any opportunities to allow them to tie the game.

At the end of the match Oakland had the overwhelming advantage in shots on goal, 26-6.[1]

“I don’t think we ever really gave them a chance to score, our defense held strong helping to deny them any quality scoring chances,” O’Shea said.

With the win, the Golden Grizzlies not only guaranteed themselves a spot in the Summit League Tournament, but also moved into a first place tie in the league with a chance to win the regular season title on Sunday in a showdown with Western Illinois.

“Western Illinois uses a lot of sets you don’t normally see and we got to be organized and well prepared to handle that to come away with the victory,” O’shea said.

The match-up will take place on Senior Day. OU will recognize the careers of the team’s seven seniors — Brianna Bowery, Brittany Brown, Shannon Coley, Nicole DeLuca, Alyssa Fulton, Marlen Knoph, Kristen Steffes and Kara Weber.

The match against Wester Illinois in the seasons final regular season game will Kick-off at 1 p.m.