FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech women's soccer team opened their 2024 season on Sunday night with a match against RV Carroll College at Warrior Athletic Field. The Fighting Saints traveled cross country from Helena, Montana for a two-game trip in the Midwest and came to Fort Wayne after playing out a 1-1 draw against Taylor University in Upland, Indiana on Saturday. On Sunday, Tech would ultimately fall to the Fighting Saints in a dramatic 2-1 affair.
 
In their starting eleven, Tech would start two freshman, Abby Strasser and Emily Jiles, along with nine returning players from last year's team. The Warriors looked good to open the game, controlling the first fifteen minutes of play, ripping off two shots and a corner kick, forcing Carroll's keeper to make two early saves. The Fighting Saints would gain some momentum as the first half went on as it was a fairly even contest throughout the half, although the shot counter would heavily favor Carroll as they outshot Tech 14 to 3 in the first half. Only half of those 14 shots would be on target though, while Tech was much more efficient putting all three of theirs on net. Ursula Romero would come up big in the first half in goal for the Warriors making seven saves.
 
The Orange & Black would make a change in goal to start the second half, bringing in junior transfer Sara Cogoli, a native of Villa D'erbusco, Italy. The second half would start in a similar matter as the way the first period ended, with both sides putting a few shots on target in the opening minutes and forcing multiple saves by each keeper. In the 54^th minute, the Fighting Saints would find the breakthrough goal to take a 1-0 lead. Carroll would add a second goal just three minutes later to take a quick 2-0 lead with just over 30 minutes left to play. The Warriors would continue to push though and in the 82^nd minute would score their first goal of the 2024 season. Sophomore defender, Payton Kuhn would smash home the Warriors opener coming off a set piece and flicked header by Georgina Palos Noguer to cut the deficit to just one with under nine minutes to play. Tech would pile on the pressure the last eight minutes trying to find an equalizer and would have one final shot with 35 seconds to play but the Carroll keeper would make the save and deny the Warriors a result in their home opener as the Fighting Saints would hang on for the 2-1 victory. Cogoli would finish with five saves in her debut for Tech and would pick up the loss in goal.
 
Tech falls to 0-1-0 to start the season and will head to Winona Lake, Indiana on Wednesday night for a road matchup with Grace College at 7pm.