LOUISVILLE, Ky. —
Steve Bornhoffer was announced as the new head coach of the Bellarmine University women's soccer team on July 22.
Less than a month and a half later, Bornhoffer and the Knights found themselves celebrating the signature victory of the Division-I era, as Bellarmine defeated the Big Ten's Indiana 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Owsley B. Frazier Stadium.
Sophomore forward
McKenzie Carle scored in the first half and freshman forward
Katie Paulakonis produced the game-winner in the second half for Bellarmine (3-0-1), which remained unbeaten while registering its first-ever win over a Power 4 program in the D1 era.
Hosting perhaps its most high-profile opponent in program history in D1 college athletics blueblood Indiana (2-2), Bellarmine earned its third win of 2025, which through only four matches is already more than halfway to the D1-era record of five victories set last season.
Although Bellarmine was outshot 22-8 by Indiana, the Knights located the net the two times they would ultimately require to conjure up the stunning upset. The first came in the 29th minute, when Carle swooped in to steal an Indiana pass near midfield and raced ahead in converting a breakaway for a 1-0 lead on her second goal of the season.
Indiana equalized in the 38th minute on a rebound goal by Abbey Iler, and the teams went into halftime knotted at 1.
Bellarmine answered in the 80th minute. Starting near midfield, Paulakonis made a run toward the center of the field before dropping off a pass to the right and continuing to charge ahead. Senior forward
Clara Spurlock's cross toward the center of the 6 deflected off the outstretched foot of an Indiana defender, and Paulakonis quickly gathered it and punched it into the net for a 2-1 lead on her third goal of the year.
Bellarmine's defense held firm from there against Indiana's final push. When redshirt freshman goalkeeper
Anna Jenkins, who have five saves, gobbled up a Hoosiers cross attempt with 25 seconds left, the Knights cleared their last hurdle in securing the landmark victory.
Bellarmine will play at 7 p.m. (ET) Thursday at Wright State.
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