INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI forward Louie Leger ended a night of offensive frustration with the golden goal in a 1-0 double overtime win over Marian College at Kuntz Stadium on Thursday. Leger's second collegiate goal in the 102nd minute capped a match in which the Jaguars posted new school records in shots (35) and corner kicks (14). IUPUI limited the Knights to just three attempts and one corner kick and improved to 3-7-1.
"A win is a win," IUPUI head coach Steve Franklin said. "A tie wouldn't have been a just result.
"You have to give credit to Marian though. It was kind of like David and Goliath where they hunkered in and weathered the storm. At the same time, I was proud of our guys in the face of adversity. We were one counter away from losing at any point."
Goliath, thanks to Leger's fresh legs, finally struck the knockout blow just 1:55 into the final overtime period. Senior Chris Wey carried the ball up the left sideline before cutting inside against two defenders. He tapped a short lead pass to Leger, who was in the right spot when Marian goalkeeper Ben Weddle was unable to corral the ball.
Leger was on the bench for much of the second half after playing most of the first half.
"(Assistant Coach) Matt Reiswerg made the call of the game," Franklin said. "He said we had to get Louie back in the game, since he had 45 minutes rest."
"It was just a hustle goal," Leger said. "It was a good ball by Chris. I saw the ball coming in and the goalkeeper going out, so I just wanted to get a touch on it before he did."
IUPUI appeared to take the lead in the second minute of the second half when Dan Heidari headed a Vangel Nacovski corner kick past Weddle, but the ball was ruled to have flown over the end line before the attempt.
Freshman Weston Hawkins also almost ended it in regulation with just under six minutes left, but saw his try from point blank range fly wildly over the crossbar. Junior Nick Lance roped the initial shot into a pack of defenders, setting up Hawkins' rebound try.
Marian (7-4-2) committed just one player to the attack for much of the match and was held to one shot in regulation. The Knights lone shot on goal came midway through the second half when Zach Berline had a shot redirected on frame, forcing IUPUI junior goalkeeper David Barszczowski to make a routine stop.
It was the first shutout of Barszczowski's career and the Jags second this season.
Offensively, Hawkins and Nacovski led IUPUI with five shots each while four IUPUI players had four attempts. Of IUPUI's 35 shots, only eight were on net as Weddle finished with six saves.
"We threw everything at them but the kitchen sink," Franklin said. "I have to give Coach Cato credit for suggesting we go to a 3-5-2 (formation).
"Credit the assistants tonight."
IUPUI will stay home this weekend to host UMKC at Kuntz Stadium at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday in a Summit League contest.
