INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team clinched a berth in the four team Summit League Tournament by virtue of Saturday's 1-0 win over Oral Roberts at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. The victory gave the Jaguars a school record fourth conference win and a spot in the postseason for the second straight year.
"This team hasn't won a championship, but now it's done something that others before it haven't done," IUPUI head coach Steve Franklin said. "This isn't the most talented team I've ever coached, but they've found a way to get wins when it's mattered.
"They've done a good job of overcoming some adversity and really focusing in on the conference games."
Senior Vangel Nacovski put the Jaguars ahead in the 33rd minute with one of his most brilliant goals of his career. Standing almost directly in front of the IUPUI bench, the 5-foot-11 midfielder flared a restart to the far post from over 30 yards out, beating ORU goalkeeper Andrew Techanchuk.
It marked Nacovski's team-high sixth goal of the season and 34th of his collegiate career. It was also his second game-winner of the year.
"It was a clutch goal by what should be our clutch player," Franklin said. "It's fitting."
"Technically, I was trying to cross it," Nacovski said. "I saw the keeper was giving up the back post, so I was able to get it to the upper corner. I thought it went over the goal."
Nacovski spent several minutes long before kickoff on the field with his father, joking and knocking the ball around.
"He told me to have fun and just go out and play," Nacovski added. "It loosened me up a little bit. It was just like old times."
IUPUI's (6-9-1, 4-1-0 Summit) defense was reminiscent of old times, when the Jaguars thrived on keeping opponents' out of the Carroll Stadium nets.
Despite being outshot 19-8 overall, the Jaguars did a good job of limiting quality looks for Golden Eagle attackers. ORU (6-10-0, 2-3-0 Summit) was only able to put three shots on frame as IUPUI junior goalkeeper David Barszczowski earned his second collegiate shutout.
"Our starting back four did a good job of communicating," Barszczowski said. "They stayed pretty organized the whole game. To only give up three shots (on goal) and none in the first half is pretty good."
ORU's best look of the day came in the 65th minute when Joe Cales got some separation just outside the 18-yard box and lined a shot on goal. Barszczowski was able to punch the attempt out before the backs cleared the ball.
With the victory, IUPUI remained perfect at home, improving to 4-0 on the season. The Jaguars will head to Dayton on Monday to take on Wright State at 7:00 p.m. in a non-conference tilt.
"We'll probably rest some people on Monday, depeding on how some legs respond," Franklin said.
IUPUI home schedule winds down next Friday night as the Jaguars will host IPFW at Carroll Stadium at 7:00 p.m.. The Jaguars will then host the Summit League Championships at Kuntz Stadium the following weekend.
