SHREVEPORT, La. - The IUPUI men's soccer team scored twice in the final five minutes to open Summit League play with a wild 4-3 win at Centenary on Sunday afternoon. Senior Chris Wey set up the game-tying goal in the with 3:54 left and scored the game-winner less than a minute later.
The win was also the 100th of head coach Steve Franklin's coaching career.
IUPUI's season-high four goals helped offset an Aaron Volanski hat trick and allowed the Jags to open league play at 1-0 for the first time since 2001. It also marked IUPUI's first-ever road win at Centenary.
"This was definitely a defining win for our season," Franklin said. "It's been awhile since we've been 1-0 in conference, so this was kind of a gut check win."
The gut check also came in the form of a muggy Louisiana afternoon on the heels of a 16-hour bus ride the day before. Despite the adversity, IUPUI came out strong.
Freshman Weston Hawkins made it 1-0 just 2:45 into the contest when he redirected a Ben Heidari drive into the upper far corner of the net past Centenary goalkeeper James Speed.
"It was a brilliant goal," Franklin said of Hawkins' first collegiate score.
Senior Vangel Nacovski made it 2-0 in the 16th minute when he blasted an unassisted goal past Speed. Hawkins had an initial shot blocked, but Nacovski persisted and drove home his team-high third goal of the season.
Volanski made it 2-1 right before halftime and stole some precious momentum in the process.
The IUPUI defense was unable to clear a throw-in, allowing the reigning Summit League Offensive Player of the Week to get a strike past junior goalkeeper David Barszczowski with 15 ticks left.
"It kind of took a little wind out of our sails," Franklin said. "It would've been nice to get to the locker room with a 2-0 lead."
Volanski tied the match in the 61st minute on a free kick before giving the Gents (1-6-0, 0-1-0) the lead with 6:49 left. Keegan Walhood threaded a ball through the IUPUI defense to the back post, where Volanski put home his eighth goal of the year.
However, IUPUI countered quickly with Wey playing a role in each score.
Wey's headiness helped Adrian Conrad tie the match in the 87th minute. After a Centenary defender knocked the ball out of bounds, Wey flung a quick throw-in to Conrad, who was able to muscle a shot on net for his second goal of the season.
Less than a minute later, IUPUI earned a corner kick that proved to be the decisive restart. Nacovski whipped the ball into Wey, who was able to beat Speed for his ninth career goal and second ever game-winner.
"Wey and Adrian kept us composed," Franklin said. "And Vangel gave us a big game when we needed it most. We could have easily gone away after they took the lead, but I credit Adrian and Chris for keeping us in it."
In goal, Barszczowski made two stops in his first career win.
"Dave got the start because of his strong showing at the EKU tournament," Franklin said. "He made some good decisions and brought some enthusiasm to the field.
"He's got some confidence now."
IUPUI steps out of conference play next weekend to take part in the Bradley Invitational. The Jags will play host Bradley on Friday before taking on Missouri State on Saturday.
