Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - In the seven team Summit League men's soccer standings, it's paramount that a team defend its home turf. On Saturday, the IUPUI men's soccer team defended Kuntz Stadium as though it were Fort Knox en route to a 1-0 win over Western Illinois. 

IUPUI improved to 7-5-2 on the year and 2-1 in Summit League play.

The Jaguars' defensive core of Ryan Brumbaugh, Derek Craig, Ben Heidari and Yogi Snider limited the Leathernecks to just one shot on frame and made Heidari's second career goal stand over the final 86 minutes of play. 

IUPUI finished with a 12-9 shot advantage overall with Eric Weigman leading all players with four attempts.

"The challenge to them today was to not allow a goal and get in front of every shot on goal. We have a tendency to turn sideways and hope that (Tyler) Keever makes the save," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "Plus, they did a fantastic job of winning everything in the air. 

"That's the first time we've kind of won the aerial battle."

Offensively, the Jaguars pushed the pace early and got a goal less than four minutes into the match. Senior Cameron Williams flipped a short pass deep into the WIU (9-4-2, 1-2-0 Summit) box where Heidari was able to settle the ball and angle a shot past Stephen Paterson. It was Heidari's second career goal with both coming in the past three games and both being credited as game-winners. It was Williams' second assist of the year.

"What a quality goal by Ben," Franklin said. "What a beautful goal."

Heidari's score was IUPUI's second quality chance in the opening moments of the match. Off the opening kickoff, freshman Taylor Rhodes worked free and put a shot off the left post just 28 seconds into play.

Western's lone shot on goal came just over 12 minutes into the match when Darryl Odom got in behind the Jaguars defense. However, Snider recovered and forced Odom down to the endline where he was unable to get off a quality look. 

Keever easily gloved the try for his lone save. For the rookie netminder, it was his fourth shutout of the season and ran his record to 5-3-2 as IUPUI's starting goalkeeper. Paterson recorded four saves in defeat.

IUPUI's performace on Saturday was a far cry from the team that lost at Butler earlier in the week.

"It's a Summit League game," Franklin said. "When you've got Western and Oakland coming in back-to-back into your house, you want to defend your turf. With this league, you've got to get nine points at home. 

"When two of the three are the perennial top teams in the conference, it's tough to get that done. But, you've got to commend the boys for regaining the focus. Everybody checked their ego - they were playing for each other today."

IUPUI improved to 7-0 at home against Western Illinois since joining the Division I ranks in 1998, however the previous six meetings came at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.

IUPUI returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 25 when they host Oakland at 2:00 p.m.. That day, the Jaguars will be wearing pink jerseys as they take part in the first-ever IUPUI Kick for a Cure Day. Player jerseys will be auctioned off both online and during the game with all of the funds raised being donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.