Box Score

TULSA, Okla. - The IUPUI men's soccer team broke out of a recent offensive slump and the defense held together to help the Jaguars collect a 2-1 win at Oral Roberts on Saturday afternoon. The victory kept the Jaguars hopes of finishing among the top four in The Summit League alive, leaving an all important postseason berth in play. 

"Huge win," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "Absolutely huge win."

Fifth-year senior goalkeeper Francisco Maia was pressed into making just his second career start and responded with five saves and his first career win. Having been blanked the past two games, the offense awakened with a first half goal from freshman Perez Agaba and the eventual game-winner from sophomore Nate Ohmer. 

IUPUI (8-7-2, 3-2-0 Summit) jumped ahead 24 minutes in, thanks to a tidbit that Franklin picked up while watching film on Oral Roberts (5-8-2, 2-2-0 Summit). 

"We watched last year's tournament game and saw they weren't putting a player on the back post on corner kicks, only on the near post," Franklin said. "We told the guys to overhit their restarts a little."

Senior Cameron Williams took the advice to heart, finding sophomore defender Derek Craig on the far post on a corner. Craig headed the ball back to the middle of the box to Agaba who blasted his third goal of the year past ORU goalkeeper Andrew Techanchuk. 

The lead was short lived though as ORU's Gary Duran drilled home his first goal of the season on a 25-yard strike past Maia in the 33rd minute.

In the 70th minute, Ohmer hit paydirt for his second score of the season by blasting a 35-yard strike into the upper corner of the net. 

"Ohmer hit an absolute bomb. He unloaded on that one," Franklin said. "I've been hard on the midfielders, but you've got to compliment them today. Nate and Wes did a fantastic job. 

"Nate went a full 90 on a tender ankle and Wes had to come off for a little bit, but he played exceptionally well in the middle of the park."

Maia, who became the starter when freshman Tyler Keever left the last match with an injury, was making his fifth appearance of the season. 

"You've got to credit Cisco," Franklin said. "He stepped into a difficult situation, but he's shown the maturity you'd expect out of a fifth-year senior."

ORU outshot IUPUI 16-11 as both Duran and Carlos Pinto had five attempts. Agaba led the Jaguars with four shots. 

IUPUI returns to action on Friday when it travels up I-69 to take on IPFW in a Summit League finale. Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. from Hefner Soccer Complex.