Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team dropped a 1-0 decision to Northern Kentucky in preseason play on Saturday evening at Kuntz Stadium. NKU, ranked fifth in the NSCAA Division II preseason polls, controlled possession throughout and outshot the Jaguars 17-9 on an unseasonably warm evening. 

Braden Bishop scored the game-winning goal in the 30th minute, thanks to some craftiness from his teammates. After IUPUI was whistled offsides, NKU's Kevin Donnelly played a quick restart to Anthony Meyer in the midfield. Meyer threaded a through ball to Bishop in stride, who was able to roll a shot past IUPUI senior goalkeeper David Barszczowski, well inside the right post from about 14 yards out.

"(NKU) had us chasing the game pretty well," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "Right now, our biggest question mark is in the center midfield. We're really missing that maestro player right now. Vangel (Nacovski) did a good job of controlling the play in the middle, and so did Ricky Del Toro before him."

Nacovski, who was awarded The Summit League's Offensive Player of the Year last season, was a four-year starter in the midfield for the Jaguars. On Saturday, freshman Taylor Rhodes and sophomore Nate Ohmer got the nod in the middle. 

Despite being limited to just nine shots and only one on goal, IUPUI still had some good scoring opportunities. 

With just over five minutes left in the first half, freshman Alan Hyslop lofted a gorgeous lead pass to Agaba Perez, who had split a pair of defenders on a run. His header went harmlessly over the crossbar, accounting for his lone shot of the game. 

In the second half, Ohmer and Eric Weigman both got free just inside the right corner of the 18-yard box. Ohmer tapped a pass to Weigman, who pushed his shot wide of the net beyond NKU goalkeeper Michael Lavric. 

Weigman led the IUPUI attack with three shot attempts while Ohmer attempted two. Bishop and Meyer had three apiece for NKU. 

"I thought Wiggy's athleticism was the bright spot of the day," Franklin said. "Wiggy did what Wiggy does best - he took people on with the ball at his feet and was able to beat defenders."

Defensively, Barszczowski recorded three saves in the first half and freshman Alex Mannen had one save in the second half. Mannen was also the beneficiary of a team save as Meyer had a shot attempt cleared off the back line. 

In all, IUPUI starter six newcomers and played 12 first-year players among his 20 that saw the field. 

"In the preseason, you don't want the kids to be scared to make a mistake," Franklin said. "You just don't want them to make the same mistake twice."

The Jaguars will return to training this week in preparation for its next preseason primer against Loyola next Saturday in Fort Wayne. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m..