FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Despite showing improvements, the IUPUI men's soccer team dropped its final preseason primer in a 1-0 decision to Loyola (Ill.) late Saturday night. The match capped a long day of soccer at the Hefner Soccer Complex, site of the 2008 National Soccer Festival. 

Loyola's Eric Gehrig provided all of the game's offense as his shot deflected off a defender and clanged off the post past IUPUI senior goalkeeper David Barszczowski. 

"There was nothing David could've done," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "You could see that Loyola's a good team. It was evident they returned 10 starters off a team that competed in the NCAA Tournament.

"We're a young team - we're still maturing."

IUPUI tired late in the match on a hot, humid evening, as the attack struggled to produce for the second straight game. 

"While we did play more inspired tonight, I think the outcome could have been different had our fitness been there or we capitalized on a couple opportunities," Franklin said. 

Official stats were not kept on Saturday. 

IUPUI will open up the regular season on Friday when it takes on Northern Illinois in Evanston at the Northwestern Lakeside Classic. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m..