Box Score

GREEN BAY, Wisc. - The IUPUI men's soccer team put together a solid defensive effort and received timely offense on its way to a 2-1 win over UC Riverside in the opening match of the Country Inn & Suites Green Bay Nike Soccer Classic on Saturday. 

"This was a huge win," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "It was kind of a cat and mouse game. We really took it to them the first 20 minutes, they made an adjustment and has us chasing the game for a little bit.

"All in all, it was two very evenly matched teams."

UC Riverside (1-5-0) took an early 1-0 advantage on a Robert Cate goal, but senior Nick Lance pulled IUPUI (3-3-0) even before halftime and freshman Perez Agaba netted the eventual game-winner in the 67th minute. 

Lance was in the right place at the right time in the 28th minute to post the fourth score of his career. After Dan Heidari sent a free kick into the box, the ball came loose to freshman Matt Guy, who put a shot on frame. The rebound came to Lance, who scored from just inside the 18. 

The score remained tied until Franklin inserted Agaba into the lineup. Having been on the field for less than three minutes, the Uganda-native scored his first career goal off a through ball from sophomore Weston Hawkins. Agaba won a 50-50 ball and outsprinted his defender for the eventual game-winner. 

Franklin credited Hawkins and Nate Ohmer's play in the midfield to the team's play on Saturday. 

"I thought we got a little more maturity on the field by having Wes Hawkins and Nate Ohmer playing in the middle of the field. Whereas the freshman are a little scared to make a mistake, those two did a really good job in there," Franklin said. "It just increased our work rate in there too. Plus, that let us move Eric Weigman back up top and he really increased our work rate."

IUPUI outshot Riverside 11-10 as both teams put six shots on frame. Guy led IUPUI with three tries and Hawkins and Ohmer fired two apiece. 

Freshman goalkeeper Tyler Keever recorded five saves in his first collegiate win while Riverside's Ryan Schmitz collected four saves in defeat.

"Keever made some quality saves in there," Franklin said. "He did a really nice job."

IUPUI concludes play at the Country Inn & Suites Green Bay Nike Soccer Classic on Sunday when it battles host UW-Green Bay at 2:30 p.m.. Live stats will be available via IUPUIJags.com.

"Tomorrow will be interesting. (UCR) took a little bit of our legs away today," Franklin said. "Hopefully we're able to rebound."