Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team pressed on the offensive accelerator for most of the day on Sunday at Kuntz Stadium, but couldn't solve the Centenary defense until the 85th minute as the Jaguars escaped with a key Summit League win, 1-0.

The match was the conference opener for both teams.

Freshman Perez Agaba took a short pass from fellow rookie Taylor Rhodes and bulleted a shot past Centenary (2-5-0, 0-1-0 Summit) goalkeeper Rennie Walker into the left half of the net with just 5:10 to play, registering his second game-winning goal of the season.

The assist was the first of Rhodes' career.

"Basically, I've been trying to do what Coach (Franklin) tells me to do. The opportunity was there, I went for it - I went for glory," Agaba said. "Coach has been working with us on our first touch, the speed of the game and the creation of opportunities.

"You could see it. We got nine shots, eight on target, in the first half."

The Jaguars outshot Centenary 15-9 overall and 11-3 on frame, but Walker had a superb showing in net for the visitors. 

"It was definitely a game of perseverance," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "Some of the younger guys learned today that (Summit) League play is different than anything they've seen."

IUPUI (4-3-2, 1-0-0 Summit), which was shutout at home on Wednesday night by Xavier, came out on the attack by putting three shots on goal in the opening seven minutes. Freshman Javier Portillo had the best look of the bunch, putting a header on goal from just outside the six-yard box, which Walker made a two-handed save on. 

It looked as though IUPUI would finally break through in the 55th minute when junior Eric Weigman split a pair of defenders and earned a penalty kick as he was pulled down on his way to goal. His ensuing PK was aimed just inside the right post, but Walker made a one-handed diving stop to push the ball wide of the net and keep the score tied. 

As frustration began to mount, Centenary started finding more room against the IUPUI defense with Mo Assi and Todd Faulkinberry keying the attack, but Tyler Keever was barely tested on their attempts. He finished the day with three saves and extended his scoreless streak to 244:02 in net dating back to the match at UW-Green Bay last Sunday. 

He improved to 2-1-2 overall with two shutouts as the Jags' starting keeper.

"You have to give Keever credit to get the shutout," Franklin said. "Ryan Brumbaugh stepped in and played a good game along the back line as well. Even though the back line had some hiccups along the way, it was good to get the result.

"Credit Centenary too. They kept fighting. We were definitely the fresher team in the early going, but they scrapped and hung in there."

Offensively, freshman Matt Guy led the Jaguars with four shots and Portillo tried three. Walker finished with 11 saves in defeat.

IUPUI will step out of conference on Wednesday night when it wraps up its current three-game homestand. The Jaguars will take on Eastern Illinois in a 7:00 p.m. kickoff at Kuntz Stadium. Like always, IUPUI students are admitted for free with a valid IUPUI JagTag.