Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS - Freshman Javier Portillo scored a goal and assisted on the game-winner as the Jaguars men's soccer team raced past Valparaiso 3-1 at Kuntz Stadium for its first win of the year. IUPUI had been shutout for nine consecutive halves including the preseason before exploding for three second half goals on Friday night in front of 389 fans.

"We grew up a lot tonight," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "It still wasn't pretty. We're still not firing on all cylinders. It's an ugly win, but I'd rather win ugly than lose pretty.

"The man of the match was obviously Javy."

Valpo (2-1) took a 1-0 lead less than 10 minutes in when Oscar Lomeli intercepted a pass deep in IUPUI (1-2) territory and laced a shot past senior goalkeeper David Barszczowski from nearly 25 yards out. As the match's intensity escalated, the chippiness on both sides increased leading to four cards being assessed in the first half alone. The key play came with just over five minutes left in the first half when VU's Rodolfo Lucas was assessed a red card for a retaliatory hit on IUPUI freshman Yogi Snider. 

"The game really changed on the red card," Franklin said. "From there, we went to a 3-4-3 formation to press the tempo and try to take advantage of Matt Guy and Eric Weigman's athleticism. We knew they were kind of going to hunker in, so we wanted to keep the pressure on."

Portillo pulled IUPUI even in the 61st minute when the freshman drilled an improbable free kick past Valpo goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck. With the ball sitting over 30 yards from goal, Portillo hit a ball through traffic off a diving Zobeck's fingertips just inside the left post for his first career goal.

"I had a lot of confidence because I almost had one on the first kick," Portillo said.

The Guatemala-native continued his big night in the 84th minute as he set up Guy's first career goal as well. Working up the right side of the field in space, Portillo beat a defender one-on-one before sending a short cross to Guy at the near post. 

Guy was able to fend off a double team before trickling a shot just inside the right post for his first-ever score.

"Coach (Franklin) has told us we need to clean up our first touch," Portillo said. "That's what I was concentrating on. On the goal, Matty did a good job of making his turn. He made a great play."

From there, the IUPUI defense hunkered down and weathered a storm before adding an empty net goal in the closing seconds. Zobeck came out beyond midfield in the final minute as part of the attack, but watched as Weigman got in behind him for his 13th career goal with just four seconds left. 

Both teams attempted 14 shots and IUPUI held a 5-4 advantage on corner kicks. Guy led IUPUI with five shots off the bench and Barszczowski made three saves for his eighth career victory. 

IUPUI returns to action on Sunday when it heads north to take on Western Michigan (1-1-1) at 1:00 p.m. at the WMU Soccer Complex.