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INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team put forth a strong defensive effort, but couldn't get the offense untracked as the Jaguars played visiting Bowling Green State to a 0-0 double overtime tie at Kuntz Stadium on a chilly Wednesday night. The goalkeeping duo of Alex Mannen and Tyler Keever combined to make nine stops as IUPUI recorded just its third shutout of the season.

BGSU (5-8-3) outshot the Jaguars 26-17 and 9-3 on frame, but was unable to find the back of the net. Dusko Topolic led all players with seven shots, putting five on goal.

"It's kind of a disappointing result because as a rule, you want your boys to have a little bit of confidence and a little swagger at this time of year," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "That being said, we had another shutout, which is kind of nice. Both goalkeepers played well and we saw the emergence of Emile Garcia's game again. I thought he had an outstanding game and really stepped up in the back there.

"Joe Meyer did well in his first start too."

The Falcons dominated the first half, keeping the ball in IUPUI territory for much of the first 45 minutes and outshooting the Jaguars 7-1 through the first 40 minutes. IUPUI (9-7-2) finally showed life in the final five minutes of the half, including a well struck bullet off the foot of Weston Hawkins that Miguel Rosales plucked clean as time was winding down before halftime.

IUPUI got two quality headers from Garcia in the 67th and 68th minutes, both of which sailed just wide left of the goal mouth. 

Bowling Green had a number of dangerous chances in the second half, including a restart from nearly 35 yards out by Ryan Comiskey that forced Keever to climb the ladder and make the save just below the crossbar. Sam Galloway nearly netted the game-winner in the 76th minute, but had his rolling attempt go less than a foot wide of the left post and over the endline. 

In overtime, Perez Agaba tried to play hero for the Jaguars in the 93rd minute when he got free at the top of the 18, but was unable to get the ball back to his right foot for a strike. Junior Matt Guy had two attempts in the first overtime period, but neither were on frame.

IUPUI's final good look of the night came in the 106th minute when Kyle Hyland rolled a short corner kick to Yogi Snider, who was stationed in front of the Jaguars' bench. Snider composed and then drilled a shot through traffic, but Rosales made his final of three saves. BGSU nearly won it in the 109th, but fortunately for the Jags, Zach Lemke's rocket from 25 yards out smacked off the crossbar and back onto the field. 

Garcia and Guy led the Jaguars with three shots each and Snider and Tyler Fritcha attempted two apiece. With the blanking, IUPUI hasn't scored since the 74th minute of the 2-1 win over Wright State on Oct. 26.

"This time of season, you're looking for your studs to step up," Franklin said. "Right now, we're our own worst enemy. We keep ourselves in games for the most part defensively, but we don't do the creative or intelligent things in front of goal that will get us goals.

"That's two games without a goal. That's not good. Bowling Green was tidy on the ball and didn't give too many possessions away, but we shot ourselves in the foot a few times too."

Keever made six saves in 65 minutes while Mannen made three first half stops before calling it a day.

"Keever played well, but you've got to credit Mannen too," Franklin said. "Because he organized well in front of him, he wasn't really tested much."

IUPUI will now remain idle until The Summit League Tournament semifinals to be held at Oakland University on Friday, Nov. 12. The Jaguars will learn who their opponent will be this weekend as Summit League soccer concludes.