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CONWAY, Ark. - Despite yielding a goal less than a minute into the match, the IUPUI men's soccer team got goals from Perez Agaba and Jeff Keyler and rallied for a 2-1 win at Central Arkansas on Friday night. It marked the second time in three games that both Agaba and Keyler scored in an IUPUI win.

"This was what I would call a dirty win. It was a really ugly soccer game - kind of like a Sunday rec ball game," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "They scored 47 seconds in and we had to play from behind. We get back on top and have to play the last 12 minutes a man down.

"If anything, it showed that we're capable of overcoming obstacles and that we're able to recover from a shaky start. After losing so many one goal games last year, it was nice to show that we could come from behind. It was a total team effort though. Every kid that came on this trip contributed to this win."

UCA's (1-3) Joseph Cervantes pinned the hosts to an early 1-0 lead, thanks to an assist from his goalkeeper, Ivan Zarate. Zarate played a long punt nearly the length of the field and IUPUI goalkeeper Tyler Keever was slow to come off his line to corral the ball. Given time, Cervantes lined a shot past the challenging IUPUI netminder, making it 1-0.

IUPUI (2-1) wasted little time in pulling even though, as Agaba tallied his third goal of the year in the game's sixth minute. Junior Tyler Fritcha rolled a cross through the UCA box, finding Agaba at the six-yard marker from where he blasted a shot past Zarate.

The game remained tied until early in the second half when Keyler got loose on a breakaway and netted an unassisted goal.

"It's nice to get some goals from our forwards, as opposed to having them come mostly from our midfielders like they did last year," Franklin said. "(Agaba and Keyler) are a nice combo together up top."
 
Agaba did have a late blemish though as the junior striker was given a straight red card in the 78th minute for coming in late on the UCA goalkeeper. Forced to play a man down, the IUPUI defense held strong down the stretch to escape victoriously.

Keever settled down after the opening moments and gave way to sophomore Alex Mannen at halftime. Mannen also had an early bobble, but made two saves in a scoreless second half to earn the win.

"(Alex) Mannen did a good job when he got called to duty," Franklin said. "He made a really nice save late in the match, after we were playing a man down already."

After the win, Franklin likened the effort and drew some similarities to a team that holds a special place in his heart.

"It was reminiscent of the 2000 Mid-Con Championship game," Franklin said. "We gave up a goal early, then came back and scored two to get the win. Maybe it means something."

IUPUI will cap the two-game road trip on Sunday when it takes on Missouri State at 2:30 p.m..