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LEXINGTON, Ky. - In a physical match that offered very few scoring opportunities, the Kentucky men's soccer team took advantage of theirs and the Jaguars' did not as the hosts claimed a 1-0 victory in the UKIT finale on Sunday afternoon. Kentucky netted the game-winner in the 55th minute on a strike from Jordan Rose.

"They came out of the gates and pressed the heck out of us," IUPUI Head Coach Steve Franklin said. "They had two waves where they really came at us. One was at the end of the first half and the other was the start of the second half. We went in scoreless at halftime and really didn't make any adjustments because we were happy with the way things were going. 

"I thought we did a fantastic job of managing the game at that standpoint."

However, the opportunistic Wildcats (2-0) capitalized on a misplayed ball by the IUPUI (1-1) defense that eventually led to Rose getting free near the penalty spot. The 6-foot-4 forward was able to slide a shot past IUPUI junior goalkeeper Tyler Keever for the game's lone score and the UKIT title. 

"Unfortunately, in games like this, it comes down to the team that capitalizes on the one or two opportunities that come up," Franklin said. "Today, they were the ones that capitalized. They're a good team."

IUPUI was outshot 9-6 overall and put just two shots on frame, both coming from sophomore Joshio Sandoval. The Jaguars' defense was similarly stingy, yielding just six shots on frame, five of which resulted in Keever saves.

"Kentucky's defense did a great job of just pressing us. It was a very physical game and it was hard to get a flow," Franklin said. "We really couldn't get Perez (Agaba) involved at all today."

Sandoval led all players with four shot attempts and earned a spot on the all-tournament team, along with Agaba and Mason Cassady.

"It was another great game turned in again by Josh Sandoval," Franklin said. "He had a great weekend. I also thought Mason Cassady had a great weekend and really solidified himself in the center of the midfield."

With the outcome, IUPUI finished second at the UKIT.

"I'm extremely pleased with the weekend. I thought we outscrapped them and even Coach (Ian) Collins came over and said that," Franklin said. "Kentucky definitely knows who the Jaguars are now."

IUPUI will return to action next weekend when it takes part in the Central Arkansas Tournament in Conway, Ark.. The Jaguars will play host Central Arkansas on Friday night before taking on Missouri State on Sunday. 

UKIT All-Tournament Team (listed alphabetically)
Perez Agaba, F, (IUPUI)
Dylan Asher, D (Kentucky)
Tyler Beadle, GK (Kentucky)
Mason Cassady, MF (IUPUI)
Jake Hagedorn, MF (UNC-Asheville)
Connor Holzinger, MF (UNC-Asheville)
Tyler Riggs, F (Kentucky)
Jordan Rose, F (Kentucky)
Joshio Sandoval, MF (IUPUI)
Jake Sides, D (UNC-Asheville)
EIU representatives tba