Box Score I Box Score (.pdf) I Video Highlights I Isang Jacob Postgame I Sam Fuller Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team recorded its third straight shutout and freshman Sam Fuller netted an opportunistic goal in the 39th minute as the Jaguars tallied a 1-0 win over Western Michigan at Kuntz Stadium on Wednesday (Oct. 12) night. The wild affair included a tale of two halves, four yellow cards and a red card ejection and a third consecutive IUPUI home win.

"It feels good. We just need to finish teams away when we have the opportunity. We had the chance to do that and we gave them the chance to almost come back," IUPUI Head Coach Isang Jacob said.

While Western Michigan's (4-8-1) more free wheeling style of play led to numerous scoring chances in the first half, the Jaguars capitalized on its lone opportunity to seize a 1-0 lead just before halftime. WMU's Yllson Asani flicked the ball back in the direction of his goalkeeper, but Fuller intercepted the pass and headed the ball past the challenging Matt Murrell for his second career goal, both of which are game-winners. It was IUPUI's only shot attempt in the first half as the Broncos outshot the Jags 7-1 in the first 45 minutes.

"We call him the super sub," Jacob said. "We told him, Sam, get in there and score a goal. You're due for one."

"I saw Hyland getting ready to clear a ball and play it all the way through. I knew it wasn't going to get to me, but I was just hoping the guy would try to flick it on or maybe Yogi was going to flick it on," Fuller said. "Lucky enough, their own defender tried to flick it back to their goalie and I read it and just played it through."

At the other end, senior Tyler Keever continued his netminding brilliance, thwarting multiple breakaways including a kick save on an Oliver Mayer attempt in the 23rd minute and a leaping deflection of a Pat Schiffer attempt in the final minute of the first half. Freshman Tyler Drumm also did his part to preserve the shutout, earning a team save by clearing a Jason Grant love tap off the endline after Keever got tangled with the WMU attacker on a late challenge in the 32nd minute. 

"The defense has been playing well," Fuller said. "Keever's been playing out of his mind. He's been making some great saves every game."

Jacob spread the credit around to the entire defensive core.

"We finally found the right personnel. We had to do some moving, but we have the right personnel," Jacob said. "(Keever) is playing well and the back four is doing a good job as well."

The second half saw IUPUI (4-7-2) become the aggressors, helped partly by playing with a man advantage for the final 30 minutes. Yogi Snider and Kyle Hyland opened the second stanza with attempts on frame, both of which Matt Murrell stopped for two of his six saves. After both Ian Munro and Tyler Thatcher misfired high on attempts, the momentum completely shifted to the Jaguars in the 60th minute when Grant was sent off with a red card. The WMU forward seemingly threw a punch at Keever after a scrum inside the IUPUI penalty area, leading to the immediate ejection.

IUPUI kept the heat on including getting a pair of breakaways for Jeff Keyler, but one strike went high and the other hit the side net from the left side. The Jaguars outshot the Broncos 12-5 in the second half and finished with a 13-12 shot advantage. WMU's direct brand of soccer led to eight offsides calls, five of which were whistled in the first half. Five different Broncos attempted two shots each in the loss.

Keever finished with five stops and ran his scoreless streak to 315 straight minutes in net. The shutout was his fifth of the season and 11th of his college career. The Indianapolis-native has allowed just one goal at home all season in five home matches.

On Wednesday, Keyler led the attackers with three shot attempts off the bench and Munro, Snider, Hyland and Fuller all fired two tries.

IUPUI will return to Summit League action on Saturday, Oct. 15 when the Jaguars take on Western Illinois at 3:00 p.m. Eastern in Macomb, Ill.. The Jaguars come in with a 1-0-1 Summit League mark and have yet to yield a goal in league play.