Box Score I Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Isang Jacob Postgame I Ryan Robinson Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - Senior Ryan Robinson scored a pair of goals and classmate Emile Garcia added an insurance score as IUPUI roared past Western Illinois by a 3-0 score on Senior Night at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 20). Freshman goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes registered his second straight shutout as IUPUI improved to 3-2 in Summit League play.

"We had a very good gameplan and the boys did a very good job. It was a continuation of what we did at Oral Roberts. We have to fight to get into the conference tournament," IUPUI Head Coach Isang Jacob said.  

Saturday's win didn't seal up a postseason berth, but helped solidify the Jaguars' spot among the league's top four with nine points in five matches. 

The home finale ended up being somewhat of a fairy tale ending for the entire senior class, beginning with Robinson's first goal of the year late in the first half. Freshman Alejandro Martignon went in hard for a 50-50 ball near midfield, sending the ball forward to Robinson in space. Given time, Robinson worked to his right before angling a shot past WIU (3-8-3, 1-2-2 Summit) goalkeeper Yves Dietrich for the eventual game-winner in the 42nd minute.

The momentum carried over to the second half as Garcia got in on the act in the 60th minute. This time, freshman Clint Hoffar delivered a long throw-in deep into the WIU penalty area. With 6-foot-7 freshman Michael Sass drawing all the attention on the near side of the play, Garcia was able to slip to the far post unnoticed and roofed a shot from in close for his second goal of the season. For Hoffar, it was his third assist of the season.

Robinson capped the scoring, depositing his second goal of the night and season with a similar finish to his first goal. Again, Martignon played the Michigan-native forward, who came in from the right side and rolled a shot past Dietrich, sparking a frenzied celebration with his teammates along the endline.

"Ryan was hot all week during practice," Jacob said. "Even when we were at Oral Roberts, we told him to be patient and that it was going to come. And that's what he did and he just kept patient and he got the goals."

"I've been really trying to bust my butt and get out there and do anything to help out the team. I'm just glad I was finally able to put something in for this year," Robinson said. "Obviously, I love what we're doing right now. Winning feels good - everybody loves to win."

Defensively, Cortes dialed up nine saves, including a couple show stoppers. His best denial of the night came late in the match when he snuffed out a Charlie Bales drive on a restart and then proceeded to thwart a Ken Tryggestad attempt on the rebound. Cortes also had a beauty of a save late in the first half when Erick Bloom got free on the left flank, but hit his shot right at the IUPUI goalkeeper.

IUPUI outshot the Fighting Leathernecks 16-14 overall, led by senior Kyle Hyland's eight attempts. Garcia added three shots and Bales and Bloom had three each for WIU. The win improved IUPUI to 9-0 all-time at home against the Leathernecks. 

Jacob's squad will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 27 when the Jaguars head west to take on Kansas City in an 8:00 p.m. Eastern kickoff.