Box Score I Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Isang Jacob Postgame I Joshio Sandoval Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team had two players ranked among the nation's elite in their respective categories when the NCAA released the national statistical leaders on Monday afternoon. Both of those individuals added to their already impressive totals as the Jaguars knocked off Valparaiso, 1-0 at Michael A. Carroll Stadium in front of 965 fans on Wednesday (Sept. 19) night.

Freshman Eduardo Cortes, who came in leading the country in saves, added eight to his total on Wednesday en route to registering his third career shutout in an IUPUI uniform. IUPUI (3-6-1) got all the offense it would need less than 10 minutes deep into the match when senior Kyle Hyland cracked his Summit League-leading sixth goal of the year for the eventual game-winner. Hyland was ranked among the nation's top 20 entering Wednesday's play.

Despite Valparaiso (1-5-1) controlling much of the initial pace of the match, Hyland and the Jaguars drew first blood in the tenth minute on the senior's second game-winner of the year. Classmate Joshio Sandoval collected a 50-50 ball near midfield and slid a pass to Hyland on the left flank. The Bay Village, Ohio-native feigned inside before cutting back to his left foot and unloaded a 25-yard blast that tucked easily into the net past the outstretched VU goalie Tom Serratore.

"I stole it right away and I saw Kyle right away, I just heard him," Sandoval said of the game-winner. "Just playing with him three years now, I just knew where he was from the sound of his voice. He cut in and cut right back out and just took a rip and put it in the back of the net." 

"Kyle is going to continue to score with the system we're playing," IUPUI head coach Isang Jacob said. "Get Kyle open and that was a great shot. It was a great goal."

Both teams continued to play an attacking brand of soccer, although Cortes was equal to the task and made five of his eight saves in the first half. In the second half, Cortes continued his brilliance and caught a break along the way to earn the clean sheet.

"He's one of the best," Jacob said of the freshman goalkeeper. "That's why we wanted him here. We've always done well with goalkeepers. He's doing a good job for us.

"And, the back four has played well and they're getting used to each other. That's certainly helped."

In the 59th minute, VU's Jon Smith had a clean look from inside the 18 ring off the right post , drawing a collective gasp from the home crowd. In the 74th minute, Jesse Ortiz had the best scoring chance of the match when he split the Jags' two center backs and was left free on a breakaway with the goalie from Texas. Ortiz didn't pull the trigger until he was inside the 18, but hit his right-footed shot directly into the stomach of Cortes, who went to the ground to smother the attempt.

Valparaiso finished with a 20-13 shot advantage and 8-0 edge on corner kicks. Ortiz and Hyland finished with four shots each while junior Ian Block had three attempts for the Jags.

"We can all take bullets, but the number that mattered was 1-0," Jacob said. "We knew they were going to take shots. They're a very aggressive team offensively and we knew that coming in. (Valpo) is a good team. The result doesn't tell how good this team is. They're going to start winning. They're one of the best teams we've played so far."

Wednesday's win upped the Jaguars' record to 3-1 at home and exorcised some demons as they held on to a lead late in the match.

"It was a good night and the boys rose to the occasion."

As part of the United Way kickoff, IUPUI players wore 'Live United' t-shirts in the pregame while a tailgate with fan friendly games was hosted on the upper-field prior to kickoff. The campus responded with the second largest turnout of the year, with nearly 1,000 fans attending Wednesday's match. For the season, the Jaguars are averaging 880 fans per game in this year's return to Carroll Stadium.

IUPUI will continue the brief two-game homestand on Saturday when the Jaguars open Summit League play against Eastern Illinois (2-6, 0-0 Summit) at 7:00 p.m.. As part of Youth Soccer Month, the Indiana Soccer Association and IUPUI will be hosting a pregame youth (ages 4-14) clinic at Carroll Stadium at 5:30 p.m.. The clinic will be held on the upper field and attendees will be invited on the pitch at halftime of the match to play on the main field's artificial surface.

Admission to Saturday's match is free and open to the public. In addition, live stats will be available via IUPUIJags.com beginning at 7:00 p.m.