Box Score I Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Photo Gallery I Isang Jacob Postgame

INDIANAPOLIS - IUPUI had one of the nation's top teams on the ropes, but ultimately fell short of the upset as the Jaguars lost a 3-1 decision to Xavier (3-0-1) at Michael A. Carroll Stadium on Wednesday (Sept. 5) night. The Jaguars pulled even in the game's 66th minute on senior Kyle Hyland's fourth goal of the year, but the visiting Musketeers answered with a pair of Matt Walker goals in the 71st and 76th minutes to earn the victory.

"We had momentum, but we have to stop the ball from going into our own net. We have to do a better job of defending," IUPUI head coach Isang Jacob said. "And the seniors have to start showing their leadership and I'm not getting that right now."

The loss was IUPUI's (1-4) fourth straight since opening the year with a win over Detroit.

Xavier owned the action early and went in front less than 10 minutes in on Gino De Paoli's first score of the year. Nick Hagglund played a ball to Darin Kruzich who flicked a pass to De Paoli on the left flank. De Paoli flared a shot easily over junior goalkeeper Ryan Onwukwe, who made his first career start in goal for the Jaguars. At that point, Xavier had history on it's side as the Jaguars had never scored a goal against the Musketeers in the four previous meetings in the series.

However, IUPUI broke that ice and knotted the match in the 66th minute after drawing the first XU foul of the contest. On the restart, senior Sean McGrath bent the ball to the far post in the direction of 6-foot-7 freshman Michael Sass. Sass headed the ball back towards the mouth of the net where Hyland got the finishing touch on his fourth score in just five games. Hyland entered this year with just two career goals and has already equaled the total of last year's top goal scorer, Sam Fuller.

"We know we're very dangerous on set pieces," Jacob said. "If you look at our goals from last year, 75 percent of our goals were on set pieces. We're scoring goals. We're ahead of where we were last year in scoring goals."

However, Xavier showed why they're ranked No. 2 in the region and among the nation's top 25 teams. Walker netted the game-winner in the 71st minute off a gorgeous build, that resulted in a rolling cross being sent back against the grain of the defense. Walker's capped the play, making his run towards the middle of the Jaguars' box before easily blasting a shot past Onwukwe.

Less than five minutes later, it was Walker making another middle run who finished an initial feed from Kruzich for his second score of the season.

Xavier outshot the Jaguars 21-14 and 7-3 on frame as Walker attempted a game-high five shots. Hyland led IUPUI with three shots while Adam Mills, Ian Block and McGrath had two shots each. Onwukwe made three saves in his first career start while XU's Justin Marshall collected two saves in the win.

"Ryan is a very good goalkeeper and he deserved the chance. Ryan did well," Jacob said. "I give Xavier credit. They're a good team. That's why they're ranked as highly as they're ranked."

IUPUI will continue the three-game Carroll Stadium homestand on Friday when the Jaguars host Central Arkansas at 7:00 p.m. as part of the IUPUI Nike Classic.

"I'm keeping everything positive. We're a young team," Jacob said. "We've got to shake it off."