at Valparaiso (Sept. 13 – 8:30 p.m.): Live Stats
vs. Milwaukee (Sept. 15 – 3 p.m.): Live Stats

INDIANAPOLIS - Coming off a disappointing 2-1 loss to Houston Baptist Wednesday night, the Jaguars' men's soccer team (0-3-2) will head to Valparaiso (1-0-3) Friday (Sept. 13) to take on the Crusaders before returning home to host Milwaukee (2-0-1) this Sunday (Sept. 15) at 3 p.m..

Sunday's match against the Panthers will be Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. Admission is free but fans are subject to university parking rates.

The Jaguars and Crusaders will meet for the 19th time with the Crusaders holding an 11-7-1 advantage. Sunday's match with Milwaukee will be just their second meeting all-time with the first being a 3-2 road loss last August.

IUPUI defeated Valpo last season, 1-0 on Sept. 19 at Carroll Stadium on a Kyle Hyland strike in the 10th minute. 

This year's schedule begins to get much tougher this weekend, and offensively, the Jaguars hope to start converting on more of their goal opportunities. Missed opportunities has been a recurring theme this season as the Jaguars have scored only four goals in five matches, including two double-overtime affairs.

On Wednesday, the Jaguars outshot Houston Baptist 7-5 on goal, but it was the Huskies who took a 2-0 lead midway through the second half on its way to a 2-1 victory.

Senior forwards Ian Block and Gregory Efiom lead the team with a combined 21 shots between them, but have teamed for only one goal. Block scored late in last weekend's loss at Longwood. 

It has been a learning experience so far this season for the Jaguars. Half of the players on the roster are freshman and Head Coach Isang Jacob started five rookies and one transfer in Wednesday night's contest. Inexperience is no excuse though, as Jacob said.

"The freshmen we have on the field are good enough to play. No excuses. They're good enough to win."

The lack of experience is something the Jaguars will need to get past quickly. The Crusaders started nine upperclassmen and only one freshmen in their previous match against Michigan State. The Panthers started eight upperclassmen in their most recent match.

Neither Valparaiso nor Milwaukee has lost a match this season. Valparaiso started their season with three consecutive draws before notching their first win, 2-1, against Michigan State. Milwaukee is coming off a 2-1 victory over Bowling Green and will play DePaul in Chicago this Friday before coming to Indianapolis. Milwaukee midfielder Laurie Bell has scored two goals and assisted once for the Panthers. Bell had a goal and an assist in Milwaukee's 3-2 win over the Jaguars a year ago as the Panthers scored in the final second of regulation to claim victory.