INDIANAPOLIS - Heavy rain and a slow start spelled doom for the IUPUI men's soccer team on Wednesday night (Oct. 19) as the Jaguars dropped a non-conference tilt with Detroit, 2-0 at the on-campus Michael A. Carroll Stadium. The match was delayed for more than 75 minutes at the outset and had another 45 minute halftime delay.
The entirety of the match was played in cool, wet conditions under the lights.
When play finally did get underway, it was Detroit (2-8-3) that benefited most from a strong tailwind and wet conditions, getting the game's first goal in the 13th minute on a wet ball rebound. Matt DeVries hammered a shot from distance, forcing sophomore goalie
Josh Gray to the ground to make the initial save. However, Gray was unable to secure the wet ball and Matt Harkema pumped the rebound into the empty net for the evening's first score.
Two minutes later, IUPUI (1-13) gifted the Titans a goal to make it 2-0.
A Detroit player sent a long throw-in towards the direction of the Jaguars' net. However, the ball glanced off an IUPUI defender and past Gray for the second goal of the contest.
IUPUI's best chance of the first half came on a restart opportunity from 25 yards out from goal.
Cristian Soto and
Uriel Macias ran through before freshman
Nathan Silva blasted a shot through the defensive wall, but right at Detroit keeper Josh Flamme.
IUPUI nearly cut the lead in half in the 75th minute when Soto played a ball forward to Macias on the right side. Macias beat Flamme to the chance and flared a shot towards the far post, but was denied his fourth goal of the season by the woodwork.
IUPUI finished with a 12-9 advantage in shot attempts, led by three apiece from Soto,
Yan Souza and
Pedro Valladao. However, only three of the Jaguars' were on target as Flamme collected three stops in the shutout.
Gray collected four saves in the defeat.
IUPUI will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 26 when the Jaguars take on Northern Kentucky at 7:00 p.m. at Carroll Stadium. Admission is FREE for IUPUI students with a valid JagTag and faculty and staff members can purchase discounted tickets at the main gate.
