BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - It would've been easy for a winless IUPUI men's soccer team to be awestruck on Tuesday night (Sept. 20) when they faced the No. 4 ranked Indiana Hoosiers at Bill Armstrong Stadium. However, that was anything but the case as the Jaguars ultimately dropped a 2-0 decision in the final of six straight road matches to start the season.

Indiana (5-0-3) got goals from Richard Ballard in the first half and Tanner Thompson in the second half of the victory. IUPUI (0-6) faced a 36-2 shot differential and 12-2 margin in corner kicks, but still fought for a full 90 minutes.

"I have to give credit to our guys in that they came out and fought and competed from the opening whistle to the final whistle. Every single one of them went out and fulfilled their individual roles and assignments and did what they could to go above and beyond their individual responsibilities," first-year Head Coach Brian Barnett said. "I've told the defense they have to be perfect 100 percent of the time whereas the attack just needs to complete the task of scoring a goal once or twice to be successful.

"On a night where we faced 36 shots and faced constant pressure, they were pretty darn close to perfect."

While the Jags were inclined to hunker down defensively against a dynamic IU attack, the Hoosiers still struck first when Ballard tallied in the 12th minute. The Hoosiers' top scorer knocked a shot past sophomore goalie Josh Gray from just beyond the six-yard box, thanks to assists from Rees Wedderburn and Rece Buckmaster.

IUPUI continued to dig in and didn't get a shot attempt until senior Cristian Soto fired just wide in the 26th minute.

"We knew we'd have to get out in transition and get out on counters in order to be dangerous," Barnett said. "We knew they'd throw a lot of guys at the attack, so that was our best bet was to try and counter off of that. I thought we generated some good half chances, but just didn't capitalize on them."

The Jags did earn a pair of corner kicks and had a dangerous restart deep in IU territory early in the second half, but were unable to solve Colin Webb, who collected his 25th career shutout. Webb punched away Pedro Valladao's corner kick in the game's 49th minute before one of the Jaguars' attackers could get on the end of it.

Thompson gave the hosts breathing room in the 74th minute, bending a strike inside the far post from distance for his third score of the year.

Gray continued his stout play down the stretch, closing with a career-high eight saves.

IUPUI will now head home to host Western Illinois at 7;00 p.m. on Friday night (Sept. 23) at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. Admission is FREE of charge for IUPUI students and IUPUI soccer Alum as part of Alumni Weekend. Adult tickets are just $5 at the gate.