Photos I Michael Buck Postgame I Brian Barnett Postgame I Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf)

INDIANAPOLS - The IUPUI men's soccer team put up a strong showing in a 2-0 preseason win over UIndy at Carroll Stadium on a muggy Thursday night (Aug. 17), getting goals from Harold Agyeman-Prempeh and Sean Siasia in the shutout victory. Redshirt freshman Michael Buck recorded four saves in net to stave off the visiting Greyhounds to move the Jags' record to 1-1 in exhibition play. IUPUI will complete the three-game preseason slate at Evansville on Sunday night (Aug. 20). 

"First I think on the night, you have to thank UIndy. It's a great opponent that comes in here and brings a style of play that's going to be challenging for our team," Head Coach Brian Barnett said. "To a man, our guys did a great job of staying locked in on the defensive side of the ball and I think that's reflective of the progress we've made over the preseason."

While the two goals were certainly a welcome sight, it was the Jaguars' superior defense and fitness that fueled the victory. 

"If our two center backs didn't do the work they did, I wouldn't have made the saves I did," Buck said. "Honestly, it was a team effort.

"We definitely had more communication on the ball and we definitely have more pressure on the ball. We came in harder. We came in more pumped up I feel. We also had a lot tighter of a back line, which kept the goals out."

The Jaguars got on the board in the 23rd minute when Agyeman-Prempeh calmly cashed in on a penalty kick opportunity. IUPUI earned the restart after a Jaguar attacker was thrown to the ground attempting to get on the business end of a Nick Anderson corner kick. Agyeman-Prempeh slowly strolled forward from his defensive position before driving the PK past a sprawling UIndy goalkeeper.

"Goals always change the complexion of the game. Any time you can find yourself 1-0 up in the first half, you put yourself in the driver's seat, so to speak," Barnett said. 

The Jaguars were forced to defend and compact more in the second half as the visiting Greyhounds outshot the hosts 9-3 after halftime, but the opportunistic hosts capitalized on a late counter to end any drama. Freshman Cameron Petersen bent a gorgeous ball to a sprinting Siasia, who redirected a header past UIndy reserve keeper Will Roark for the night's final tally. 

UIndy closed with a 12-7 shot advantage, but the Jags hit paydirt twice and just missed a third score. Siasia was a sparkplug off the bench and just missed rolling a shot inside the far post in the 67th minute from the right side. 

"Going into the second half, we bring a new group of guys on with fresh legs and they work tremendously hard and were rewarded at the end of the game for their hard work," Barnett said. 

After making just one sub for an injury in the opening half, Barnett used eight new field players in the second half to take a look at different tandems and combinations. All total, 10 of the 19 Jaguars that played are new to the program.

Siasia and sophomore Pedro Valladao attempted a team-high two shots while UIndy's Javier Steinwascher attempted a game-high three shots. 

IUPUI will cap the three-game exhibition slate on Sunday night (Aug. 20) when the Jaguars trek south to face the University of Evansville.