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FORT WAYNE, Ind. - IUPUI head men's soccer coach Brian Barnett nearly got the best of both worlds on Tuesday night (Oct. 23). Opting to rest the majority of his starters with a critical Horizon League game looming ahead, his squad went on the road and scored first at Purdue Fort Wayne, but ultimately couldn't hold on before falling, 2-1. Senior Sean Siasia, making just his fourth start of the season, tallied a goal in the game's ninth minute to give the Jags a quick lead. 

However, Purdue Fort Wayne (9-6-1) tallied in the 52nd and 83rd minutes to protect their home pitch against the Jaguars. 

"We started the game strong and had a lead going into halftime," Siasia said. "Unfortunately, there were two or three critical moments that we got wrong in the second half that cost us a good result away from home. We have a great opportunity to bounce back on Sunday with everything on the line and on that day we can't afford to get it wrong."

Blake Cearns deposited the game-winner past IUPUI (3-10-3) sophomore goalkeeper Michael Buck late in regulation to set the final margin. 

Siasia put IUPUI in front in the early going, tallying from in close after sophomore Seth Vang played a long cross into traffic. It was Siasia's second career goal, both of which have come in Fort Wayne. The Georgia-native also scored against the Mastodons as a sophomore in 2016. Freshman Landon Malott also made his presence felt in the first half, nearly getting on the scoring end of a Tommy Driscoll corner kick in the 32nd minute.

The Jaguars' lead held until early in the second half when PFW's Matthew Lieshout buried a free kick to knot the score. The host Mastodons had the better run of play after halftime and thought they were going to be the beneficiary of a penalty kick in the game's 77th minute. The center official originally ruled for a PK after the ball hit the arm of an IUPUI defender near the top of the 18, but after two conferences with an assistant referee, he opted to award a drop ball just beyond the 18-yard box. 

The 'Dons took the lead late when Adam Gannon sent a cross to Cearns at the far post, setting up an easy finish inside the far stanchion. 

Purdue Fort Wayne closed with a 15-7 shot advantage and 6-3 discrepancy in corner kicks. Barnett's club also faced a lopsided foul count as IUPUI was whistled for 17 to the Mastodons' five. IUPUI started just one usual starter on Tuesday in senior Rodrigo Zampieri while four others were awarded their first starts of the season. Buck was among that quartet and made one save in the loss. 

The others making their first starts of the season were Driscoll, freshman Eli Quivey.and junior Yan Souza, who recently returned from injury.  

IUPUI will host Northern Kentucky on Sunday (Oct. 29) at Carroll Stadium at 1:00 p.m. with a win putting the Jaguars in prime position for a Horizon League Tournament berth and a loss meaning a likely end to the season. That game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) calls the action.