Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Brian Barnett Postgame I Shives Postgame I Photo Gallery

INDIANAPOLIS - For a program still figuring out how to win, the IUPUI men's soccer team took a huge step on Friday (Aug. 23), defeating Northern Illinois in a preseason showdown at Carroll Stadium, 1-0. IUPUI sophomore Riley Shives accounted for the day's only offense with a strike in the 69th minute and classmate Quinn McCallion dialed up a shutout at the opposite end, facing 20 shots and recording six saves. 

NIU outshot the Jaguars 16-3 after halftime and finished with a 10-1 advantage on corner kicks, but ultimately Shives had the only attempt that mattered to cap the exhibition slate. 

"It feels great, especially, last year we dropped both of our exhibitions so it was an uphill battle all year. To kind of pick up where we left off last year on a high note, I think it's going to propel us greatly moving forward," Shives said. "I feel like the group of guys we have is so special. Even off the field, we're so close with each other that it translates well on the field."

McCallion played a long ball up the right side to freshman Carson Shrader, who was able to cut through traffic in the attacking third before spotting Shives. Shives did the rest, blistering a shot past NIU keeper Christoph Koninger. It was only one of two IUPUI shots on goal all day as Matthew Skaar tested NIU keeper Martin Sanchez midway through the first half. 

Defensively, IUPUI the Jags relied heavily on the group of Ethan Diedel, Tommy Patacca and Chris Workman, while Caleb Hussain moved to the back line at the start of the second half as well. McCallion was his typical brilliant self, stonewalling a second half flurry of attempts from all angles. By match's end, most of the Huskies attempts resulted in the attacking player placing their hands to their heads in shock as the guests were kept off the board. Alex Welch led NIU with four attempts, all after halftime, while three others were credited with three shots. 

Skaar and senior midfielder Pedro Valladao had a team-high two attempts. 

Barnett tightened up his rotation in season's second exhibition, playing just 16 players and allowing McCallion to play a full 90 minutes.

"I think for us, today we were going to evaluate success based on some principles of our identity that we wanted to get in terms of continuing to be excellent defending deep and defending our defensive half of the field," Barnett said. "We were okay in the counter in terms of attacking transition and trying to establish possession.

"Winning is a skill too. It's important for our guys to learn how to close out games and how to deal with those pressure moments in an appropriate way."

IUPUI will open the regular season on Friday, Aug. 30 when the Jaguars take on California Baptist at 4:00 p.m. at Michael A. Carroll Stadium. That contest will be broadcast on ESPN+ and will be part of a soccer doubleheader as the women's team will cap the day by hosting Western Illinois at 7:00 p.m..