INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team fell victim to a late redirect goal as the Jaguars yielded the game's only score in the 78th minute of a 1-0 loss to Eastern Illinois at Carroll Stadium on Wednesday (Oct. 20). EIU's Chad Hamler had a shot deflect off an IUPUI defender and past senior goalkeeper
Quinn McCallion late in regulation to send the visiting Panthers to a victory.
IUPUI (3-9-1) outshot the guests by a 10-7 margin, but put just two attempts on frame against a pair of EIU goalkeepers. Chad Smith worked a scoreless first half for the guests and Mac Van Oudt came off the bench to register the win in a scoreless second half.
Neither team got much cooking offensively in the opening 45 minutes as the two sides combined on just three shot attempts with each side putting one on frame. McCallion stopped a Jonas Castelhano drive in the 12th minute and EIU's Smith defended a
Logan Finnegan attempt in the 20th minute.
The second half saw play open up as each side pressed numbers forward seeking the breakthrough goal.
McCallion made a fabulous diving save on a Julian Smith smash in the 63rd minute after an IUPUI defender blocked an initial attempt. In the 66th minute,
Matthew Skaar knifed through the EIU defense, only to have his shot stopped by Van Oudt challenging off his back line.
Hamler finally broke the ice when he turned the corner on an IUPUI defender and hit a left-footed shot from 10 yards out. The shot deflected off
Gianni Catenacci and just inside the near post for his first score of the season.
Down a score, IUPUI challenged late with the best opportunities coming on a free kick in the 83rd minute. Finnegan drove the restart at the near post where Van Oudt batted the ball back in play. Senior
Anthony Saporito was in position to put home a rebound opportunity, but pushed the shot wide of frame.
Finnegan led IUPUI with three shots while three others - Catenacci, Skaar and
Mandela Cybahiro - had two shots each. McCallion made three saves in goal.
IUPUI will continue the two-game homestand on Saturday when the Jaguars host Oakland University at 1:30 p.m. at Carroll Stadium.
