MILWAUKEE - The IUPUI men's soccer team played Milwaukee to a physical 2-2 draw on a frigid Saturday night (Oct. 1) at the Panthers' Engelmann Stadium. IUPUI built a quick 2-0 lead but relinquished the advantage in the second half as Milwaukee's Emil Lindgren Pedersen tallied twice, the latter coming in the game's 83rd minute. 

Logan Finnegan had a goal and an assist for the Jaguars and Ethan Vermillion also contributed a score. 

"Based on the first half, I think we're all disappointed that we didn't win this game today," head coach Sid van Druenen said. "I think we did enough in the first half to maybe deserve a little bit more. At the same time, I don't think we were necessarily good enough in the second half. We panicked, we weren't calm enough, we didn't execute the gameplan well, we didn't create enough and we kind of let (Milwaukee) dictate the intensity. 

"(It's) disappointing because we were up 2-0 and then to end up tying the game, it's a tough one to swallow. But, a point on the road is always a positive in conference play."

IUPUI (1-4-5, 0-1-3 HL) struck early as Finnegan was in the right place at the right time for his third score of the year, coming in the ninth minute. Freshman Kade Tepe put an initial strike on frame that Milwaukee goalkeeper Gijs Van Schouten was unable to secure, leaving the rebound in the lap of Josemir Gomez. Gomez tapped the ball to Finnegan, who easily netted the icebreaker. 

Just more than seven minutes later, Finnegan sent in a pass from the left side to Vermillion, who drove a shot into the mouth of the net for his second score of the year. IUPUI outshot Milwaukee 8-4 in the opening half and dominated possession, controlling the ball for 55 percent of the match. 

However, Milwaukee (1-6-4, 0-2-2 HL) turned the tables in the second half and made things interesting when Lindgren Pedersen unleashed a cannon shot from beyond midfield in the 55th minute, catching Lucas Morefield off his line. Morefield retreated and got his hands on the attempt, but was unable to make the save. 

Tepe just missed an insurance goal in the 69th minute, putting a shot on frame from the right side that was cleared away by Milwaukee defender Dontell Gilyard. The stop proved to be critical as Lindgren Pedersen got the equalizer in the 83rd minute, thanks to assists from David Cox and Gabe Anguil.

Playing level, IUPUI was more aggressive in the attack in the closing minutes and nearly got a go-ahead score from Chris Workman in the 84th minute as the senior got on the end of corner kick from Lukas Hackaa. Van Schouten was able to stop the shot at the back post for his fourth and final save of the game. 

Morefield finished with a season-high seven saves in the draw. Five different IUPUI players had three shot attempts as the two sides combined on 37 shot attempts and 19 corner kicks. 

The two teams also combined on 10 yellow cards and 36 fouls while the game ended with a scuffle along the IUPUI sideline before teams were separated. 

The Jaguars will step out of conference next weekend when they face Butler University at 7:00 p.m. at the Sellick Bowl. That contest will be broadcast on Flosports.