LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The IUPUI men's soccer team earned a waterlogged, scoreless draw at Bellarmine on a rain soaked Tuesday night (Oct. 25) at BU's Frazier Stadium. Junior goalkeeper Bryson Najarian collected his first collegiate clean sheet and the IUPUI coaching staff took the non-conference game as an opportunity to divide playing time deeper down the depth chart. Two IUPUI starters, Edgar Correia and Medard Mikobi, missed the contest due to yellow card accumulation and others were held out to nurse lingering injuries. 

The end result was a strong defensive performance against a feisty Bellarmine (6-3-5) squad that came in unbeaten in its past seven contests, dating back to mid-September. 

"A clean sheet always feels good, especially in these tough conditions," Najarian said. "We put in a huge effort today against a good team and are looking really good moving into Saturday."

The game began in a driving rainstorm, making possession and connection tough in the early stages. IUPUI (4-5-6) adjusted more quickly and had the better run of play in the opening half, outshooting Bellarmine 4-1 before the break. All four of IUPUI's first half shots were nearly identical in result, all missed wide of the right post from distance. 

Junior Lukas Hackaa blazed a free kick wide of frame in the fourth minute and Ethan Vermillion bent a shot just outside the post in the 11th minute. In the 17th minute, Hackaa tried the same far post and missed wide and did so again in the 29th minute. Bellarmine's lone first half shot was a Rikard Cederberg header that skipped off the wet turf and over the bar in the 30th minute. 

IUPUI was far less potent offensive after halftime, but no less stingy defensively. 

Najarian made a brilliant stop of a Brock Pope attempt in the 50th minute after Pope was left unmarked on a free kick. Bellarmine's restart went to the far post where Pope volleyed a shot on target, but right into the mitts of Najarian. In the 54th minute, Najarian took away an angled attempt from Jack Fischer, but his third and final save was his best work of the evening. In the 87th minute, BU's Nolan McGrath had a well placed shot aimed just inside the far post, forcing Najarian to make a sprawling save before then covering the ball to deter any rebound. 

Najarian faced eight shots altogether and closed with three saves while BU's Matthew Brozovich went without a stop in his clean sheet. Hackaa, coming off a three assist game at Oakland over the weekend, led the Jaguars with three shot attempts. 

IUPUI will return home to host Purdue Fort Wayne at Grand Park in Westfield at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 29). Admission to that contest will be free of charge.