DAYTON, Ohio - The IUPUI men's soccer team earned a road result on Saturday (Sept. 10) as the Jaguars played Wright State to a 2-2 draw at Alumni Field. Josemir Gomez and Lukas Hackaa tallied for the Jaguars, who earned a first-ever road result against the Raiders. 

"Before the fact, if you would've told me that you'll go to Wright State and get a 2-2 tie to start conference play with a point on the road, I would be super happy and positive about that," head coach Sid van Druenen said. "I think now that we're there and we got the point, there was more in this game for us, but at the same time, we're super positive with getting the point. I think it's a great start to the (conference) season."

IUPUI (1-1-3) built a 2-0 lead early in the second half, scoring both goals in a span of five minutes, only to see Wright State (0-3-2) get level near the midpoint of the second half. The Raiders enjoyed a man advantage over the final 20-plus minutes after a straight red card had the Jaguars playing short-handed. 

Gomez opened the scoring with his team-high fourth score of the year in the 52nd minute when he got on the business end of a Logan Finnegan cross. Freshman Gavin O'Shea sent Finnegan free up the right side and Gomez discarded a defender to complete the connection, redirecting a rocket past WSU keeper Sebastian Jimenez. 

Moments later, IUPUI scored on another gorgeous header when Hackaa made a slick run to the back post and redirected Tyler Gainer's cross past Jimenez for his third score of the year. 

"I thought in the first half, we had the better chances," van Druenen said. "We didn't really change much (at halftime), we just kind of warned them about what was coming and this is how you're going to deal with it. They did a good job and it was two beautiful goals."

Wright State cut the lead in half in the game's 58th minute when Conner Osterholt capped a tight passing combination by rolling a shot into the lower left-hand corner, just beyond junior Lucas Morefield. 

In the 70th minute, things took an unfortunate twist for the Jaguars as freshman Brady Horn was called for a straight red card for pulling down a WSU attacker, just inside the 18-yard area. Horn was sent off and Joe Kouadio scored on the ensuing penalty kick to knot the score. 

"(The PK) changed the game. After that moment when we go a man down, it's all about can we get out of here with a tie," van Druenen said. "The guys showed tremendous fight, grit, organization, discipline - a great team effort."

Wright State took full advantage of the man advantage from there, ultimately finishing the day with a 21-12 shot discrepancy and 9-6 margin in shots on goal. The Raiders nearly went ahead in the 85th minute when Nicolas Likulia had a shot glance off the crossbar from the left side and Cole Werthmuller's rebound attempt from the right side was cleared away by freshman Edgar Correia. The Raiders thought they had the winner in the 89th minute also when an attacker headed a shot past Morefield from point blank range, but was ultimately whistled for pushing off an IUPUI defender to get in position. 

IUPUI also had a shot at a winner in the final minute as Finnegan received a gift when a WSU clearance hit the referee and redirected to the Jaguars' striker. However, Finnegan's attempt when wide of frame from distance. 

Gomez and Hackaa finished with a team-high four shots each while Morefield made a season-high six saves. 

IUPUI will return to action on Tuesday (Sept. 13) when the Jaguars travel to Chicago to face Loyola at 6:00 p.m. Central (7 Eastern) on ESPN+.