INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team stood toe-to-toe with the Horizon League leading Cleveland State Vikings at Carroll Stadium on Wednesday night (Sept. 28) but fell to the league's top squad by a 2-0 margin. 

A relentless IUPUI attack outshot CSU by a 21-12 margin and earned a 10-2 advantage on corner kicks, but was unable to find paydirt against the Vikings. CSU goalkeeper Omeed Naeemy collected eight saves against the Jaguars frenzied attack. However, for most of the night, the Jaguars took on the role of the hunter, using superb possession to create and dictate. 

"(I liked) everything except putting the ball in the back of the net. Twenty-one shots in a 90 minute games against a team that's highly ranked in the Horizon League and is getting good results against ranked teams outside of conference and dominating like we did the second half, both possession as well as shots and clear goal scoring opportunities, it's massive. I'm proud of the guys for doing it," head coach Sid van Druenen said. "On the critical end, we didn't put balls in the back of the net and if you don't do that, then you don't give yourself a good chance to win."

IUPUI (1-4-4, 0-1-2 HL) dominated possession and pace from the opening whistle, but repeatedly couldn't find the mark against the Vikings defense. In the 14th minute, Josemir Gomez tested Naeemy with an attempt from just inside midfield, causing the keeper to tip the shot over the bar for a corner kick. In the 27th minute, freshman Ethan Vermillion found himself free in dangerous territory, but was unable to get enough steam on a shot from point blank range. 

The Jaguars attempted eight of the game's first nine shots before a two shot flurry from the Vikings resulted in the game's first score in the 29th minute. Albert Portas put a shot on target from the left side, prompting Lucas Morefield to make a sprawling save. However, the rebound popped free to Bojan Kolevski, who rolled a shot into the open net for his league-high sixth score of the year. 

IUPUI stole momentum in the 41st minute when the Vikings were awarded a penalty kick for a foul well inside the 18-yard box. However, Kolevski pulled his shot wide of target to the delight of a strong IUPUI contingent watching from the endzone. However, the momentum was quelled in the 42nd minute when Kolevski setup Portas for a score for a 2-0 first half lead. 

The Jaguars continued to press the pace in the second half, including earning multiple restarts in and around the penalty area, but still not getting anything past Naeemy. Lukas Hackaa fired a season-high seven shots while Logan Finnegan had five attempts. 

The 21 shots and 10 corners represented season-highs while IUPUI was also whistled for a season-high five yellow cards on a night that bordered on bizarre. The two teams combined on 10 yellow cards and the officials had to rotate positions late in the first half after the center referee suffered an injury. 

IUPUI will be back in action this weekend when the Jaguars head north to face Milwaukee at 7:00 p.m. Central (8 Eastern) on Saturday (Oct. 1) on ESPN+.