DETROIT – After twice being down a goal, the IUPUI men's soccer team fought back to force a 2-2 draw and remain undefeated in #HLMSOC play.
Lukas Hackaa tallied two goals for the second time this season, with the second coming in the final minute of play to earn a crucial road point.
"It's a tie that feels like a win," exclaimed head coach
Sid van Druenen. "On the road points are valuable. I think a lot of teams will come here and struggle as has shown. At moments we did a really good job in possession but at times we got a little bit lazy and played more into their style than ours. Overall I think the tie is fair, especially with all the adversity we had to deal with."
Detroit Mercy (3-6-1, 2-1-1 HL) opened the scoring in the 31st minute, with Tim Allos jumping on a loose ball inside the box and carefully passing the ball past
Lucas Morefield.
IUPUI (4-3-3, 3-0-1 HL) looked to even the scoreline quickly, garnering an attempt on goal just a few minutes later.
Noah Kummrow crossed a ball in from the right side of the field and
Josemir Gomez fought hard to get a head on it, forcing goalkeeper Quinn Tews to make a diving stop.
After going into halftime down a goal, the Jags picked up the pressure in the second half. Just under 10 minutes into the second 45,
Logan Finnegan won a penalty after being fouled by Mateo Phillips. Proven penalty taker, Hackaa, stepped up to the spot and calmly found the back of the net after sending Tews the wrong way.
The Jags remained on the front foot after the match tying goal, maintaining the lion's share of possession over the next 10-plus minutes, and looked poised to find a winner.
Detroit Mercy, celebrating Homecoming, would not go down easily in front of its home fans. The Titan attack forced Morefield to make multiple stops in the next 20 minutes of play, with the best coming in the 74th minute when he adjusted quickly to a deflected shot to keep the score knotted at one. The graduate goalkeeper, however, earned a red card after coming out of the box to try and stop a fast break but clipped the attacker, forcing the referee to blow his whistle.
The Jaguars' new goalkeeper—
Bryson Najarian—was forced into action right away, making a save on the ensuing free kick to keep his team in the match.
Less than five minute later, a hand ball was called on
Jago Thompson-Roberts, giving the Titans a penalty kick. Andri Myftari converted the game's second tally from the spot to regain the lead for his team.
Despite being down a goal and man for the final 10-plus minutes of play, the Jags continued to press for the equalizer. With less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock, a free kick was given just outside the 18-yard box. Hackaa stood over the ball and confidently curled it up and over the wall and past Tews for his second tally of the match.
The goal not only secured his brace but also a crucial road point that propelled the team atop the conference table following Purdue Fort Wayne's loss to Robert Morris.
"We're far from done," concluded van Druenen. "We got five more games that are going to be tough, but being able to do it sitting in first with 10 (points) is much easier than when you are fighting for those lower spots on the table. We've got to continue what we are doing because we are doing something right. The guys have to keep working and keep believing."
The league leaders have a short hiatus from Horizon League play when they take on crosstown foe Butler on Tuesday (Oct. 3) evening.
