INDIANAPOLIS - The IU Indianapolis men's soccer team earned a hard fought, 2-1 victory over Detroit Mercy on Saturday night (Oct. 25), celebrating Senior Day with a full three points in the Horizon League standings. The Jags conceded the game's first goal on a penalty kick, but got an equalizer before halftime and the winner from the PK spot in the 85th minute from Jose Antonio Herrera.

Sophomore defender Stan Klaver also scored in the victory, netting his team-high fourth tally of the season. 

"First, relief," head coach Sid van Druenen said of the match. "We knew we were with our backs against the wall. Results haven't gone our way in the past four, five, if not six games, so we knew we were in a bit of a pickle.  

"I'm relieved that we got the dub. It keeps us alive and keeps us with things in our own control, so that's good. I think the soccer we played in the first half was probably some of the nicest we've played all year. The chances we created were 100 percent goal chances and then it just got typical Horizon League - it got chippy, it got ugly and the guys stepped up and I'm really happy we got the win."

The Jags (5-7-3, 2-4-1 HL) were on their front foot for much of the first half, relying on Nathaniel Isom and Herrera to push the tempo. IU Indy attempted the game's first eight shots before UDM (5-8-2, 2-4-1 HL) took advantage of a defensive miscue and built a 1-0 lead in the 40th minute. The Jaguars were called for a handball inside the penalty box, resulting in a Drew Pierson penalty kick goal. 

It looked like the Titans would take a 1-0 lead into the locker room before Klaver pulled the Jags even just before intermission. Junior Noah Kummrow recycled a possession back to Klaver, positioned well beyond the penalty box, who unloaded a blast that nestled inside the post for a game-tying score. 

The score stayed even until the 85th minute when Isom was pulled down inside the penalty area, leading to an IU Indy PK. Herrera blasted a shot into the upper left-hand corner for his third score of the year and third career game-winner. 

Cameron Maung-Maung registered three saves in the victory, including a sprawling stop of a Zander Crooks drive in the 37th minute for his best stop of the evening. 

Herrera had a game-high five shot attempts and Klaver finished with three, putting two on target. With the win, the Jaguars snapped a six-game winless streak and moved into a tie for eighth-place in the Horizon League standings with two games to play. 

The Jaguars will return to action on Friday, Oct. 31 when they host league leading Cleveland State at Carroll Stadium for a 2:00 p.m. kick on ESPN+.