GREEN BAY, Wisc. - The IU Indianapolis men's soccer team fell on the road at Green Bay on Saturday (Oct. 24) by a 2-1 score. Relegated to spoiler duty at this point, the Jaguars fell short in trying to hinder host Green Bay's postseason chances.
The Phoenix (4-7-4, 3-3-3 HL) scored the game's first goal from the penalty spot in the 18th minute and got the game-winner on a Noah Lechelt free kick in the 66th minute. The IU Indy (3-8-3, 0-6-2 HL) offense came from a
Jayden Quezada strike in the 31st minute off a
Cobe Hamler assist.
"Today is another really good performance from the boys," head coach
Keegan Boom said. "We have hit the posts multiple times and are very close to getting a positive result. We are learning tough lessons in every game, but the group remains optimistic with the ability we continue to show.
"Next up is a good Wright State side that we will be excited to play against."
Green Bay came out firing, putting the Jaguars under immediate duress, piling up four shots on goal and five corner kicks in the opening 10 minutes. However, the hosts didn't get on the board until they were awarded a PK in the 18th minute, leading to an Oscar Arroyo conversion.
The Jaguars countered in the 31st minute on a build up the right side of the field leading into service into Green Bay territory. The ball came out beyond the 18-yard box, where Quezada angled a brilliant ball just inside the far post for his first tally of the season.
Things stayed level until the 66th minute when Lechelt hit a fantastic restart past
Peter Field for his fifth score of the year. Green Bay was awarded a free kick just beyond the 18-yard box and the Green Bay striker converted, bending a shot just over the four-man wall and inside the upper right-hand corner, freezing Field on the play.
The Jaguars battled for an equalizer down the stretch, playing nearly the final 10 minutes exclusively in the Phoenix half of the field after Green Bay's Ty Perkins was sent off in the 84th minute with a red card.
Freshman
Thomas Weinrich had a shot ring off the right post and the Jaguars nearly struck paydirt on a free kick in the 71st minute, but were unable to get a shot over the endline from point blank range.
Weinrich led IU Indy with four shot attempts and
Santiago Sanchez and Quezada had two each. Field finished with eight saves in the loss.
The Jaguars will return to action on Friday, Oct. 30 when they travel to Wright State for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+.
