INDIANAPOLIS - The IUPUI men's soccer team will look to snap a modest two-game skid on Saturday (Sept. 25) when the Jaguars host Detroit Mercy at 1:00 p.m. at Carroll Stadium. The contest will be aired on ESPN+ as Jonathan Matthes (pxp) describes the action. In addition, tickets will be available on-site at Carroll Stadium or by contacting the IUPUI ticket office. The IUPUI men's soccer program will be honoring its senior class over the course of the day as part of the annual Senior Day activities. 

On the field, IUPUI (2-3-1, 1-1 HL) has played four consecutive 1-0 decisions, winning the first two over Western Illinois and Wright State before then falling to UIC and Bellarmine. Defensively, IUPUI has been among the Horizon League's best to start the season, allowing a league-low five goals in six games. Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Morefield has been at the center of the success, registering a 0.90 goals against average and two shutouts in his five starts. In front of him, Tommy Patacca and Corey Goede have been stalwarts as Patacca has yet to come off the field this season and Goede has sat just seven minutes total in six games. Opponents are averaging just 5.2 shots on goal per game against the IUPUI defense. 

Offensively, IUPUI is still searching for footing as the Jags have tallied three goals in the season's initial six games. Both Logan Finnegan and Rayan Choukri are responsible for game-winners and senior midfielder Cameron Haegele drilled a beauty of a goal against Xavier earlier this season. Choukri has attempted a team-high 10 shot attempts and junior midfielder Chris Workman has attempted eight shots. Patacca has attempted seven shots from his defensive post. 

IUPUI enters the weekend squarely in the middle of the Horizon League standings as three teams remain undefeated (Cleveland State, Milwaukee and Oakland) and three teams are winless (Detroit Mercy, Purdue Fort Wayne and Green Bay). The Jaguars are among five teams currently in the middle of the standings at 1-1 in league play.  

QUOTABLE
"Credit to Bellarmine on excellent execution of their game plan and identity. The challenge to our team tonight was to get on the ball and not only generate attack, but be dangerous and we didn't accomplish that enough in our final third play or on restarts," head coach Brian Barnett said following Tuesday's defeat to Bellarmine. 

TOP 20
Barnett's squad was recently honored by the United Soccer Coaches with a Team Academic Award and ranked among the nation's D1 programs in team grade point average: Read More

PRESEASON POLLS
IUPUI was picked to finish 11th in the Horizon League according to the preseason poll released on Tuesday (Aug. 24): Read More

PROBABLE XI (based on the last outing)
GK- Lucas Morefield, Soph.
D- Gianni Catenacci, 5th
D- Ethan Diedel, Sr.
D- Corey Goede, Sr.
D- Tommy Patacca, 5th
MF- Logan Finnegan, Soph.
MF- Cameron Haegele, 5th
MF- Luke Liljegren, Jr. 
MF- Carson Shrader, Jr.
MF- Chris Workman, Jr.
F- Riley Shives, Sr.

SCOUTING THE TITANS
Detroit Mercy enters play at 1-3-2 overall and 0-1 in Horizon League play following its 2-0 loss at Cleveland State to start the league slate. The Titans opened the year with a 1-1 draw against Michigan and a 2-1 double overtime win over Chicago State, but comes in reeling having lost three straight by identical 2-0 scores. UDM has been outscored 8-3 on the year with the three goals coming from three different sources. Demetri Pliakos has a team-high three points with a goal and an assist. In goal, Jonathan Kliewer has started all six matches, registering a 1.22 goals against average and 22 saves with a shutout. 

ALL-TIME SERIES
IUPUI is 3-8-3 all-time against Detroit Mercy and 3-3-1 in the seven meetings in Indianapolis. UDM comes in having won the most recent two meetings in the series. (Series History)

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will hit the road to take on Cleveland State on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN+.