JAGS EDGED 1-0 BY MILWAUKEE DESPITE DOMINANT SHOT ADVANTAGE – IU Indy Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS – IU Indy turned in one of its strongest attacking performances of the season Saturday night (Sept. 20) at Carroll Stadium, but an early Milwaukee strike proved to be the difference as the Jaguars fell 1-0 in Horizon League play.

The Jaguars (4-3-2, 1-1 HL) outshot the Panthers by a 23-7 margin and put eight attempts on frame, but Milwaukee goalkeeper Nic Diana was spectacular between the posts, collecting eight saves to preserve the shutout. The 23 shot attempts marked a season-high while eight on goal matched a season-high. 

“But the problem is, the stats show that, if you look just at the stats, you you would guess that we won the game. The problem is there’s also some lapses from us that lead to their goal. It was a very, very disappointing first five to 12 minutes, not just because the goal we concede, but I also think we didn’t set ourselves up for success. We didn’t do the things that we talked about doing, and then we’re chasing the game,” head coach Sid van Druenen said. “I think that’s what we struggled with a little bit of sharpness, too quick on shooting it, or not too quick on shooting it or (making) one more pass. So I think as the game went on, we lost some some confidence.”

Milwaukee (2-2-4, 1-0-1 HL) got the match’s lone goal in the 8th minute when Bienvenu Djunga buried a chance from just inside the 18 following an early corner. From there, the visitors absorbed pressure and leaned on their back line and Diana’s stellar play to hold off a relentless IU Indy attack.

IU Indy’s best looks came in flurries throughout both halves. In the 13th minute, Christian Nielsen forced a save at the near post before Nathaniel Isom had back-to-back chances from the left side denied moments later. Jose Antonio Herrera also saw multiple opportunities turned aside, including a dangerous strike in the 43rd minute that Diana smothered to keep Milwaukee in front at the break.

The Jaguars nearly found an equalizer in the 61st minute when Isom rattled the woodwork with a brilliant header off a delivery from Brady Horn. Nielsen and Stan Klaver both peppered the Panthers’ net down the stretch, only to see Diana come up with key stops, including one in the 89th minute to turn away Klaver at the right post.

Defensively, the Jaguars limited Milwaukee to just four shots on target, with goalkeeper Cameron Maung-Maung making three saves. Nielsen finished with a game-high six shots, putting three on target. Herrera had five shots and Isom closed with four attempts. 

The Jaguars will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 27 when they travel north to face Green Bay on ESPN+.