Falkenstern Posts Dramatic Goal, as 'Dons Clinch Second Straight Postseason Berth

Saturday, November 3

Fort Wayne, Ind.

6 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

4-14-1, 3-3-1Summit

IUPUI

6-10-2, 3-4-0Summit

IUPUI

IPFW

Photo by: Lucas Carter

Falkenstern Posts Dramatic Goal, as 'Dons Clinch Second Straight Postseason Berth

11/3/2012 9:13:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BOX SCORE (.pdf) | BOX SCORE

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In his last game at the Hefner Soccer Field, IPFW senior Mitch Falkenstern put a shot past a waiting IUPUI keeper, sending the Mastodons to a 1-0 victory, and into the Summit League Tournament for the second straight year, with the 'Dons clinching the fourth seed for the upcoming tournament.

The win improves IPFW to 4-14-1 on the year, but more importantly with a 3-3-1 record in Summit League play, clinching the fourth seed for the upcoming Championships. The 'Dons will face off against the Oakland Grizzlies on Friday, November 9 in a 3 p.m. EST kickoff at John MacKenzie Alumni Field on the campus of Western Illinois University.

The game was a physical, defensive battle, with the teams combining for two yellow cards and 34 fouls over the 90 minutes of action.

The physical play started right from the start, as the contest's first shot came 11:30 into the game, and neither team would be able to find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes of play.

The second half opened as a mirror image of the first half, with neither team able to have a shot find its destination, despite each team putting the ball into the back of the net before being called back for offsides each time.

With nine minutes left in the game, Austin West sent a pass across the box that Falkenstern picked up, took a dribble past a charging IUPUI defender, and put a charge into the ball, beating IUPUI goalkeeper Eduardo Cortes near post to put the first goal on the board in the contest.

The Jaguars had a strong attempt with 47 seconds on the clock when Alejandra Martignon missed just wide, keeping the shutout intact, and despite moving Cortes into the offensive portion of the field for the last minute, IUPUI could not find the net in the 1-0 Mastodon win.

The shutout was the second of the season for Brandon Cloutier and was untested for his first match this season without a save, as the 'Dons out-shot the 'Jags 14-to-5 in the contest, led by four shots from West, while Falkenstern had three, two of those on goal.

IUPUI ends its season at 6-10-2, with a 3-4-0 Summit League mark. IPFW's next opponent, Oakland, finished 10-6-1 and 5-1-1 in league play, with the only loss coming against IPFW on October 20, a 2-1 Mastodon win.

~ Feel the Rumble ~