INDIANAPOLIS – An Ian McGrath second-half strike proved to be the difference for the University of Evansville men's soccer team on Saturday afternoon, as the Purple Aces picked up a 1-0 exhibition victory over IUPUI at Michael A. Carroll Stadium.
 
"It was great to finally play against an opponent again instead of against ourselves," UE head coach Marshall Ray said. "We were able to get a lot of guys into the match and experiment a little bit with formations and centerback pairings. For the most part, I think we were well-organized defensively, and I was really happy to see the team come away with a shutout as well."
 
The match served a fitting close to the preseason for the Aces, who will open up the 2016 campaign next weekend with matches at Xavier and Northern Kentucky.
 
The Aces enjoyed much of the possession throughout both halves, but proved unable to break through in the opening 45 minutes, firing seven shots and forcing a pair of saves.
 
"I felt like we were really sharp in the first 25-30 minutes," Ray explained. "We had a few good balls that came through the box, but we weren't able to put it on frame or get to them in time. We started to lose a little bit of control in the last 15 minutes of the half, but I think we came out rejuvenated after the break and we were really able to impose our will on the match."
 
UE did just that in the first five minutes of the second stanza. Following a deadball situation, McGrath found himself one-on-one with IUPUI goalkeeper James Mitchison. The New Lenox, Ill., native would prove the better of the two as he slotted it home to put the Aces ahead in the 51^st minute.
 
"I'm still not quite sure where Ian is going to play for us this year," Ray said. "It's a credit to him that he accepts where we put him, and he just works his tail off. He competed and battled well for the team again today, and it was great to see him get rewarded for that with a goal. That allowed us to dictate the tempo a little bit more in the second half."
 
From there, the hosts would have their chances, but UE was up to the task as Frederik Reimer came off the bench to make three saves.
 
The Aces finished the match with 14 attempts, including seven on frame. IUPUI, meanwhile, took seven shots in the contest.
 
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