MACOMB, Ill. ? Two second half goals gave IUPUI a 2-1 come from behind win over Western Illinois Saturday, October 20 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.

The Jaguar's (8-4-1/3-0-0) Vangel Nacovski broke free in the 82nd minute when he got behind the Leatherneck (4-8-3/0-2-1) defense, and beat junior goalkeeper Charlie Sales (Springfield, Ill./Lehigh) for the game-winning goal.

“I'm really disappointed with how they scored their second goal,” said Dr. Eric Johnson of the game winner. “At this level that is unacceptable but it happened to us. When things go wrong, sometimes they go really wrong.”

Western got on the board in the first half in the 36th minute. Jona Andrade (Miami, Fla./Sunset Senior) got control of a loose ball in the box and found freshman forward Jonathan Sandoval (East Moline, Ill./United Township), who fired the shot in the right corner. The goal was the first of Sandoval's career. Western took the 1-0 lead into halftime.

“I thought we played better offensively today,” added Johnson. “We finished the one [goal] and had some chances on others. If we found a second goal, it would have been different outcome.”

The Leathernecks held strong through the start of the second half. Sales made a great save on a shot from point blank range at the 56:00 mark to keep Western ahead by one. However, the Jaguars tied the game in the 63rd minute when Nick Lance ripped a shot from 15 yards out.

In the closing minutes, Western put three long balls toward the goal, but could not corral any of them for a shot on goal.

With the loss, the Leathernecks remain winless in conference, halfway through league play.

“The pressure just keeps mounting to find a conference win,” stated Johnson. “At home it seems like we're struggling a little bit, but the effort is there. We're in the ballpark and competing, we just need to find a way to win. It has to come soon, and soon is next week.”

Western welcomes Centenary to MacKenzie field for a 1 p.m. matchup Saturday, October 27.