Final: UIndy 0 – #3 Rockhurst 1
Records: UIndy 3-2-1 (1-2-1 GLVC) | Rockhurst 6-0-0 (4-0-0 GLVC)
Location: Key Stadium – Indianapolis
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Key Stadium was the site of a showdown between the teams picked to finish one and two in the GLVC in 2016, when the University of Indianapolis men's soccer team welcomed the No. 3-ranked Rockhurst Hawks to campus for a much-anticipated showdown.
 
The Hounds gave the powerhouse Hawks all they could handle for 90 minutes, but a miscue in their own zone late in the first half led to the only goal of the game and a 1-0 Rockhurst win.
 
GAME CHANGER
The game's lone goal came in the 39th minute on an aggressive play that proved successful for the Hawks. UIndy had the ball in their own zone and attempted a back pass to goalie Miles Palmer for a clear.
 
The pass was too soft, allowing Rockhurst's Mitch Moncada to gain control and pull Palmer out of position. Moncada was able to sling the ball over to a wide open Michael Panarisi in the box and Panarisi fired the ball into a yawning cage for the game-winner.
 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
Palmer was brilliant in the opening 45 minutes, stopping the other five shots he faced, including a pair of saves in tight on Dom Parry and Moncada in the 29th minute. It was the first defeat the London, England-native suffered as a Greyhound.
 
UIndy had a golden chance to take the lead in the 18th minute when Jake Meyer was pulled down in the 18-yard box and awarded a penalty kick. Meyer beat Rockhurst goalkeeper Logan Feldmann with the PK, but the ball rang off the left post and stayed out of the net to keep the game scoreless.
 
The Hounds best chance to tie the game came in the 76^th minute when Javier Steinwascher split two defenders and cut back to the middle before launching a shot that Feldmann got a hand on with a diving stab. Steinwascher led all Greyhounds with three shots and a pair of shots on target on the day.
 
COACHES' CORNER
Head coach John Higgins: "That was a battle between two really good sides and full credit to Rockhurst, they capitalized on one mistake and they clamped down when they got the lead. We felt we matched up well with them today but in a game that close, one mistake is all it takes. We told the guys we're happy with the way they battled and that we're still shaping our team. Learning experiences like this are only going to make us better."
 
"Last year we had a lot of young players but we still played a veteran team. This year, we're playing a young team and sometimes young teams go through rough stretches. We've played four conference games and have goals in one of those matches. We've had some really good training sessions lately and our finishing is getting better. We just need to be able to harness that and finish in games now."
 
UP NEXT
The Hounds will look to rebound this coming Friday night when they hit the road to take on the McKendree Bearcats. Kickoff from Lebanon, Ill. is set for approximately 8:30 p.m. eastern time.