INDIANAPOLIS - The UIndy men's soccer team picked up a 3-3 draw in their road matchup against the No. 18 Drury University Panthers.
Offense defined the matchup from the opening kickoff as UIndy tested the Drury backline early with a multitude runs in the opening 10 minutes. Despite the Greyhounds' efforts they weren't able to find a shot on goal before the Panthers struck first, claiming a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
The Panthers pounced again just eight minutes to go up 2-0 before the goal-scoring opportunities slowed with neither side finding another shot on goal until the 34th minute.
Hugo Paturel sent in the first shot on goal before he followed it up with two more over the next two minutes, eventually securing his first career goal off of a Sam Siegel assist.
Almost immediately after UIndy sprinted right back down the field and converted on their next attempt on goal, this time it was Alexander Veridiano's first career goal. Veridiano scored a beauty, popping the ball up in the air before skillfully finishing past the kicker after a precise throughball was delivered by Nikolas Karnesis.
After finding two goals in 40 seconds UIndy kept the pressure up on the No. 18 team in the country, with two corner kicks before the first half came to a close with each side tied at two.
Almost immediately after the second half began UIndy lost possession just outside of their box, leading to an immediate strike into the back of the net from the Panthers, putting the Greyhounds back down one.
It took UIndy almost 20 minutes to find their first shot of the second half, which Alejandro Zuniga put on target, but was stopped by the Drury keeper.
Both teams then exchanged possession and chances until the game became all, but over with exactly 60 seconds to go when Paturel fired in a rocket from outside the box for his second goal, evening the score at three. Paturel's goal was assisted by Alejandro Zuniga, marking the fourth straight game he assisted a goal and the first brace of the season for a UIndy player.
Paturel became the first UIndy freshman to score a brace under head coach Gabe Hall with the last Greyhound freshman to do so since Bryan Moreira on October 18th, 2019 when he had exactly two goals in an 11-2 win over Southwest Baptist.
The Greyhounds will stay on the road as they head to McKendree on Wednesday, Sept. 23rd at 7:30 p.m.
