COLUMBUS, Ind. – The IU Columbus men's soccer team came out firing on all cylinders Thursday night, scoring three first-half goals and holding off a late surge from IU East to claim a 3-2 win in a pivotal River States Conference match-up at the BCSC Turf Field.

The victory marks a big step forward for the Crimson Pride (5–6–1, 2–2 RSC), who bounced back to .500 in conference play with an assertive performance on both sides of the ball.

Junior forward Exode Minga set the tone early, finding the back of the net just 3:37 into the match with an unassisted strike that energized the home crowd. Moments later, Kevin Cruz took over offensively—scoring twice in the opening half, including one assisted by Anton Bezborodov, to give IU Columbus a commanding 3-0 before halftime.

IU East battled back in the second half, scoring in the 74th and 85th minutes to close the gap, but the Crimson Pride's back line held firm. Goalkeeper Jacob Kasarda recorded five saves in a full 90-minute effort while anchoring the defense through a physical, high-pressure finish.

Offensively, IU Columbus outshot IU East 21-9 and maintained control through long stretches of play, creating consistent scoring chances and showing poise in transition.

The win not only gives the Crimson Pride momentum heading into the second half of conference play, but it also demonstrates the team's growing cohesion and attacking versatility.

Next Up: IU Columbus will look to carry this energy forward as they return to RSC action this weekend as they travel to RV University of Rio Grande (OH) on Saturday (Oct. 11). Kick-off is set for 1:00 PM.