Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Northwestern
Hoosiers Forge 1-1 Tie with Northwestern
10/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 16, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - The two-time defending national champion Indiana men's soccer team battled back from a one-goal deficit, forging a 1-1 tie with Northwestern. In the Hoosiers' second game of the weekend, fatigue caught up with the IU side in the latter stages of the second half and overtime. With the tie, Indiana stands at 8-1-4 on the season and 2-1-2 in Big Ten play.
"I was proud of the way the boys fought," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "We came out strong in the first half, and I was happy that we were able to respond after they scored. I think in the latter stages of the match our legs caught up to us. It is difficult playing two Big Ten matches in the same weekend. Northwestern is a tough team, and we battled with them."
Senior midfielder Brian Plotkin scored for the second time in as many games in the 30th minute of the match to even things up. The score would remain tied throughout the second half and overtime periods. For the match, the Hoosiers outshot the Wildcats, 16-8.
In the opening minutes of the match, senior forward Mike Ambersley had the first chance for the Hoosiers. He unleashed a shot from the right side 20 yards out that Northwestern freshman goalkeeper Misha Rosenthal deflected down. Junior forward Jacob Peterson just missed getting on the end of it before the defense cleared it.
Ten minutes in, junior midfielder Josh Tudela had a shot from the right side of the 18. After Ambersley settled the ball along the right touchline, he found Tudela, who ripped a shot wide of the left post.
The Wildcats scored on their first series of offensive attacks with a set piece in the 13th minute. Junior midfielder Gerardo Alvarez served a ball into the box to junior forward Brad North, who sent a header on goal. Munroe was able to stop the attempt, but could not get a grasp on the ball. It fell to junior midfielder Daniel Chille, who touched it into the back of the net from six yards out to give the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage.
In the 18th minute, a nice flick forward by Tudela set up Ambersley on the left side in the box. The Ballwin, Mo., native attempted a volley that was blocked down by a NU defender. Plotkin gathered the ball and sent a shot over the crossbar that was deflected high by the Wildcat defense.
Two minutes later, a great series of passing built up to Plotkin breaking free on the left side following a leading pass from Ambersley. Northwestern senior defender Brad Napper took Plotkin down from behind just outside the box, resulting in a Hoosier free kick. Freshman Lee Nguyen bent the shot on goal, but it was blocked down by the Wildcat goalkeeper. Ambersley attempted to finish the blocked shot, but it was deflected out by a defender.
The Hoosiers would draw even with 15:32 remaining in the first half thanks to a goal from Plotkin. Nguyen found the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate on the right side of the 18-yard box. Plotkin finished to the far post for his sixth goal of the season. The assist was Nguyen's sixth on the campaign.
In the 58th minute, after an errant pass was corralled by Ambersley, he sent a centering pass to Plotkin. Plotkin hit a 25-yard shot after chesting the ball down, but the attempt was deflected high by a Northwestern defender. The ensuing corner was forced out by the Wildcat defense. The next corner bent to the far post, narrowly missing the head of oncoming sophomore defender Greg Stevning.
Just two minutes later, Northwestern created a chance of its own. Chille cut back on the right side and sent a centering pass to North. His header from eight yards out was stopped by sophomore goalkeeper Chris Munroe. The Indianapolis, Ind., native finished with three saves on the day.
The Hoosiers appeared to go up in the 65th minute. After a long ball from Chirico found the foot of Peterson, the junior forward sent a cross to the six. It found the head of redshirt freshman forward Kevin Noschang, but as the ball hit the back of the net, the official waved off the goal. Noschang was whistled for a foul, giving Northwestern a free kick.
With just under five minutes remaining in the second half, it appeared North had a breakaway up the left side for the Wildcats. As he closed in on goal, junior back Jed Zayner caught him and was able to poke the ball out on a nice defensive play to stifle the chance.
The overtime periods were uneventful with IU holding a slim shot advantage at 2-1. The best IU chance came on a corner kick in the 105th minute. Chirico centered the kick to the top of the 18. Zayner hit the shot that went wide of the left post.
After a four-match road trip, the Hoosiers return to the friendly confines of Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. Indiana will host in-state foe Butler on Wednesday, Oct. 19. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. IU will wrap up the conference slate with a home affair against Ohio State on Sunday, Oct. 23. The game will be part of a men's and women's soccer doubleheader with the men's match to start at 2:30 p.m.
