Indiana University
Cal State Northridge
Top-ranked Hoosiers Open Flood Gates at Diadora Classic
9/16/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 16, 2005
Box Score
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Amid a constant rain, the two-time defending national champion and No. 1 Indiana men's soccer team got a scrappy goal from junior midfielder Josh Tudela that opened the proverbial flood gates in a win over No. 16 (Soccer America) Cal State-Northridge. The Hoosiers opened the Oregon State Diadora Classic with five second-half goals in the 5-0 victory over the Matadors. Indiana improved to 4-0-1 on the season, while Northridge dropped to 3-1-1.
"The boys love this type of weather," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "Cal State-Northridge is a good team and created some opportunities. We scored some quality goals today, and our defense continued to play well. Chris Munroe showed that he is a top-notch goalkeeper with his play. Our midfield had a really good game, especially (Josh) Tudela and (Brian) Plotkin. They really helped set the tone and get us going."
After a scoreless first half, IU opened the scoring in the 53rd minute. Senior midfielder Jordan Chirico earned a corner for IU that freshman Lee Nguyen sent short to the near post. Tudela was on the receiving end, as the Evansville, Ind., native sent a header into the near left corner. It was the first career point for Nguyen and was the second goal on the season for Tudela.
"Josh loves this kind of weather," Freitag said. "I could just tell he was going to have a good game and make an impact for us."
The Hoosiers narrowly missed making it 2-0 less than two minutes later. Second-half substitution freshman Brad Ring found junior forward Jacob Peterson on the right side. The Portage, Mich., native cut past a defender only to have his shot denied by Northridge freshman goalkeeper Kevin Guppy.
The Matadors came back with a flurry in the 58th and 59th minutes. After a foul gave CSUN a free kick on the left side, junior midfielder Willie Simms sent a shot bending toward the near post that was saved by Hoosier goalkeeper Chris Munroe. The second chance also forced Munroe to make a sprawling save pushing the ball wide of the frame. The attempt came from 20 yards out by redshirt freshman midfielder Ben Cox.
IU added three more markers over a six-minute stretch from the 64th to the 68th minutes. Nguyen notched his first career goal at the 63:55 mark. The reigning Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year played give-and-go with Plotkin. Nguyen one-touched after receiving the ball form Plotkin and sent a shot to the far post from 20 yards out.
"Lee is a special player," Freitag said. "Hopefully this will really get him going offensively. I knew it was only a matter of time before he would get one."
The back-breaker for Northridge came in the 68th minute. Nguyen sent a crossing pass that was headed out by a Northridge defender. The ball found the waiting feet of Ring, who sent a low, lining bullet into the Matador net from 35 yards out. It was the first career goal for the Rockford, Ill., native.
Indiana made it 4-0 just 35 seconds later. Nguyen was pulled down in the left side of the 18-yard box earning a Hoosier penalty kick. Plotkin converted on the chance for his fourth goal of the season. Junior midfielder John Michael Hayden notched the Hoosiers second PK of the match, converting his attempt in the 87th minute.
The Hoosiers controlled play for the majority of the first half. IU outshot Northridge, 5-3, in the opening stanza with all three Matador shots coming in the final 1:30.
Nguyen had the first two Hoosier chances on the afternoon. In the sixth minute, the Richardson, Texas, native corralled an errant clearance in the midfield. He cut back, beating two defenders into the 18-yard box before hitting a shot to the right. Northridge goalkeeper Guppy made the first of three first-half saves diving to his left.
A few minutes later off a free kick, Tudela led Nguyen. The U.S. Under-20 national player hit a shot that went just wide of the left post.
In the 13th minute, Nguyen sent a leading pass to Peterson in the box after a series of nice passing from the Hoosiers. With a defender on him and the goalkeeper coming out, Peterson was only able to push the ball wide of the far post.
With just over 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Chirico earned a corner kick on the right side. Nguyen played it short to Hayden. The Louisville, Ky., native hooked a dangerous ball into the center of the box that just missed finding junior back Julian Dieterle.
Two minutes later, Hayden and Plotkin put together a pair of impressive passes to lead Noschang down the left side. After running down the ball, the Cincinnati, Ohio, native cut back toward the top of the 18 and unleashed a shot that bent toward the left post and was stopped by Guppy.
The most dangerous chances for Northridge in the opening half came in the final minutes of play. Sophomore Sean Franklin hit a shot from 30 yards out that forced Munroe to make a diving attempt to his right, blocking the ball down. It found freshman midfielder Michael Gordon, who hit a shot toward the left corner that Munroe made an impressive reactionary save.
After only making five saves in his opening five games for the Hoosiers, Munroe finished the match with a career-best seven blocks. In doing so, the Indianapolis, Ind., native registered his third shutout of the season.
The Hoosiers will return to the pitch on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Oregon State Diadora Classic. IU will face the host Beavers at 3 p.m. PT. Indiana downed OSU, 3-1, in the two team's only meeting last season at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington.
