Indiana University
Oregon State
Hoosiers Display Fiber in Forging Tie
9/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 17, 2005
Box Score
CORVALLIS, Ore. - The Indiana men's soccer program calls it the championship fiber. It is the never give up, always push forward type of attitude. The two-time defending national champions and No. 1 Hoosiers demonstrated that attitude with a 2-2 tie against Oregon State. IU overcame a two-goal second-half deficit to forge a stalemate with the Beavers. In the process, the Hoosiers claimed their second classic title of the season, winning the Diadora Classic on goal differential.
"This game was a good character builder for our team," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "A lot of teams would have given up being down 2-0 and lost, but these guys have that fiber. We had our chances and probably should have put some more of them away to get the win. This definitely helps us in preparing for the Big Ten."
The Hoosiers dominated the stat columns. IU outshot the host Beavers, 19-7, including a 14-5 advantage of shots on goal. For the second straight match, freshman Lee Nguyen turned in an impressive performance registering a goal and an assist.
The Hoosiers closed the gap back to 2-1 at the 56:02 mark. Senior midfielder Mike Ambersley beat a defender on the right side of the field and cut a pass back to Nguyen in the middle of the field. After turning and gathering himself, Nguyen led junior forward Jacob Peterson, who scored into the left corner. It was the fifth tally of the season for Peterson and Nguyen's second helper on the campaign.
Following a hand ball in the 71st minute, the Hoosiers had a free kick from 30 yards out. Senior midfielder Brian Plotkin sent a bending shot to the right post, but it was stopped by Oregon State goalkeeper Packy Deenihan.
A minute later, Plotkin played a perfect ball up the left side to redshirt freshman Kevin Noschang, who was running into the 18. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native flicked the ball toward the upper 90, but Deenihan was able to deflected the ball out. The resulting corner kick ended in the Hoosiers getting a free kick from the right side after junior Jed Zayner was fouled. Nguyen took the sent piece and found freshman midfielder Brian Ackley, whose header was pushed over the crossbar by Deenihan.
Indiana sophomore goalkeeper Chris Munroe kept the deficit at one with a penalty kick save in the 76th minute. On a counter, OSU senior forward Ryan Johnson broke free on the right side and was pulled down in the box. Sophomore midfielder Nick Webb took the attempt, but his shot to the right side was denied by Munroe.
The Hoosiers got the equalizer in the 83rd minute. After Peterson cut the ball back to Nguyen in open space, the Richardson, Texas, native made an impressive run toward goal. He beat two defenders and ended the play with a floater over the top of the Oregon State goalkeeper.
The Hoosiers had their chances to win the match in regulation. In the 87th minute, Nguyen played a pass to Plotkin inside the box. The Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate hit a shot to the right post that deflected off a defender and lucky into the hands of Deenihan.
In the opening overtime period, senior midfielder Jordan Chirico had a nice individual effort to get the Hoosier an attempt. After a pair of slide tackles resulted in the Hoosiers gaining possession, Plotkin sent a pass to Chirico, who had continued his run into the box. His shot from the right side 12 yards out was saved by Deenihan.
In the 104th minute, junior Kevin Robson played a ball into the box for Peterson. Deenihan came out and narrowly beat Peterson to the ball to deny the chance.
With just over a minute remaining in the second overtime the Hoosier had a pair of golden chances. On a counter, Nguyen found Peterson, who had a 1-v-1 with the goalkeeper. Deenihan was able to come out and deny the opportunity, but Peterson ended up with the ball. He sent a pass back to Nguyen, whose attempt was deflect wide.
The Hoosiers had the better chances in the first half, but the Beavers got on the board first. For the half, IU only outshot OSU, 6-3, but did put five of those attempts on the frame.
Less than 30 seconds into the match, the Hoosiers had a nice build up with some nice passing from Plotkin and Peterson. After Ploktin sent a pass back to Peterson, the Portage, Mich., native spun at the top of the 18 and sent a shot toward the left post that forced the Oregon State goalkeeper to make a diving save.
In the fourth minute, junior John Michael Hayden had an attempt after a nice build up. The Louisville, Ky., native hit a shot from 25 yards out that was blocked down by the Beaver goalkeeper.
Perhaps the best Hoosier chance came in the 13th minute. Peterson laid off a nice ball to junior midfielder Josh Tudela just outside the 18 on the right side. The Evansville, Ind., native sent a blast that seemed destined for the back of the net, but it hit the upper left corner of the crossbar.
A minute later, a turnover in the midfield gave OSU possession. Sophomore midfielder Brett Gardner dribbled up before hitting a 20-yard shot that went wide of the far post.
In the 22nd minute, Chirico made a run up the left side of the field, cutting past a defender toward the endline. He sent a centering pass to Plotkin, but his shot was stopped by Deenihan.
The Beavers scored the first marker of the day off a free kick. Senior defender Alex Asai sent a service from the opposite side of midfield. The ball found the waiting foot of senior forward Ryan Johnson, who scored from 12 yards out.
Oregon State made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute off another set piece. OSU's Brett Gardner sent a corner in that was headed into the right corner by Alex Christensen.
Less than a minute later, Nguyen played a nice ball to Plotkin on the left side inside the 18. The Lisle, Ill., native had a 1-v-1 with the goalkeeper. With Deenihan coming out of the OSU net, Plotkin attempted to go to the right post, but Deenihan deflected it wide.
Indiana will open the Big Ten Conference schedule on Sunday, Sept. 25. The Hoosiers will host Michigan State on Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m. IU is 13-0-1 all-time in Big Ten openers.
