IU To Host Badgers,Wildcats (10-10-02)

10/10/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Oct. 10, 2002

Bloomington, Ind. - The No. 4 Indiana men's soccer team is gearing up for a pair of weekend home games against Big Ten opponents Wisconsin and Northwestern. The Hoosiers will meet the Badgers at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11, immediately following the women's game between IU and Michigan State.

On Sunday, Oct. 13, the Hoosier men will lead off the twin bill as they take on the Wildcats at 2 p.m. The IU women will battle Michigan at the conclusion of the men's game.
Currently, Indiana resides atop the Big Ten Conference standings with its 3-0-0 record. The Hoosiers are one of two teams with an undefeated record in the league as Ohio State is 2-0-0.

Last weekend, the Hoosiers extended their season win streak to seven games after a 2-1 overtime win against Michigan The victory also marked Indiana's 33rd straight win in Big Ten match-ups.

Senior All-Americans Ryan Mack and Pat Noonan are leading the Hoosier offensive charge with a team-best 16 points apiece. In addition, Grabavoy has exploded as of late and is next with 12 points, including a team-best eight in league games, on two goals and four assists.

In all games, Indiana has allowed the fewest goals of any team in the conference and boasts an 0.64 goals-allowed average. The Hoosier defense has posted six shutouts, including five in its last seven games.

About Wisconsin
The Badgers are riding high after a 2-1 win over 20th-ranked Penn State last Sunday in Madison. The victory gave Wisconsin a 1-1-0 record in Big Ten contests and improved its overall record to 7-4-0. Ranked No. 6 in the latest Great Lakes Region Poll, UW is led in scoring by sophomore Nick Van Sliken with 16 points on six goals and four assists. Senior co-captain Valentine Anozie is the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Anozie assisted on both goals in the win over Penn State.

The Hoosiers own a 24-3-3 record over Wisconsin all-time, including a 12-1-1 advantage in Bloomington. Interestingly, IU's 33-game Big Ten win streak started with a victory over the Badgers and the Hoosiers last league loss was to Wisconsin.

About Northwestern
Northwestern has compiled a 5-6-0 record overall and is 0-2-0 in Big Ten action. The Wildcats come into Sunday's battle with the Hoosiers with six days off after defeating Western Michigan, 1-0, on Oct. 6.

Freshman midfielder Tito Lara is NU's top scorer with three goals and an assists on the year. Senior J.D. Martin has started all 11 games in goal and has a 1.20 goals-against average to go with his 50 saves.
Indiana own an 18-0-0 record all-time against Northwestern. The Hoosiers last defeated the Wildcats, 3-0, in Evanston on Oct. 14, 2001.

Grabavoy A Show Stealer
Sophomore Ned Grabavoy has been the story of late for the Hoosiers. He is currently the Big Ten's leading scorer in league games with eight points (2 goals, 2 assists), for an average of 2.67 points a game.

The New Lenox, Ill., native was named to both the Soccer America and College Soccer News National Teams of the Week on Tuesday. He tallied the game-winning goal at Butler last Thursday and then scored a goal for the third straight game on Sunday in IU's 2-1 win over Michigan. The crafty midfielder has scored in the last six games for Indiana.

Right Where They Want To Be
In pursuit of its sixth straight No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Conference Tournament, Indiana is in excellent shape at the halfway point of its league slate. IU is 3-0-0 with two wins on road (at Penn State and Michigan State). After this weekend's games at home against Wisconsin and Northwestern, the Hoosiers will close out Big Ten play on at Ohio State on Oct. 20.

Big Ten Streak
The Hoosiers hold a 33-game regular season win streak in conference play. IU also owns a 37-game unbeaten streak. The victory streak started on Oct. 18, 1996, with a triumph over Wisconsin. The last time Indiana dropped a regular season conference match to a Big Ten opponent was on Oct. 13, 1995, at Wisconsin. On Oct. 4, 1996, the Hoosiers tied Penn State, 1-1.

The Defense Never Rests
Coming into the 2002 season, it seemed the Indiana defense would need time to solidify itself. After all, the Hoosiers lost three starters (backs Ryan Hammer and Josh Rife and goalkeeper Colin Rogers) to graduation in 2001. Last season's defensive unit led the nation in goals against average and shutout percentage.

Behind the leadership of senior co-captain John Swann and senior Phil Presser, who made the move to play the sweeper position after starting for two seasons in the midfield, Indiana has five shutouts in nine games. After missing last season due to an injury junior David Prall has moved back into the lineup as a starter as well.

Sophomore Danny O'Rourke is picking up right where he left off last season in the defensive midfield spot. After allowing just two goals in the last seven games, sophomore Jay Nolly is coming into his own.

Pair of Player of the Year Candidates
Eleven games into the season, senior All-Americans Pat Noonan and Ryan Mack are proving why they are two of the nation's best. Equally productive, both Noonan (six goals, four assists) and Mack (five goals, six assists) have scored 16 points this season. The duo ranks among the Big Ten's best in nearly every offensive category. In all games, Noonan leads the league in shots taken (48) while Mack ranks fourth (36). Both are tied for third in points. Noonan stands tied for fourth in goals and Mack ranks tied for second.

Noonan, a forward, led the Hoosiers with 16 goals and 12 assists on his way to Big Ten Player of the Year and NSCAA first-team All-America honors in 2001. The Ballwin, Mo., product was also a second-team All-American in 2000. Mack, who plays in the midfield, who was forced to redshirt the 2001 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, was named Big Ten Player of the Year and third-team All-America in 2000.

Eclipsing The Century Mark
Already a two-time All-American and one of the finest soccer players in IU history, senior Pat Noonan added another impressive achievement to his list credentials on Sept. 22 at Michigan State. Noonan became the 14th player in Indiana history to score 100 points in his career. With 104 points, the Hoosier co-captain ranks 12th on the all-time scoring list.

Combination of Success
The Indiana men's and women's soccer programs have one of the best combined records in the country this season. The Hoosiers men (8-1-2) and women (6-3-2) boast a .727 winning percentage, which is No. 19 among Division I schools.

Preseason All-Americans
A trio of Hoosier seniors have been named to College Soccer News' preseason All-America teams. Forward Pat Noonan and midfielder Ryan Mack are members of the first team while defender John Swann is a second-team selection. The publication released three teams comprised of 11 players each. IU is the only team with two first-team representatives and also has the most selections overall with three.
In addition, Noonan was selected to Soccer America's 11-player preseason All-America team.

Swann Making His Mark
Senior John Swann is making his case as the nation's best marking back. A team co-captain, he has provided outstanding leadership for an IU defense that needed to jell quickly at the beginning of the season.
Swann is constantly assigned to the opposing team's best striker. Though he stands just barely 5-10, he handles bigger, stronger players with his quickness, strength in the air and his defensive intelligence. Just when its seems IU might be in danger of getting scored on, Swann is breaking up the play.
Swann is a two-time first-team All-Big Ten selection and was named a preseason All-American by College Soccer News.

Breaking All Ties
In its 30-year history, the Indiana soccer team had never started its season with consecutive tie games until 2002. In fact, on only two occasions have the Hoosiers ever tied in back-to-back games. In 1986, IU finished in a 1-1 tie with American University on Oct. 26 and then followed with a second 1-1 tie against Evansville. The Hoosiers also had a pair of draws in the 1992 season against San Francisco, 1-1, on Oct. 30, and Florida International, 0-0, on Nov. 1.

Welcome, Freshmen
Three freshmen are making an impact in the early going for Indiana. Redshirt freshman Pat Yates has played in 11 games, making six starts. The Ft. Wayne, Ind., product also scored the first goal of his Hoosier career against William and Mary in the St. John's Classic on Sept. 6.
True freshmen Jordan Chirico and Brian Plotkin have seen action in nine and 10 games this season, respectively. Plotkin has two assists to his credit and set a career-best with seven shots against Michigan on Sunday. Chirico has one start to his credit and has also provided valuable minutes.

PACING THE PACK
Indiana is setting the standard statistically in Big Ten Conference action. Here's a look at few of the numbers:

Indiana's Ned Grabavoy (8), Pat Noonan (6), Ryan Mack (6) and Vijay Dias (4) are the Big Ten's top four scorers in league games. Grabavoy, Mack and Noonan are the top three in points per game.

 Ryan Mack and Pat Noonan are also the top two shot takers in Big Ten contests, averaging 4.33 and 4.00, repsectively.

 The Hoosiers have posted nine goals in Big Ten play, which is double the number of any other league team.

 IU also has 10 assists (3.33 per game) in conference contests, triple the number of the next best team.

 Indiana ranks second in goals against average 0.67 in all league games.

CORNER KICKS
 Pat Noonan, Ryan Mack, John Swann, Vijay Dias, David Prall, Phil Presser, Danny O'Rourke and Jay Nolly have started all 11 games for Indiana.

 Indiana's all-time record in Big Ten Conference play is 54-4-2.

With his career win total now a 520 in 30 seasons, head coach Jerry Yeagley needs 25 more wins to become collegeiate soccer's all-time winningest coach. Stephen Nogoesco holds the distinction currently with 544 wins in 39 seasons.