Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Downs Kentucky, 2-1 (10-16-02)
10/16/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
October 16, 2002
LEXINGTON, Ky. - The No. 4 Indiana men's soccer team won its 10th straight match Wednesday night as it defeated Kentucky, 2-1, at the UK Soccer Complex. Hoosier senior All-American Pat Noonan propelled the Hoosiers to the win as he scored both goals. IU improved to 11-1-2 overall while the Wildcats slipped to 7-5-0.
"Anytime IU and Kentucky play in anything, it's a rivalry," Hoosier coach Jerry Yeagley said. "I credit Kentucky for hanging in there to tie it with five minutes to go. It was big for us to fire right back at them and come back and get one. Pat Noonan showed why, in my opinion, he is the National Player of the Year tonight."
Noonan put the Hoosiers on the scoreboard just before the halftime break. The Ballwin. Mo., product scored on a putback on a play set up by freshman Brian Plotkin and fellow senior Ryan Mack. The goal was Noonan's eighth of the season and put his season point total at 22.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the game, Kentucky gave the Hoosiers a pair of scares. IU goalkeeper Jay Nolly was forced to make consecutive saves on shots by UK's Dani Kamras and Chris Austin. Kamras' shot nearly sailed into the top right corner before a leaping Nolly punched the ball out.
The Wildcats broke though to even the score at the 84:05 mark as Nathan Fleetwood rifled a free kick from 30-yards out. The ball made its way through a crowd and Jamal Shteiwi deflected it into the lower left corner of the goal.
But Indiana wasn't finished. IU responded 30 seconds later as Noonan netted his second goal of the game on a corner kick from Plotkin. The senior co-captain headed the ball home and Plotkin was credited with an assist for the second time in the game.
The Hoosiers will close out Big Ten Conference play on Sunday, Oct. 20, at Ohio State. With a win or tie against the Buckeyes, IU could clinch the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
