Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Wins Thriller at Penn State (9-27-02)
9/27/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
September 27, 2002
University Park, Pa. - Under a steady mist and on a soaked and slippery field at 12th-ranked Penn State, the No. 5 Indiana men's soccer team defeated the Nittany Lions, 1-0, on a Ned Grabavoy penalty kick in the 105th minute. Indiana's record went to 6-1-2 overall and 2-0-0 in Big Ten action after playing in its third overtime contest of the year. Penn State slipped to 5-4-0 and 1-1-0 in league action.
"This is a great win under very difficult circumstances," head coach Jerry Yeagley said. "Playing a man down for the final 33 minutes in tough weather and a tough environment, the guys really grew up tonight. I can't say enough about the defense. It was a typical Penn State-Indiana game, a thriller."
Both teams took two shots in the first half. Penn State's best scoring chance came after a corner kick with 15:53 remaining in the first half. Hoosier goalkeeper Jay Nolly punched the ball high out of the box to thwart any chance at a goal for the Nittany Lions.
Pat Noonan took the Hoosiers' only shot on goal in the 37th minute. Noonan rifled a shot from 20 yards out on the right side, but Penn State goalie Ryan Moate caught the ball for a save.
The match became even more intense and physical in the second half. Three Penn State players and the Indiana bench were issued yellow card cautions. With 17:17 to go in the game, PSU's Brent Jacquette received a yellow card after a foul that knocked Hoosier sophomore Ned Grabavoy to the ground. In the midst of a tussle after the play, Indiana senior defender Phil Presser was given a red card and ejected from the game, forcing IU to play with 10 men the rest of the way.
Nolly came up big again with 5:08 remaining in regulation when he stopped a Chad Severs shot to keep the game scoreless.
With less than five minutes in the regulation period, Noonan nearly sealed the victory when he booted a shot from the left side but sailed wide to the right of the goal.
The stalemate continued in the first overtime, but things got interesting in the second overtime session. With 5:44 showing on the clock, Penn State was called for a foul in the box. Grabavoy buried the penalty kick in the net to give Indiana its second conference win in 2002.
Indiana will play the last game of a five-game road swing on Thursday, Oct. 3, against Butler University. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.
