Indiana University Athletics
IU Blanks Northwestern, 3-0 (10-12-03)
10/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Indiana men's soccer team captured its third straight victory on Sunday by defeating the Northwestern Wildcats, 3-0, at the Leonard B. Thomas Sports Complex in Evanston, Ill. Junior Ned Grabavoy led the Hoosier scoring attack with a pair of goals as IU improved its record to 5-3-4 on the season and remained unbeaten at 3-0-1 in Big Ten Conference play.
The Hoosiers picked up back to-back conference road wins this weekend after defeating Wisconsin, 3-0, Friday night in Madison.
"This was a crucial Big Ten weekend for us," Indiana head coach Jerry Yeagley said. "We are finally over .500 and we're making some breaks go our way. We played very good team defense today after a shaky performance both individually and as a team on Friday. Ned had a great performance today."
Indiana opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Sophomore Jordan Chirico played a nice ball to fellow sophomore Brian Plotkin. Plotkin launched a shot from near the top of the 18-yard box, but Northwestern goalkeeper Brian Heckenbach stopped the shot. Heckenbach did not gain control of the ball and Grabavoy fired a shot off the rebound and buried it into the back of the net. Plotkin was credited with an assist on the play.
IU added its second score in the 35th minute, once again by Grabavoy with an assist by freshman Kevin Robson. Robson got tripped up about 20 yards from the goal. From the ground, Robson punched the ball ahead to a streaking Grabavoy. The Hoosier co-captain knocked the ball to the left and it hit the inside of the left post before rolling into the goal.
Junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly made an impressive save for the Hoosiers with 31 minutes to go in the second half. The Wildcats' leading scorer, freshman Gerardo Alvarez, received the ball in the penalty box. Alvarez kicked a shot to the left and Nolly dove to the ground to make the stop. Nolly would finish the game with a pair of saves as he notched his second straight shutout.
Robson struck for a goal of his own at the 84:58 mark. The rookie rifled a shot from 20 yards out on the left side and it sailed into the top right corner to make it 3-0, Indiana. The goal, which was unassisted, marked the first of Robson's IU career.
"I was pleased for Kevin Robson, coming in and getting a goal and an assist." Yeagley said. "We got a lot of help from different people and we needed that as we were playing on a day and a half of rest
The Hoosiers will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 15, when they host IUPUI at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
