Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Nabs OT Win Over UK (11-26-03)
11/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind.- The Indiana men's soccer team rebounded from 1-0 deficit to claim a 2-1 double overtime victory over the Kentucky Wildcats and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Sophomore Greg Badger scored with just over four minutes remaining in the second overtime off a cornerkick to propel the eight-seeded Hoosiers to victory. Indiana improves to 13-3-5 on the season, while Kentucky ends its season at 12-7-2.
With just over three-minutes off the clock in the first overtime, Kentucky was dealt a blow as Peter McLellan slide-tackled Hoosier junior Danny O'Rourke from behind and was given a red card. The call forced Kentucky to play a man down for the rest of the match. It was also indicative of the night as the Wildcats racked up 29 fouls, including four yellow cards.
After out-shooting Kentucky 20-7 entering the second overtime, Indiana head coach Jerry Yeagley inserted Badger back into the Hoosier line up. The move would pay dividends almost six minutes later, as Badger got a boot on the ball off a corner to send it just past the goal line just before Kentucky keeper Andy Gruenebaum pounced on the ball to give the Hoosiers the victory. Redshirt freshmen Josh Tudela headed the ball off the corner from fellow classmate John Michael Hayden to set up Badger's heroics. The goal was the first of Badger's Hoosier career after he had only seen action in six games up to this point in the season.
"With 10 minutes to go in the final overtime period, how can we generate a little more offense?" Yeagley said. "(Putting Badger in the game)" was a team call. The players asked for Badger. They have a lot of confidence in him. He's a guy around the box and in the penalty area, who is dangerous in practice. He puts his body on the line. That was a great goal. It wasn't the prettiest, but it was one of the best. "
It appeared as though the Hoosiers would strike first as freshman Jacob Peterson reeled off three shots in a five-minute stretch. With 23:25 showing on the clock, Tudela was tripped from behind in the box, and the Hoosiers were awarded the penalty kick. Senior Vijay Dias' attempt was saved by Gruenebaum.
The Wildcats drew first blood in the 26th minute of the match. On the set-up by Joey Gaworecki and Jamal Shteiwi, Reilly O'Neill scored from inside the 6-yard box. His offering hit the left post and rolled into the net. Despite scoring, the Wildcats only attempted two shots in the first 45 minutes of play.
Indiana continued its barrage on the goal, out-shooting Kentucky 10-2 in the first stanza. On the Hoosiers final shot of the half, Peterson evened the match at one. Tudela sent a pass forward to Dias on the right side. The Helena, Mt., native one-touched a shot across goal to an open Peterson, who put the ball into the lower left corner. The goal was Peterson's fifth on the year, while Dias picked up his second assist of the year. Tudela registered the first two-assist game of his career and now has four on the season.
For the match, Indiana out-shot Kentucky 23-7, forcing Gruenebaum to make five saves. Indiana goalkeeper Jay Nolly registered four saves on the night.
Indiana and Kentucky have met twice in NCAA play and both matches have gone to overtime. In 1999, IU defeated the Wildcats, 1-0, in extra sessions. The win also marked the Hoosiers' second victory of the season over UK. Indiana won the regular season battle on Nov. 2, 1-0.
IU advances to the third round of the NCAA Tournament and will take on No. 9 seed Virginia Commonwealth, who was a 5-2 winner over Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30 at Armstrong Stadium.
