Indiana Tops Fresno State, 3-1 (09-14-03)

9/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Sept. 14, 2003

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The No. 11 Indiana men's soccer team tasted victory for the first time since its season opener on Sunday, defeating Fresno State, 3-1, in the Berticelli Memorial Tournament at Alumni Field. The Hoosiers move to 2-2-2 on the season. Fresno State slipped to 0-4-0.

"It was very important that we get a win today," Indiana head coach Jerry Yeagley said. "We had been a little frustrated and that led to a lack of composure. I thought that we came out and did the things that make the IU program great - the effort, the work ethic, the heart and honesty."

Fresno State took the first shot of the match in the fourth minute. Mat Herold;s offering was punched high over the cross bar by Indiana goalkeeper Jay Nolly (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield).

The Hoosiers took over from there, reeling off the next nine shots en route to a 9-1 advantage at the half. In the sixth minute of play, sophomore Pat Yates (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Snider) knocked a shot just wide to the right after a corner kick. Sophomore Brian Plotkin (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) fired a shot just wide in the seventh minute.

Yates had a second attempt saved at the 10:09 mark. He took a pass from Plotkin on the run and directed it from 12-yards out before Fresno State's Eric Kromburg made the save.

Plotkin hit the cross bar with a shot in the 29th minute. Ten minutes later, freshman Kevin Robson (St. Peter's, Mo./Chaminade) was persistent in trying to contain possession of the ball in the box. He knocked it to sophomore Trey Meek (Corona Del Mar, Calif./Newport Harbor) and Meek bumped it toward the goal from six yards out, but Kromburg was there to make the save once again.

In the 42nd minute, junior Ned Grabavoy (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln Way) struck paydirt for the Hoosiers. On a rebound off an IU corner kick, the co-captain rifled a beautiful shot from the top of the 18-yard box. The shot grazed the bottom of the cross bar and bounced into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead.

Indiana carried the momentum into the second half, adding its second goal with just 5:54 gone. After his initial shot was blocked, sophomore Jordan Chirico (Conesus, N.Y./Livonia) laced the bottom right corner of the net with a shot from 20-yards out on the left side. It was Chirico's first career goal in his second career start.

"I thought Jordan had an excellent game," Yeagley said. "It was great to see him get a goal. It was a nice second effort and that typifies what we were looking for."

The Bulldogs scored on a corner kick at 61:34. Heber Moa headed Dan Oka's corner in to make it, 2-1.

The Hoosiers responded almost immediately with their third goal. Grabavoy chipped in an impressive shot from the far left side of the field, just outside of the 18. The ball landed in the top right corner of the net. Redshirt freshman Josh Tudela and Plotkin both assisted on the play.

"I'm just happy to get the win," Grabavoy said. "I don't care who's scoring. It feels good to win and it was our best team effort of the year. We finally found a way to win. Hopefully, we'll keep pushing forward for the rest of the season."

Indiana kept the pressure on, forcing Kromburg to come up with six saves for the Bulldogs. For the game, IU out-shot Fresno State, 21-11, and led the corner kicks category, 9-3.

Nolly finished the game with three saves for the Hoosiers.

"I have to credit two of our fifth-year seniors, Drew Shinabarger and David Prall," Yegley said. "They really took responsibility for the team today and imparted some of those intangibles to our younger players."

Grabavoy and Shinabarger both represented the Hoosiers on the All-Tournament team.

Indiana will return to South Bend for its next game on Thursday, Sept. 18. The Hoosiers will meet Notre Dame at 7 p.m. at Alumni Field.