Hoosiers Open Big Ten Play Sunday (09-20-03)

Sept. 20, 2003

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana (2-3-2) opens up a three-match homestand on Sunday when it hosts Michigan State in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams on Sunday, Sept. 21. Game time is set for 2 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium on the IU campus.

At the match, the first 500 fans in attendance will receive a free IU Soccer hat courtesy of adidas. In addition, high school soccer teams from across the state of Indiana have been invited to attend this match, compliments of IU Athletics. Following the game, members of the Men's Soccer team will be available in the Metz Lounge (behind the North bleachers) for an autograph session. Posters and markers will be provided, but fans are welcome to bring an item from home to have signed as well.

About the Hoosiers
Indiana is 2-3-2 after a heartbreaking, 1-0 overtime loss at No. 16 Notre Dame on Thursday. The Irish scored the game-winner on a free kick with 2:58 remaining in the second overtime. Chad Riley's kick bounced off the side of Kevin Goldwaithe and rolled into the goal. The match marked the fourth time this season the Hoosiers have gone to overtime and IU has a 0-2-2 record in those matches.

Junior forward Ned Grabavoy leads the Hoosiers in scoring with 10 points on four goals and two assists. Sophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin is next with seven points on two goals and three assists.

Where They Rank
The Hoosiers have dropped in the polls again this week. Entering the week, IU is No. 21 in the adidas/NSCAA poll, No. 19 in the Soccer America poll, No. 18 in the Soccer Times poll and 16th, according to College Soccer News.

Michigan State: The Spartans enter Sunday's match with a 3-2-0 record. MSU's three wins have come against Xavier (1-0), IPFW (3-0) and UC Irvine (2-0). Thomas Trivelloni has scored a team-best seven points on three goals and an assist while John Minagawa-Webster is second with four points on a pair of goals. The Spartans were picked to finish third by league coaches in the Big Ten preseason poll.

The Hoosiers own a 30-0 record all-time against the Spartans. IU won last year's match, 6-1, in East Lansing.

Head coach Joe Baum is in his 26th season at Michigan State.

The Big Ten Streak
On Sunday against Michigan State, Indiana will begin the tough task of extending its 36-match win streak and 39-match unbeaten streak in Big Ten regular season play. Some notes on the streak:

 The victory streak started on Oct. 18, 1996, with a win over Wisconsin.
 The last time Indiana dropped a regular season conference match to a Big Ten opponent was on Oct. 13, 1995, at Wisconsin.
 The last time the Hoosiers did not win in Big Ten regular season play was on Oct. 4, 1996, when IU tied Penn State, 1-1.
 The 2002 senior class closed their careers at Indiana with a flawless 23-0 record.

Big Ten Dominance
Since the inception of Big Ten men's soccer in 1991, the Hoosiers dominated play. Indiana's all-time record in league regular season play stands at 57-4-2 entering the 2003 season. IU has won a nine Big Ten reglular season titles, including the last seven. The Hoosiers have also captured nine Big Ten tournament championships, the last one coming in 2001.

Young Guns
With only five juniors and three seniors on the roster this season, several underclassmen are seeing action for Indiana this season. In every one of the Hoosiers' six games, at least five underclassmen who are true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores who are new to the team or did not start a year ago have been in the starting lineup. With junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly returning all of those players are starting in the field.

Taking on the Nation's Best
Head coach Jerry Yeagley's scheduling philosophy has always been to play the best, anytime, anywhere. This week, six opponents on the Hoosiers' 2003 schedule are ranked in the polls. IU will play Saint Louis (3), Notre Dame (13), Penn State (8) and Michigan (30). The Hoosiers have already met UConn (10) and UAB (9). In addition the Cal Bears were ranked in the top 20 when IU played them during the first weekend of the season. Cal and Kentucky are both receiving votes in at least one poll this week. (Rankings listed are the highest.)

Postseason Opponents
Six teams on the Hoosiers' schedule advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2002. They are: Akron, Cal, UConn, Notre Dame, Penn State and Saint Louis.

Sweet Home Armstrong Stadium
Indiana has always been tough to beat at home as evidenced by its all-time record of 208-24-14 (.846) at Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers are currently in the midst of a 16-match unbeaten streak at their home stadium after a victory and a tie last weekend in the adidas.IU Credit Union Classic. In 2002, IU finished undefeated at Armstrong with a 6-0-2. The Hoosiers' last loss loss at Armstrong Stadium came on Oct. 17, 2001, when Notre Dame defeated Indiana, 1-0. IU has a 12-0-4 record since that time.

2003 Statistical Leaders

Points