Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Ties Michigan State, 1-1 (09-21-03)
9/21/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- A late rally by the No.19 Indiana men's soccer team secured a 1-1 tie in its Big Ten Conference opener against Michigan State on Sunday at Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers are now 2-3-3 on the year, while Michigan State moves to 3-2-1.
"It was an exciting college game today," Yeagley said. "In the first 10-15 minutes we had two or three opportunities that we didn't capitalize. Michigan State is a good team and you can't miss on your opportunities (against them). That seems to be a recurring pattern, and we're working hard to correct that. We've got to find a way to get it done."
Trailing 1-0 entering the final 10 minutes of the game, Indiana head coach Jerry Yeagley inserted freshman Jacob Peterson and sophomore Trey Meek into the line up to give the Hoosiers a boost. Peterson would produce in the 82nd minute. The rookie from Portage, Mich., shook a defender and chipped the ball from the left side into the right corner over the Michigan State keeper. The goal was the first of Peterson's career.
The Hoosiers had their opportunities in the first overtime period as they controlled the field against the Spartans. Just under a minute into the first overtime period, sophomore Brian Plotkin curved around a corner kick to the near post of the goal and sophomore Pat Yates charged in an attempt score The referee whistled a foul on the play, preventing the scoring chance.
In the 92nd minute of the match, Plotkin had another scoring chance, this time from the top of the 18-yard box after a steal from junior Ned Grabavoy. The Lisle, Ill., native fired a liner that was stopped by MSU goalkeeper Mike Robinson. Robinson ended the afternoon with six saves for the Spartans.
Indiana looked to strike first in the second overtime period with Peterson again on the attack. Senior Vijay Dias flicked the ball over a Spartan to Peterson, but Peterson one-touched the ball before the Michigan State keeper corralled the shot.
In the 103rd minute, Michigan State had its best chance to end it. After Jordan Gruber drew a foul at the top of the Indiana box, MSU's Ryan McMahen took the free kick and put it on goal to the lower left side. Junior goalie Jay Nolly made a diving save to his right to preserving the tie.
Indiana out-shot Michigan State in the first half and had more scoring opportunities, but went into the locker room trailing the Spartans, 1-0. MSU's John Minagawa-Webster tailed the first score of the game in the 26th minute. A forward pass slipped under the foot of a Hoosier defender and Minagawa-Webster broke free about 25 yards from the goal, beating Nolly one-on-one as the ball went into the right corner of the net. It was his third goal of the season.
The Hoosiers had their chances in the first period of play. In the eighth minute of the game, freshman back Julian Dieterle headed the ball off the left goal post. The play was set up by a foul drawn by Dias, who was seeing his first action in four games after being sidelined with an injury.
In the 15th minute of play, Grabavoy sent a ball forward to Plotkin. Plotkin then attempted to cross the ball to Meek, but it was deflected away by an MSU defender.
Indiana finished the match 12 shots to Michigan State's eight. The Hoosiers also forced Robinson to make eight saves in goal and led the corner kick category nine to five.
" I was pleased with the play of our reserves today," Yeagley said. "Both David Prall and Jordan Chirico came in and did very well."
The Hoosiers will take on Penn State as part of a soccer doubleheader next Friday night. The Indiana women's soccer team will battle Ohio State in the first game at 5:00 p.m., and Indiana men will follow against the Nittany Lions at Armstrong Stadium.
