Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Falls at UConn, 2-1 (09-06-03)
9/6/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
STORRS, Conn. -- The No. 5 Indiana men's soccer team dropped a 2-1 decision to 24th-ranked UConn in front of more than 4,000 fans in the finale of the UConn/adidas Classic Saturday night in Storrs. Conn., at Morrone Stadium. Indiana fell to 1-1-2 as it was unable to avenge its 2002 NCAA Tournament loss. The Huskies (2-2-0) extended their regular-season home win streak to 17 straight matches.
"It could have gone either way, but we just couldn't come up with the score," IU coach Jerry Yeagley said. "I definitely thought we moved the ball and played well in spots. We matured as a team in this game and hopefully it will help us at the end of the season. Right now, we need to find a way to win."
In the 12th minute of play, UConn had its best chance of the half on a free kick. sophomore Brian Plotkin (Lisle, Ill./Naperville North) was issued a yellow card after he undercut a Husky player in attempt to retain possession of the ball. UConn's attempt from just outside of the box on the left side was punched out by goalkeeper Jay Nolly.
Indiana took the lead in the 36th minute on sophomore Pat Yates' (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Snider) first goal of the season. Shortly after entering the game, sophomore Trey Meek (Newport Harbor, Calif./Corona Del Mar) started the play with a nice cross from the right side. Junior Ned Grabavoy flicked the ball with his head and off one bounce, Yates shot the ball past UConn goalie Adam Schuerman and into the lower left corner of the goal.
The Huskies were quick to respond. Just two minutes later, freshman Steve Sealy hit paydirt to knot the game, 1-1. Junior Joe Coyle played the ball across and senior Cesar Cuellar chipped it to Sealy. Both were credited with assists.
Both teams collected four shots in the opening half. In the second half, the Hoosiers allowed just one shot, but that shot proved to be the difference.
In the 63rd minute, the Huskies scored on a set play off a free kick. The Hoosiers were called for a supposed hand ball just outside the 18-yard box. Andres Rota drilled a shot to the lower right corner to give the Huskies the lead. Willis Forko assisted on the play.
The Hoosiers' intensity rose a notch after the Huskies' goal. Freshman Jacob Peterson (Portage, Mich./IMG Academy) and Grabavoy both had solid shot attempts in the next few minutes, but neither could get them to go. With four minutes remaining, UConn committed a foul just outside the 18 box on the right side. Grabavoy's free kick sailed high.
Indiana out-shot the Huskies' 9-5 and led the corner kick category, 5-0. UConn ended the Hoosiers' season in the third round of the 2002 NCAA Tournament in Storrs.
Grabavoy, Plotkin and freshman back Jed Zayner (Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandburg) were named to the All-Touarnament team.
The Hoosiers will next take the field on Friday, Sept. 12, when they meet Akron in the Notre Dame Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament in South Bend. IU will also take on Fresno State on Sunday, Sept. 14.
