IUComes Back for Semifinal Win (12-10-04)

12/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

CARSON, Calif.- There is a first time for everything and for the first time in the 2004 season, the second seed Indiana men's soccer team came-from-behind for a 3-2 double overtime victory over third seed Maryland in the first national semifinal. Sophomore midfielder John Michael Hayden's header with just 48 seconds remaining in the second overtime period propelled the Hoosiers to their 13th NCAA title game in school history.

Indiana improves to 18-4-1 on the season, while Maryland falls to 17-6-2. The Hoosiers are now 14-2 in overtime all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 6-2 overtime mark in the College Cup. The Hoosiers outshot Maryland 24-10 on the evening, including 11-3 in the second half and 6-0 in the overtime periods.

The Hoosiers controlled the match for most of the second half and overtime periods, but still found themselves in a 2-2 tie with time winding down in the second overtime period. Redshirt freshman Charley Traylor beat a defender and found senior midfielder and Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy finalist Danny O'Rourke on the left side of 18-yard box. O'Rourke sent a cross to the middle of the box, where Hayden beat Maryland goalkeeper Noah Palmer to the ball and headed it in for the winner. It was Hayden's seventh goal of the season and sixth game-winner. The assist was the fourth on the year for O'Rourke, while Traylor picked up the first point of his young Hoosier career.

Maryland led 1-0 after a sluggish first half for the Hoosiers. The Terps got on the board first at the 34:49 mark with a pair of All-Americans hooking up. Senior goalkeeper Jay Nolly punched out a cross that was corralled by third team All-American, Mayland's Abe Thompson. He cut back toward the left side of the six and fired a shot that got by Nolly toward the center. Maryland's other third team All-American, junior Jason Garey was in front to redirect the ball into the net, giving the Terps a 1-0 lead. It was Garey's 22nd goal of the season.

The Hoosiers wasted little time responding in the second half of play. In the 47th minute, sophomore forward Jacob Peterson led junior Brian Plotkin forward. After Plotkin cut back to the left into the 18, he found himself one-on-one with Palmer, who laid out and was able to deny Plotkin's shot.

Plotkin would get right back at it in the 52nd minute. After O'Rourke earned a foul at the midfield circle, Amberlsey led Plotkin forward, who broke free down the middle of the field. He was cut off by a UMD defender who was whistled for the foul 20 yards out. Plotkin took the kick and scored into the lower left corner to knot it up at one. It was his fifth goal of the season and first since Oct. 10 against Michigan.

Indiana would take the lead in the 71st minute on a goal by another Hoosier in a drought. Junior forward Mike Ambersley notched his first tally since Oct. 1 on a bullet from outside the 18. He cut back across the top of the 18 and fired a shot that deflected off a Maryland defender and into the right side of the net. It was his third goal of the year.

Junior forward Pat Yates nearly tallied another score for the Hoosiers just two minutes later. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native was led forward into the 18 and was one-on-one with Palmer. Yates' shot from eight yards out on the right was kicked wide on the slide by Palmer.

Maryland scored the equalizer off a corner at the 80:38 mark. Freshman midfielder Maurice Edu elevated over everyone and sent a header into the upper right hand corner of the net. It was his first tally since the opening match of the season. Junior defender Michael Dello-Russo notched the assist on the corner. The shot was one of only three for the Terps in the second half.

With six minutes left, Hayden led Ambersley into the box. Ambersley's shot from the right side was deflected wide by a Maryland defender. On the ensuing corner, the ball was deflected out to O'Rourke, but his shot from 30 yards out sailed over the crossbar.

In the 96th minute the Hoosiers had a pair of opportunities both from Peterson. He broke free of the Maryland defense just inside of the 18. He was cut off on a nice defensive play by Ian Rodway to stifle the chance. Less than a minute later, Plotkin sent a cross to Peterson, who tried to flick the ball on goal, but his attempt was wide of the far post.

The Hoosier offense seemed to have the advantage in the early going of the first half. At 10th minute, Ambersley hit Peterson on the left. Peterson cut the ball back to Hayden, who dribbled across the top of the 18. His shot hit the crossbar and bounced away.

Three minutes later, it was again Peterson to Hayden. Hayden too a shot from a similar spot outside the 18, but the ball bounced wide of the net. The shot almost hooked up with junior midfielder Jordan Chirico, who was making a run down the right side.

In the 15th minute, Chirico lofted a pass to Tudela just inside the 18-yard box. Palmer came out in an attempt to meet the ball. Tudela tried to lift the ball over Palmer, but the Terrapin goalkeeper was able to coral it.

Mayland responded with their first real scoring chance one minute later. Junior defender Chris Lancos crossed the ball to senior forward Abe Thompson just beyond the penalty kick mark. Thompson tried to head the ball toward the left post, but Nolly was there with the diving save. It was one of three saves that Nolly would make on the evening.

The Hoosiers' victory over Maryland will be broadcast on Saturday, Dec. 11 at 12:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Indiana will take on ninth seed UC-Santa Barbara in the NCAA title game at 4:00 p.m. ET. The game will be televised live on ESPN2. Rob Stone, Eric Wynalda and Beth Mowins will be on the call for both matches. The championship match can also be heard in Bloomington on WGCL AM-1370 with Chicago Fire play-by-play announcer Chris Doran on the call. It will also be broadcast over the Internet on TEAMLINE. Follow the link at IUHOOSIERS.com for the feed.