Indiana University Athletics
IU Wins Title Game Rematch (8-20-04)
8/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Fort Wayne, Ind. - The 2004 season started in fashion that 2003 ended with the Indiana men's soccer team knocking off St. John's by a goal. The differences between the two victories are like night and day. Trolling the sidelines at the end of 2003 for the Hoosiers was legendary headman Jerry Yeagley, the latest victory was headed by first-year head coach and long-time Hoosier assistant Mike Freitag. The 2003 affair was a 2-1 victory for the Hoosiers while 2004 saw IU pick up a shutout with a 1-0 win.
"I was really proud of the guys tonight," Freitag said. "For a first game after only two days of practice, there were some very good things and there were some things we need to work on. Playing a quality opponent like St. John's and getting a win, I am very happy with that. I think the guys were happy with the result as well."
The biggest difference between the opening exhibition victory for preseason No. 1 IU and last season was the presences of junior forward Mike Ambersley. The 2001 Big Ten Freshman of the Year missed the 2003 season, but made his presences felt at the start of the 2004 campaign. His goal at the 29:16 mark of the first half was all the Hoosiers would need in the victory.
"Mike is a quality player," Freitag said. "You can never have too many players like that. He didn't skip a beat. He came back and fit right in with the team. The guys are really happy to have him back and happy to be playing with him again. Hopefully, we can see a lot more of that this season."
After the Hoosiers took the majority of the opportunities to start the match, Ambersley found the back of the net on his third shot of the evening. Sophomore forward Jacob Peterson received a through ball and broke free into the midfield. He got just inside the 18-yard box on the right side and sent a pass across the box to Ambersley. The Baldwin, Mo., native was one-on-one with St. John's keeper Bill Gaudette and scored into the upper left corner from 10 yards out.
"Jacob made a great run," Ambersley said. "Someone played a through ball to him, and he made a great run. He is really good at making those cutting runs. He picked his head up and it was just the goalie and I. He played a great ball, and I put it in the back of the net. It felt good to get out there with my new teammates. We have only practiced for two days, so it was good game to get to know them better."
The goal was not the first quality look that Ambersley had at the net. His first two shots in the opening 15 minutes of the match forced Gaudette to make saves. In the fourth minute of play, Peterson crossed the ball to junior Pat Yates. The Fort Wayne, Ind., native settled the cross and flicked it to Ambersley whose sliding shot was corralled by Gaudette. Ten minutes later, Ambersley again force Gaudette to make the save this time from just inside the 18-yard box.
Despite only picking up a 1-0 victory, the Hoosiers had numerous opportunities as they out shot St. John's 13-8 with nine shots on goal. Ambersley led IU with four shots, all on goal.
Sophomore Josh Tudela nearly gave the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead just out of halftime. In the 49th minute of play, Tudela beat a defender on the right side and actually sent a shot past Gaudette. Instead of hitting the back of the net, the ball was cleared wide by a Redstorm defender.
Tudela again almost got in on the action, this time with the pass in the 53rd minute. After senior keeper Jay Nolly sent a pass to the left side, Tudela made a run through the midfield. The Evansville, Ind., native then chipped a pass to Preseason All-American junior Brian Plotkin. Plotkin turned, settled and sent a shot to the far post that forced Gaudette to sprawl out for the save.
Preseason No. 2 St. John's held strong in the defensive part of the field and almost tied the match on two different occasions. Gaudette made five saves in goal for the Redstorm while the team made a total of eight. In the 68th minute, Sebastian Alvarado-Ralph received a pass in the right side of the Hoosier 18-yard box. The Redstorm forward sent a shot near post that went just wide into the side netting.
St. John's midfield Justin Abel has his opportunity to tie the match in the 74th minute. After receiving the ball at the top of the 18, Abel sent a shot on goal and was deflected to the right. Nolly was there for the save to preserve the lead and eventually the victory. Unlike his Hoosier NCAA record 10-save performance in the 2003 national title game, Nolly only had to make three saves in the shutout win.
