Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Head Past Mastodons (8-21-04)
8/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Fort Wayne, Ind. - In front of a crowd of 6,179, the preseason No. 1 Indiana men's soccer team wrapped up the exhibition part of the schedule with a 2-0 victory over the IPFW Mastodons at the 2004 IPFW Soccer Showcase. Indiana netted a goal in each half of play off set piece headers on its way to victory.
Junior preseason All-American Brian Plotkin and sophomore Josh Tudela hooked up in the 13th minute of play, giving the Hoosiers the margin they would need for victory. Plotkin took a corner kick and crossed it to Tudela who headed the ball into the right corner of the net.
The Hoosiers had numerous opportunities throughout the first half of play. The heroes of Friday night, junior Mike Ambersley and sophomore Jacob Peterson, nearly made the score 2-0. Ambersley played a through ball to Peterson who broke past a defender on the right side. With a the defender just off his hip, Peterson turned and put a quick shot on goal that was saved by Peter Hachaj of IPFW.
Hackaj had to make a pair of saves in the 34th and 35th minutes. On the first opportunity, sophomore Jed Zayner played a ball forward to sophomore John Michael Hayden. Hayden got past a defender in the right side of the 18-yard box, but Hackaj was up to the task as he made a diving save to his left.
Plotkin narrowly missed putting the Hoosiers up by a pair in the 35th minute. The Lisle, Ill., native hit a rocket from the top of the 18-yard box, but Hackaj was once again able to corral the shot. Hackaj played only the first half and ended with five saves.
Seniors Greg Badger and Josh Reiher pushed the Hoosier lead to a pair with just over five minutes remaining in the match. Redshirt freshman Charley Traylor drew a foul 25 yards out on the left side. Badger took the free kick and served the ball up to Reiher who headed a shot over the top of IPFW goalkeeper Michael Knitter.
Sophomore Nathan Sherpenisse and redshirt freshman Chris Munroe each saw the first action of their Hoosier careers in net as they to help the defense preserve the shutout. Sherpenisse started the game and made one save in the opening 45 minutes of play. Munroe came on in the second half of play and helped keep the shutout in tack with three saves.
IPFW had a pair of impressive attempts on net in the final five minutes of play. Trevor Peaslee put a pair of shots on net, but Munroe was up to the task. He made both saves, including a diving block to his left off Peaslee's header with under a minute to play.
The Hoosiers will open up the 2004 regular season hosting the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The Hoosiers will host Boston University (BU) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3. Indiana will then take on Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5. BU and Oregon State will also face Notre Dame at the Classic. The Irish open the Classic up against Oregon State at 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 3. Notre Dame will then take on Boston at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Classic will be played on Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium.
