Indiana University Athletics
Nguyen Named National Player of the Week
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Oct. 31, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Indiana freshman forward Lee Nguyen was named College Soccer News National Player of the Week following his performances against Notre Dame (Oct. 26) and Maryland (Oct. 29). The Richardson, Texas, native notched the game-winner against the Irish, while spearheading the first three-goal comeback in school history against Maryland.
"Lee is a special player that brings creativity and flair to our team," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "He continues to develop and get better in areas where he needed improvement. He has been outstanding for us all year. Against Maryland, Lee was the catalyst of our comeback. He was able to take people on and create scoring chances that got us back into the game."
Against Notre Dame, Nguyen bent in a beautiful free kick from 25 yards out for the game-winner. After senior midfielder Brian Plotkin drew the foul to set up the play, Nguyen sent the shot from the left side into the upper right corner, leaving 6-6 Irish goalkeeper Chris Cahill with no chance to stop it. It was Nguyen's second game-winner of the season and fifth goal during his rookie campaign.
In College Park, Md., Nguyen led the Hoosiers to one of the most improbable of comebacks, as IU scored three goals in the final 17 minutes to forge a 3-3 tie with the third-ranked Terrapins. He had two official assists, but had a hand in all three Hoosier tallies.
Indiana drew within two at 3-1 in the 74th minute when Nguyen found junior Jacob Peterson on the back post. Nguyen beat a defender on the right flank and dribbled into the penalty area. He sent a cross that ended up on the back post where Peterson hammered it home.
Nguyen again wreaked havoc on the Terrapin defense, closing the gap to 3-2 less than two minutes later. In similar fashion to the opening Hoosier marker, Nguyen found space in the right side of the 18. He sent a centering cross that appeared to be intended for senior midfielder Mike Ambersley, who like Peterson on the first IU goal, was on the back post. Instead of finding Ambersley, the ball deflected off a Maryland defender and rolled just inside the left post.
With precious seconds coming off, it looked as though the Indiana comeback attempt would fall painstakingly short. After a throw-in by freshman Brad Ring was cleared out for a corner kick, the Hoosiers scrambled to get the opportunity off. Junior midfielder John Michael Hayden placed the ball down, and Nguyen took the corner after sprinting from the far side of the field. His cross to the left corner of the six found the head of sophomore back Greg Stevning, who headed the ball on net. The shot was nearly cleared by the Maryland defense, but the ball caromed off the crossbar, down and in, evening the match at three with just five seconds remaining on the clock.
The assist was Nguyen's 10th of the season, marking his second multi-assist game of the season. His assist total is just one short of tying the Hoosier freshman record. The record of 11 is held by current Hoosier assistant coach Todd Yeagley set during the 1991 season.
Nguyen became the first Hoosier since Ned Grabavoy on Oct. 13, 2003, to be named College Soccer News National Player of the Week. In the process, Nguyen also was named to the national team of the week. It marked the second time he had earned the honor this season and fifth time a Hoosier was honored this season.
Nguyen and the Hoosiers return to the friendly confines of Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 3, against top-ranked Akron at 7 p.m. The Zips are college soccer's lone unbeaten team at 16-0-1 on the season. The match will be the final regular season home affair for a trio of seniors. Mike Ambersley, Jordan Chirico and Brian Plotkin will be honored for their contributions to the Hoosier tradition.
