Indiana University
Penn State
Hoosier Quest Thwarted, 1-0
11/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 13, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Windy City lived up to its billing. The two-time defending national champion and No. 2-ranked Indiana men's soccer team was thwarted in its quest for an 11th Big Ten Tournament title as it fell to Penn State, 1-0, in the championship match at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex. The Hoosiers battled 40 mph wind gusts in suffering only their second defeat of the season. IU falls to 13-2-6 while Penn State improves to 12-6-2.
Penn State tallied the only goal of the contest at the 86:51 mark. Against the run of play and on the counterattack, freshman forward Jason Yeisley flicked a shot from 20 yards out just avoiding a challenge by junior back Jed Zayner. The shot was tipped into the air by sophomore goalkeeper Chris Munroe, but the gusting wind carried the ball into the back of the net for the only tally of the contest.
"It's a funny old game," said Freitag. "I was proud of the way the boys played. We controlled things in the second half, but you have to give Penn State's goalkeeper credit; he came up big. Penn State was a little lucky today, but I think good teams like Penn State make their own luck."
Indiana had its share of strong opportunities with a pair coming in the 86th minute. Junior forward Jacob Peterson gathered a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box. The All-Tournament Team selection dribbled the ball toward the right side of the box and fired a low grounder on net, but PSU goalkeeper Conrad Taylor smothered the shot.
Seconds later, junior midfielder Josh Tudela dribbled up the left side and fired a shot on goal from 25 yards out. The shot was heading for the upper 90 of the far post, but Taylor used every bit of his 5-8 frame to bring down the shot for a key save.
In the 83rd minute, freshman midfielder Brad Ring sent a pass to redshirt freshman forward Kevin Noschang at the top of the 18. He attempted to chest the ball down to Peterson. The Portage, Mich., native gained possession and took a touch before hitting a shot toward the far post. The ball nearly got under the arm of Taylor, but he got enough of it to stop the shot.
In the 76th minute, the Hoosiers had a pair of dangerous crosses that narrowly missed Hoosier heads. Senior midfielder Jordan Chirico sent a cross from the right side that just sailed over the head of Peterson. The Hoosiers gained a corner as a result and the service from senior midfielder Brian Plotkin missed the head of sophomore back Greg Stevning. Peterson crossed another ball off the clearance from the right side. It was punched out by Taylor. The ball ended up with Ring at the top of the 18, but his shot went high over the crossbar.
The 69th minute saw freshman forward Lee Nguyen have another great scoring chance. Chirico centered a pass to a cutting Nguyen. Nguyen hammered a shot from the right side of the 18, but Taylor cut off the angle and made a sliding save.
IU was unrelenting in looking for the game winner in the second half. In the 63rd minute Nguyen, 2005 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, got on a breakaway. Peterson, an All-Big Ten First Team selection, fed Nguyen forward and the Richardson, Texas, native broke through down the left flank. When he reached the penalty area, he attempted to chip the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper, but Taylor got his fingertips on the ball and it was cleared by the PSU defense.
In the 58th minute, the Hoosiers had three straight corner kicks. On the final one, the ball was served to the far post by Nguyen. The Hoosiers sent a cross back to the middle of the six-yard box. Peterson narrowly missed getting on the end of it as Taylor beat him to the ball in the air. The clearance failed and junior midfielder Josh Tudela gained possession and tried to chip the ball over the PSU goalkeeper, who was off his line, but the wind caught the ball and knocked it down for Taylor to stop.
The Hoosiers controlled possession in the second half and outshot the Nittany Lions 9-1. Indiana also outshot PSU for the game by an 18-7 margin.
The first half saw the Hoosiers playing with the wind to their backs both figuratively and literally. IU had a couple of chances in the opening minutes. Off a corner in the fourth minute, the ball was cleared out to the top of the 18. Chirico met the ball and sent a shot high over the crossbar. In the 10th minute, Nguyen earned a free kick from 35 yards out. He ripped a shot to the right post that went wide.
In the 12th minute senior midfielder Mike Ambersley fed Nguyen down the right wing. Nguyen sent a cross to Peterson who was in the middle of the six-yard box. The Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate headed the ball down on goal, but was denied by Taylor.
IU continued the pressure. Under two minutes later, Nguyen slid a pass to Ambersley. The Ballwin, Mo., native hit a shot on net that was smothered by Taylor.
In the 22nd minute, the Hoosiers had a dangerous chance. Nguyen fed Tudela down the right flank with a beautiful ball. Tudela took the ball into the penalty area before cutting it back to the middle of the six-yard box. Plotkin and Peterson were there, but Taylor corralled the ball to deny the opportunity.
Off a free kick from across midfield in the 35th minute, Zayner hit the free kick forward to Plotkin, who settled and flicked to Ambersley. Ambersley touched to the middle of the top of the 18, before cutting back and firing a shot wide of the right post.
Indiana almost posted the first marker of the contest in the 45th minute with halftime looming. Nguyen played a corner kick out to senior midfielder and Big Ten Player of the Year Brian Plotkin at the top of the 18. The Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate fired a shot toward the upper 90 of the right post, but sailed inches over the crossbar.
It marked only the third time in Indiana soccer history that the Hoosiers lost twice to a team in the same season. In 1985, Evansville defeated the Hoosiers during the regular season 3-0 on Oct. 27 before knocking IU out of the NCAA Tournament on Nov. 24, 3-0. In 2000, Creighton defeated Indiana, 4-1, at the Butler Classic (Sept. 15). Later that season, the Blue Jays defeated the Hoosiers 2-1 in three overtimes at the NCAA College Cup (Dec. 8).
The Hoosiers will await the NCAA Tournament Selection Show. Indiana will find out where it falls in the 48-team tournament on Monday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. The NCAA Selection show will air live on ESPNEWS. The top 16 seeds in the tournament receive a first round bye. The first round begins November 19 and 20 at campus sites. IUHOOSIERS.com will track the NCAA Selection Show as well as when and where the Hoosiers will play.
