Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Set for Big Ten Championships
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The two-time defending national champion Indiana men's soccer team is the third seed in the 2005 Big Ten Championships. The No. 2 Hoosiers will battle six-seeded Wisconsin (8-10) at 11:45 a.m. CT, on Thursday, Nov. 10. The Big Ten Championships will be held at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex in Evanston, Ill.
The Hoosiers defeated the Badgers, 5-2, in Madison, Wis., earlier this season. Junior forward Jacob Peterson scored two, second-half goals, including the game-winner on a breakaway feed from sophomore back Greg Stevning in the 52nd minute. Senior midfielders Brian Plotkin and Jordan Chirico along with freshman Lee Nguyen had a goal and an assist apiece in the win.
Out of the 14 Big Ten Championships played, IU has won the event on 10 occasions. The Hoosiers are 18-4-2 all-time in the Big Ten Tournament. The road to the Big Ten title goes through Indiana. In the previous 14 years of the conference tournament, the winner has either been IU or beaten the Hoosiers before going on to the championship.
The last time the Big Ten Championships was held in Evanston, the Hoosiers walked away with the title. Indiana defeated Penn State, 1-0, in overtime to claim the crown. The Hoosiers were the third seed in 1995 and finished as co-champions with Wisconsin. After the Hoosiers defeated Northwestern (2-1) and Penn State (3-1), the championship game was snowed out and Wisconsin and Indiana were declared co-champions.
The winner of the Indiana-Wisconsin match will face off in the second semifinal on Friday, Nov. 11 at 2:30 p.m. CT against the winner of second-seeded Ohio State and seventh-seeded Northwestern. The Big Ten title game is slated for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 13. The championship game will be televised live on College Sports Television (CSTV).
Tickets for the event can be purchased at the gate. Single day tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students, children and seniors (over 65) and infants are $1. All session tickets for adults are $18, while students, children and seniors (over 65) can purchase all session passes for $12.
Hoosier News and Notes
- Indiana is ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
- IU is unbeaten in its last 10 matches this season. During that stretch, the Hoosiers are 7-0-3.
- The Hoosiers are averaging 3,292 fans per match at Armstrong Stadium. Indiana has drawn 26,337 total fans in seven home matches this season.
- As a team (as of Nov. 6), Indiana ranked sixth nationally in shutout percentage, blanking 11 of 18 opponents. The Hoosier defense also ranks 15th in the country in goals against average at 0.67. IU ranks third nationally in goals per game with 2.72 per contest.
- Junior forward Jacob Peterson currently ranks among the Hoosier top 25 in two career categories. He is tied for 20th on the career goals list with 27 during his three-year career. Peterson needs one goal to move into a tie for 19th. He is 17th with 171 career shots. The Portage, Mich., native needs 16 more attempts to move into 16th with three-time All-American Lazo Alavanja (1995-98).
- Senior midfielder Brian Plotkin ranks among the IU all-time top 25 in three categories. He is tied for 10th in assists with 33 career helpers. With one more assist, he will move into a tie for ninth place with Ryan Mack (1998-00, 2002). Plotkin ranks eighth on IU's career shots list with 259, trailing seventh-place Aleksey Korol (1996-99) by two. The Lisle, Ill., native moved into 23rd place on the Hoosiers' career points list, following his pair of assists against Ohio State. Plotkin has 75 career points as a Hoosier.
- Plotkin will miss the Hoosiers' opening round match of the Big Ten Championships against Wisconsin due to accumulation of yellow cards. Plotkin picked up his fifth caution of the season against then-No. 1 Akron on Nov. 3.
- Senior Mike Ambersley ranks among IU's top 25 in career shots. He is 23rd with 155 career attempts. He trails Matt Fundenberger (1997-00), who is 22nd, by nine shots.
- Peterson recorded his second career hat trick and 48th in Hoosier annals. Against Boston University on Sept. 11, he notched the first three goals of the match in a 5-0 victory. Peterson became the 10th Hoosier in school history to record multiple hat tricks in a career.
- Freshman Lee Nguyen ranks 11th nationally in assists per game (0.61). He has 11 assists in 18 matches this season.
- Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Munroe ranks 18th nationally in goals against average at 0.70.
- With its 3-0 victory at Notre Dame on Oct. 26, Indiana upped its streak of consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins to 19. In fact, the Hoosiers have had 10 or more victories in 32 of their 33 seasons as a varsity program.
Scouting Penn State
Penn State enters the Big Ten Tournament on a hot streak. The Nittany Lions have won seven games in a row and eight of their last nine. PSU is 10-6-2 overall in 2005 and completed its first perfect Big Ten regular season in school history. Penn State garnered the Big Ten regular season title and the top seed in the tournament with an unblemished 6-0 mark.
The Nittany Lions are led in scoring by the duo of freshman forward Jason Yeisley and junior forward Simon Omekanda. Yeisley has 21 points on the season on eight goals and five assists, while Omekanda has 18 points on six goals and six assists. Each have three game-winning goals and have been the driving force behind the Nittany Lions' resurgence.
Defensively, sophomore goalkeeper Conrad Taylor has played every minute between the pipes for the Nittany Lions. He has a goals against average of 0.79 with 54 saves and seven shutouts.
The Hoosiers are 23-7-3 all-time against Penn State. IU is 8-3-2 in the Big Ten Tournament against the Nittany Lions. PSU knocked off IU, 2-1, in overtime earlier this season in front of a national television audience on Fox Soccer Channel. Yeisley had two goals in the win for Penn State to give IU its lone loss of the 2005 campaign.
Scouting Ohio State
Ohio State enters the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Buckeyes finished the season at 10-6-2 overall and 3-2-1 in the Big Ten. OSU is on a four-game unbeaten streak at 3-0-1, including a 1-0 victory over Michigan on Nov. 4. Ohio State will face host Northwestern in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
Offensively, Ohio State is led by the tandem of senior forward Kevin Nugent and sophomore forward Xavier Balc. Nugent leads the team with 18 points on seven goals and four assists, while Balc has 17 points on five goals and seven assists. Freshman midfielder Danny Irizarry is third on the team with eight points on two goals and four assists.
Senior goalkeeper Ray Burse, Jr. has started all 18 matches for the Buckeyes in net. He has a goals against average of 1.10 to go along with 53 saves and four shutouts. He was a second team All-Big Ten selection a season ago.
All-time, the Hoosiers are 30-1-1 against Ohio State, including a 1-1 mark in the Big Ten Tournament. IU is unbeaten in the last five meetings between the two schools. This season, the Hoosiers and Buckeyes played to a 2-2 draw.
Scouting Michigan State
Michigan State enters the Big Ten Tournament at 7-5-5 overall and 2-3-1 in the Big Ten. The Spartans will be the fourth seed in the tournament. MSU closed the regular season with a 2-0 victory at Valparaiso on Nov. 6.
The Spartans are led in scoring by senior midfielder Ryan McMahen, who has 19 points on seven goals and five assists. Freshman forward Doug DeMartin is second on the squad with 15 points on six goals and three assists. Senior Steve Doster has seven points on three goals and one assist.
Senior goalkeeper Jason Tillman started all 17 games in net for the Spartans. He has a goals against average of 0.77 with 66 saves and six shutouts.
Indiana is 31-1-2 all-time against Michigan State, including a 2-1 mark in the Big Ten Tournament. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 2-1, in the Big Ten Tournament last season in Ann Arbor, Mich. Earlier this season the two teams played to a 0-0 draw in Bloomington, despite the Hoosiers outshooting the Spartans, 27-7. The match was play in a contanst rain with extremely wet field conditions.
Scouting Michigan
The Wolverines enter the Big Ten Tournament as the fifth seed. Michigan is 8-9-1 on the season, including a 2-4 conference mark. After back-to-back wins over then-No. 25 Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2-1) and Wisconsin (4-2) on Oct. 20 and 23, repsectively, the Wolverines have dropped three straight matches heading into the Big Ten Tournament. All three defeats came by a single goal. Then-No. 1 Akron defeated U-M, 1-0, in overtime before Penn State picked up a 3-2 win in overtime. They closed the regular season falling at Ohio State, 1-0.
Michigan is led in scoring by senior forward Ryan Alexander. He has 11 points on four goals and three assists. Senior midfielder Trai Blanks is second on the squad with nine points on four goals and one assist. Ryan Sterba and Adam Bruh each have eight points on two goals and four assists.
Defensively, senior goalkeeper Peter Dzubay has started all 18 matches. He has a goals against average of 1.24, 66 saves and five shutouts.
Indiana is 9-0 all-time against the Wolverines including a 1-0 mark in the Big Ten Tournament. IU defeated Michigan, 2-0, in Ann Arbor, Mich., earlier this season on goals from freshman Lee Nguyen and junior Josh Tudela.
Scouting Wisconsin
Wisconsin enters the Big Ten Tournament on a three-game winning streak, including a pair of conference victories. On the season, the Badgers are 8-10 overall with a 2-4 Big Ten record. The Badgers ended the regular season with a 2-1 victory at Northwestern. Wisconsin also had an overtime victory over Michigan State (3-2) and a shut out win over Wisconsin-Green Bay (3-0).
Freshman Victor Diaz leads the Badgers in scoring with 16 points on seven goals and two assists. He also has two game-winners. Four other Badgers have seven points on the season, ranking second on the squad. Reid Johnson (3g, 1a), William Bagayoko (3g, 1a), Erik Ortega (2g, 3a) and Christopher Ede (2g, 3a) each have seven points on the season. Senior goalkeeper Jake Settle has started 16 matches in net this season. He has a goals against average of 1.63 with 72 saves, two shutouts and a record of 7-8.
The Hoosiers are 29-3-3 all-time against Wisconsin, including a 4-0 mark in Big Ten Tournament play. IU has won the last 12 meetings between the two schools.
Scouting Northwestern
Northwestern is 9-6-2 on the year entering the Big Ten Tournament. The Wildcats finished 1-4-1 in Big Ten play and is the seventh seed in the tournament. They will open against second-seeded Ohio State at 2:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Junior forward Brad North leads the Wildcats with 17 points on eight goals and one assist. Junior midfielder Gerardo Alvarez ranks second on the team with 11 points on three goals and five assists. John Carlstedt ranks third on the team in points with nine on three goals and three assists. Senior Kevin Ernst also had three goals for the Wildcats, while sophomore midfielder David Roth leads the team in assists with seven.
Sophomore Will Briley and freshman Misha Rosenthal have split time in net for the Wildcats. Briley has started eight matches. He has a record of 4-4-1 with a goals against average of 1.16, 31 saves and three shutouts. Rosenthal is 5-2-1, while making nine starts in goal. He has a goals against average of 1.24 with 31 saves and three shutouts.
All-time, IU is 20-1-1 against Northwestern, including a 2-0 mark in the Big Ten Tournament. Earlier this season, the Hoosiers and Wildcats tied 1-1 in Evanston.
Freshman Record
Freshman forward Lee Nguyen matched current assistant coach Todd Yeagley's freshman record for assists in a season with his 11th against then-No. 1 Akron. Nguyen helped set up the Hoosiers' game-winning goal, feeding senior midfielder Jordan Chirico down the right sideline. Chirico in turn sent a centering cross to senior Brian Plotkin, who scored from six yards out.
Nguyen's 11 assists not only leads the Hoosiers but tops the Big Ten Conference. Nguyen also ranks ninth nationally in assists per game at 0.61 per contest. The 11 assists also ranks 15th on the Hoosiers' single-season list.
Hoosiers Drawing Crowds
On four occasions during the 2005 campaign, the Hoosiers have drawn over 4,000 fans to Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. Two of those attendance figures rank among the top 10 in school history. The four games of 4,000-plus attendance is the most in a single season in school history. The previous best was three during the 1987 season.
On Nov. 3, the Hoosiers had 4,884 fans witness IU upset then-No. 1 Akron, 1-0, on an overtime goal by senior midfielder Brian Plotkin. It was Indiana's first home match against a No. 1 ranked team since Oct. 1, 1999 when Indiana defeated then-No. 1 Penn State, 4-2. The sixth-largest crowd in school history celebrated by rushing the field.
Indiana drew 4,585 fans for their nationally televised match against Penn State on Sept. 30. The Fox Soccer Channel College Soccer Game of the Week saw the eighth-largest crowd in Armstrong Stadium history enter the gates.
The Hoosiers racked up two straight home games with back-to-back attendance of over 4,000 during the 2005 adidas/IU Credit Union Classic on Sept. 2 and 4. It marked the third time in school history that the Hoosiers had back-to-back home matches of over 4,000 and it was the fourth highest two-match total in the school annals. It is also the third-largest two-day total crowd in adidas/IU Credit Union Classic history. Here are the top two-match attendance totals in school history:
Back-to-Back Game Total Attendance
1. 1987 - 10,500 - Sept. 4 vs. South Carolina (4,500) and Sept. 5 vs. SMU (6,000)
2. 1988 - 8,465 - Dec. 3 vs. Portland (3,297) and Dec. 4 vs. Howard (5,168)*
3. 1995 - 8,444 - Sept. 2 vs. N.C. State (4,307) and Sept. 3 vs. Boston University (4,137)
4. 2005 - 8,428 - Sept. 2 vs. Wake Forest (4,272) and Sept. 4 vs. SMU (4,156)
* - was the 1988 NCAA College Cup held in Bloomington
Knocking Off No. 1
The Hoosiers pulled off the upset then-No. 1 Akron, 1-0, in overtime on a golden goal from senior midfielder Brian Plotkin. It was the first time a No. 1-ranked team visited Bloomington since Oct. 1, 1999 when IU defeated then-No. 1 Penn State, 4-2.
Third Time for Plotkin
Senior midfielder Brian Plotkin garnered Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season. The third honor made him the only Big Ten player to accomplish the feat this season. The last Hoosiers to earn three Big Ten weekly honors in a single season were current Major League Soccer (MLS) players Ned Grabavoy and Jay Nolly, who both did it in 2003. Plotkin garnered his third weekly conference accolade after scoring the game-winner in the 95th minute to knock off previously unbeaten and then-No. 1 Akron, 1-0.
Plotkin also earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 5 and Oct. 17. The Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate leads the Big Ten with 25 points on eight goals and nine assists. He tops the conference in game-winning goals with four while ranking second in goals and assists.
Plotkin ranks as one of the top players ever to put on a Hoosier uniform. He is tied for 10th on the Hoosiers' career assists list with 33 career helpers. With one more assist, he will move into a tie for ninth place with Ryan Mack. Plotkin ranks eighth on IU's career shots list with 259 and 23rd in career points with 75.
The offensive player of the week honor marked the fifth time this season a Hoosier had earned the distinction. Combined with the two Big Ten Defensive Players of the Week, a Hoosier has been named the conference player of the week on seven occasions. It was the fourth time in Plotkin's career that he earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Plotkin was named to the College Soccer News National Team of the Week for the second time this season. He also garnered the honor in the opening week of the season following his performance at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic.
