Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Douse Flames, 2-1
8/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 27, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - On a night that began with a deluge making Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium unplayable, the two-time defending national champion Indiana men's soccer team earned a preseason victory over the University of Illinois-Chicago on the turf at Memorial Stadium, 2-1. Seniors Brian Plotkin and Mike Ambersley set each other up on both Hoosier markers in the victory.
The night marked the return of Hoosier alumni as former assistants and players John Trask (head coach), Sean Phillips (assistant coach) and Phil Presser (assistant coach) returned to Bloomington. Trask was named UIC head coach prior to the 2005 spring season. He was a player for the Hoosiers from 1984-87 and was an assistant coach from 1991-99. Phillips played at Indiana from 1991-93 and was the program's volunteer assistant from 2000-02 and 2004. Presser was an All-Big Ten selection during his Hoosier career that spanned from 1999-02.
"It was nice to get the result we wanted," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "We definitely missed some chances and should have had a few more goals, but the boys performed well. We have been pretty hard on them in training and their batteries are down. It was also good to welcome back some of our alumni who are now coaching at UIC. The team we played was very well coached, and we knew that with John, Sean and Phil on the opposing sideline."
Plotkin opened the scoring with his first marker of the exhibition season, scoring in the 25th minute after a slot pass from Ambersley, who was subbed in two minutes prior. Plotkin gathered the pass in space from 30 yards out and fired a shot past UIC goalkeeper Jeff Engelbrecht into the left side of the net.
The Hoosiers dominated play in the opening half. Indiana outshot the Flames, 9-0, in the first stanza and led 1-0.
The same combination of Plotkin and Ambersley got together for the eventual game-winning goal in the 51st minute, putting IU up 2-0. Plotkin returned the favor with a slot pass to Ambersley after making a 25-yard run down the left side of the field. The Ballwin, Mo., native beat the defender to the ball and chipped a shot over the outstretched arms of Engelbrecht.
UIC sophomore midfielder Pavle Dundjer scored in the 79th minute to bring the Flames back into the match. Dundjer took a free kick from near the left sideline and skipped the ball past the diving freshman goalkeeper Chay Cain.
Junior forward Jacob Peterson dished out opportunities to redshirt freshman Kevin Noschang and junior Kevin Robson in the 23rd and 58th minutes, but the forwards were unable to add to the Hoosier tally.
Sophomore goalkeeper Chris Munroe made the start between the pipes for the Hoosiers, but was not called upon to make a save in his only half of action. Cain played the entire second half for the Hoosiers, making a pair of saves.
Indiana begins its title defense against a loaded field at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The Hoosiers will welcome No. 7 SMU, No. 10 Wake Forest and No. 16 Notre Dame to Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium for the 23rd edition of the annual event. IU will take on Wake Forest on Sept. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Notre Dame and SMU will open the Classic at 5 p.m. On Sept. 4, Wake Forest will take on Notre Dame at noon before the Hoosiers face SMU at 2 p.m.
