Indiana University
Penn State
Hoosiers Fall in Overtime
9/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 30, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The two-time defending national champion Indiana men's soccer team fell victim to a birthday present, falling 2-1 in overtime to Penn State. Nittany Lion freshman forward Jason Yeisley scored both PSU goals, including the golden goal winner on his 19th birthday. The Hoosiers outshot the Lions by a count of 17-11 on the evening, including a 12-0 advantage on corner kicks, but could not pick up the victory. Indiana dropped to 4-1-3, while Penn State improved to 3-5-2.
"Give Penn State a lot of credit, they fought hard," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "Penn State is a much better team than their 3-5 record indicates. They are a talented team that has been a little bit unlucky this year. We played well 90 percent of the time, but we had a couple of instances where we let our guard down. You can't give up goals and expect to win games. We have to finish, you have to score to win."
IU senior midfielder Brian Plotkin had a chance to lift the Hoosiers to the victory in the waning minutes of the second half. Redshirt freshman Kevin Noschang was taken down in the Penn State box, giving the Hoosiers' a penalty kick. Junior forward Jacob Peterson led Noschang into the box. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native beat PSU goalkeeper Conrad Taylor to the ball, but the Nittany Lion keeper took down Noschang. Plotkin took the attempt, but Taylor atoned for his mistake pushing the PK off the post and then a Nittany Lion defender cleared the ball out of danger.
Yeisley scored the game-winner, nearly six minutes into the first overtime period. After receiving a pass down the right flank, the Allentown, Pa., native cut back and beat a defender before scoring into the lower left corner of the net. It was his fourth goal of the season.
The Hoosiers got on the board first in the 13th minute. Junior Josh Tudela made a nice run down the left flank and into the box. He sent a dangerous, low-lining cross to the six-yard box that deflected off two different Penn State defenders and into the net.
Three minutes later, Penn State equalized on Yeisley's first goal of the contest. The play began when Nittany Lion forward Simon Omekanda made a nice run up the right side, creating a 2-on-1 advantage. After drawing the Hoosier defender, he passed the ball to a wide open Yeisley, who scored into the left side from 12 yards out.
The Hoosiers nearly struck back in the 19th minute. Senior forward Mike Ambersley hit a shot from 25 yards out that caught Taylor off guard, but the PSU goalkeeper blocked it down and it was cleared.
Ambersley created another Hoosier chance six minutes later. The Ballwin, Mo., native received a long pass down the right side, cut back toward the middle of the field and sent a floating pass to Peterson, who sent a diving header wide of the right post.
The Hoosiers barrage continued in the 28th minute as Plotkin drew a free kick in the middle of pitch, 30 yards from the PSU net. Freshman forward Lee Nguyen took the attempt and sent a shot to the left post that was stopped by Taylor.
The opening minutes of the second half belonged to Penn State as the Nittany Lions took four shots in the opening three minutes of the second stanza. Less than a minute into the half, PSU midfielder David Walters sent a dangerous attempt toward the Hoosier net. His low liner was deflected, but Hoosier sophomore goalkeeper Chris Munroe was able to corral the shot diving to his right.
In the 48th minute, a foul at the top of the circle gave PSU a dangerous attempt. Walter took the free kick that was blocked by the wall and back out to Nittany Lion midfielder Brian Devlin, who had a similar result that was blocked out and cleared by the Hoosier defense.
In the 62nd minute, after Plotkin earned a free kick on the left flank, the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate played a short ball to Nguyen. The freshman forward cut it toward the center of the 18 and unleashed a shot that went just wide of the far post.
Eight minutes later, Peterson and Noschang played give and go on the left side. Peterson led his running mate into the box, but his rising shot went inches wide of the near post.
The Hoosiers will return to action on Sunday, Oct. 2, against instate foe IUPUI on Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. The game will be part of a men's and women's soccer doubleheader with kickoff of the women's game starting at noon and the men at 2:30 p.m.
