Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers, Denver Play to 0-0 Tie in Preseason Match
8/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 29, 2010
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In its final tune-up before the start of the 2010 season, the Indiana men's soccer team and the Denver Pioneers played to a 0-0 tie in an exhibition match Sunday afternoon at the ShinDigZ National Soccer Festival in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The 2010 season gets underway this Friday when the Hoosiers play host to California and UCLA at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic on Jerry Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. Indiana opens play on Friday, Sept. 3 against the California Golden Bears at 7:30 p.m. ET. The tournament concludes on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. ET against the UCLA Bruins. The Hoosiers are aiming to "Fill the Bill" and break the single-game attendance record, and the match will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.
The Hoosiers finished with an 11-8 advantage in the shot tally, led by junior Will Bruin with three. Sophomore goalkeeper Luis Soffner tallied the clean sheet with a pair of saves in 90 minutes of action.
Indiana went with the same starting lineup as used in Friday night's win over Duke with one exception as Soffner took over for junior Nate Mitchell in goal.
The first shot attempt of the match came at 12:10 when Will Bruin was fouled five yards outside the top of the box. Andy Adlard took the free kick but his shot deflected off a defender and rolled harmlessly to Denver goalkeeper Teale Stone.
A run from Nikita Kotlov nearly proved costly for the Pioneers in the 22nd minute when Bruin executed a perfect cross to the freshman. Kotlov nearly broke free of his man but just missed getting a toe on the ball and getting off an open shot. He eventually did corral the ball but could not get enough power behind his shot, giving Stone the easy save.
Freshman Blake Wise entered the game and unleashed one of his long throw-ins into the box with Jacob Bushue heading the ball wide in the 29th minute. Wise also had a cross with under three minute to play that Joe Tolen headed high.
With just 12 ticks left on the clock in the first half, Bruin wrestled free of his defender and powered a shot that was blocked by a defender and sent out of harms way.
Indiana led the shot tally 6-2 at the half and had one corner kick to the Pioneers' two. Kotlov led the way with two shots.
The second half did not produce much action, with Bruin taking a shot off a counter attack that just trickled wide left of the goal with 12:28 remaining. Less than three minutes later, Indiana's most dangerous shot of the match came from Bruin when he sent the ball off the left post.
The Hoosiers looked to be threatening once again when Alec Purdie came up the left side and played a ball to Kevin Bick who was making a run up the middle, but Bick's attempt was scooped up by Denver goalkeeper Mate Aquirre for the save.
Players Mentioned
