Sparks’ Winner in Double OT Pushes IU Past No. 18 Saint Louis

Wednesday, September 30

St. Louis, Mo.

8:00 PM

Indiana University

6-3-1

Saint Louis

4-3-0

OT 3

OT 4

Indiana

St. Louis

Sparks’ Winner in Double OT Pushes IU Past No. 18 Saint Louis

9/30/2015 11:16:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

ST. LOUIS – Redshirt senior Kyle Sparks scored the match-winner in the 105^th minute to give Indiana a 3-2 victory at No. 18 Saint Louis on Wednesday night in front of 6,062 fans at Hermann Stadium.

With the team's third-straight victory, Indiana improves to 6-3-1 on the season overall, while the Billikens fall to 4-3 on the year.

Along with Sparks, Phil Fives and Grant Lillard each scored a goal for the Hoosiers in the road win. Femi Hollinger-Janzen had a pair of assists, while Billy McConnell also had a helper in the victory. In goal, Colin Webb had three saves for IU.

On the attack in the 15^th minute, Hollinger-Janzen made a great individual run in to the 18-yard box for the Hoosiers. The ball fell to Ben Maurey's foot at the center of the box, but his shot from eight yards out was blocked. The rebound came to Fives on the left, but his look at goal from seven yards sailed just high of the cross bar.

In the 22^nd minute, the Billikens were able to break through for a goal, taking a 1-0 lead. The score was the first allowed by the Hoosiers in 204:22 minutes of play dating back to September 20 against Rutgers.

The Hoosiers found the equalizer just four minutes later on a great attack. Running down the left side, Hollinger-Janzen crossed to the far post, finding a wide-open Fives. The redshirt-junior finished with his left foot on the volley, beating the Saint Louis goalie to the far post to tie the match at 1-1.

With halftime just seconds away, the Hoosiers struck with 21 seconds left, stunning the Billikens with a goal right before the break. Working on the right side, McConnell send a cross in to the box for Lillard, who's diving, glancing header found the top-left corner for the score, beating the SLU goalie and giving the Hoosiers a 2-1 lead.

Lillard's impressive score was his third of the season, while McConnell recorded his third assist of the year. Lillard's late goal gave the Hoosiers all the momentum and the lead headed to the half.

In the first 45 minutes, Indiana out-shot the Billikens, 11-3, with the Hoosiers also holding the advantage in shots on goal, 6-2.

In the second half, the Hoosiers dominated possession for the first 40 minutes, but were unable to extend their lead over the Billikens.

With just 1:22 left in the second half, Saint Louis netted the equalizer, as Anthony Brown tied the match at 2-2, sending the match in to extra time.

Indiana had the first good look at goal in the extra time, as Maurey had a look from five-yards out, but his near-post shot was saved by the Saint Louis goalie. Later in the first overtime, Fives had a look at goal from distance, but his attempt was saved off the line by a SLU field player, preserving the tie.

In the second overtime, the Hoosiers came within inches of a match-winner. Off a corner kick, Lillard's header was saved, but the rebound fell to Hollinger-Janzen, who's shot was dramatically saved off the line by a diving SLU field player.

With five minutes left, Saint Louis had a turnover near midfield, allowing Hollinger-Janzen to take off down the middle of the pitch on the attack.

Hollinger-Janzen left it off for Sparks, who fired a left-footed shot from six yards out, beating the Saint Louis keeper to the far post for the win.

Sparks' goal was his first of the season and the first game-winning goal of his Hoosier career.

For the match, Indiana out-shot the Billikens, 23-9, getting 11 shots on goal to six for Saint Louis. The Hoosiers also had the advantage in corner kicks, 9-3.

The Indiana men's soccer team will have the weekend off before returning to Armstrong Field to host IUPUI at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night.

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