Thompson Leads No. 13 Hoosiers Over UC Irvine

Sunday, August 28

South Bend, Ind.

11:30 AM

Indiana University

2-0-0

UC Irvine

0-2-0

UC Irvine

Indiana

8/28/2016 4:48:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The No. 13-ranked Indiana University Hoosiers men's soccer team defeated the UC Irvine Anteaters, 3-1, in the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament on Sunday in South Bend, Ind.

With the victory, the Hoosiers start a season 2-0-0 for the first time since 2012. UC Irvine falls to 0-2-0 on the year. Tanner Thompson, Grant Lillard and Richard Ballard were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Thompson had a fantastic match for Indiana, scoring the game-winning goal and tallying an assist. Lillard and Ballard both netted their first goals of the season in the victory. GK Colin Webb made three saves for IU.

"I thought it was a game that had different flows," Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley remarked. "Our passing wasn't as sharp as we'd like it to be, but we stayed composed, didn't get rattled and we had big plays from our big players. It's great to be 2-0 to start the year and we'll build on this heading in to next weekend."

In the 22^nd minute, the Hoosiers earned a free kick from just outside the top left corner of the 18-yard box after a yellow card was issued to UC Irvine. Thompson played a right-footed, curling cross to the back post, finding Lillard who headed it past the UCI keeper to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead.

At halftime, the Hoosier maintained a 1-0 lead over the Anteaters. UC Irvine out-shot IU, 5-3, but Indiana held a 2-1 advantage in shots on goal. Corner kicks were even at 1-1 in a first 45 minutes where the Hoosiers maintained the majority of possession.

UC Irvine tied the match up in the 64^th minute, as the Anteaters' Jose Ortiz hit a left-footed curler from 20 yards out that found the back of the net, knotting the game up at 1-1.

Thompson answered back for the Hoosiers in the 76^th minute on a great, individual effort. Making a run down the left side of the pitch, Thompson beat defender after defender to find space from 15 yards, cracking a right-footed shot from the center of the box, beating the Irvine keeper to the right post. Thompson's second goal of the season gave IU a 2-1 advantage.

With just eight seconds remaining, Ballard iced the game for the Hoosiers, scoring a goal to put IU ahead, 3-1. Working on the left side of the goal, Ballard beat his defender to free himself, netting it from five yards out.

For the match, Indiana out-shot the Anteaters, 15-8, getting six shot on goal to four for Irvine. IU also held the advantage in corner kicks, 4-2.

The No. 13-ranked Hoosiers will return to Bloomington to host the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic this weekend at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The action gets underway on Friday, Sept. 2 when IU hosts California at 8:30 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic which will feature the No. 13 Hoosiers, the No. 1 Stanford Cardinal, the No. 9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the California Golden Bears, go to IUHoosiers.com.

For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.