Endeley’s Golden Goal in Double Overtime Leads No. 2 Indiana Over Pittsburgh

Friday, August 30

Bloomington, Ind.

8:00 PM

Indiana University

1-0-0

Pittsburgh

0-1-0

Pittsburgh

Indiana

Endeley’s Golden Goal in Double Overtime Leads No. 2 Indiana Over Pittsburgh

8/31/2019 12:08:00 AM | Men's Soccer

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By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – You didn't think it would be easy, did you?

Yes, Indiana's soccer powerhouse opened its season with a No. 2 national ranking and Big Ten favorite status, but that was based on reputation rather than fact.

Reality hit in all its take-no-mercy fury Friday night at Jerry Yeagley Field, and the 3-2 overtime victory over Pitt left two things perfectly clear:

The Hoosiers have a lot of work to do.

If they put in the work, look out.

"It was a really good growth game," coach Todd Yeagley said. "We learned a lot about a lot of things. We got a good win against a really good team. That will help us down the line."

On a post-card perfect night, 100 minutes weren't enough, but 102 were to rally from a 2-0 first-half deficit.

For this the Hoosiers can thank Herbert Endeley, a freshman forward with a world of potential, who scored the gamewinner off a pass from junior A.J. Palazzolo.

"It was amazing," Endeley said. "There are not many better opportunities to score your first goal for IU than a golden-goal winner. It's one of the best moments of my life."

That moment came via a strategy move by Yeagley to take advantage of Pitt's growing fatigue.

"As the game went on," Yeagley said, "I thought their back line was very tired. We put Herb there. A.J. is a good passer in key moments. We thought that was the combo. It proved to be a good scenario."

Added Endeley: "A.J. played an amazing pass. I made sure to thank him after the game."

As for Endeley's goal, Yeagley added, "I'm happy for Herb. He's a great young kid. His heart rate doesn't get over 65 (beats per minute) much. Hopefully it got to 85 when he got the goal. For a freshman to finish like that was excellent. I'm happy for him, and I'm happy with how we responded in the second half."

Endeley reflects a continuation of strong recruiting that continues to keep IU in the upper echelon of the sport.

"I'm really excited to play my first game here. I know what I'm capable of.

"Coach Yeagley is an amazing coach. I know he's really well respected. The fact he believes in me gives me extra confidence to make an impact."

IU came in 24-0-2 in its last 26 matches at Jerry Yeagley Stadium (its last home loss came in the 2016 NCAA tourney against Virginia Tech), but a lethargic first half put that streak in major jeopardy.

It was a situation that demanded tough coaching, patient coaching, the kind of coaching that keeps the big picture forever in mind.

"We had a good heart to heart," Yeagley said about halftime. "We talked about fight."

Or, as Endeley put it, "It was not what Coach said as much as what we as a group said. We picked our heads up and fought for each other."

Yeagley had spent most of August preaching caution. Just under three practice weeks and a 2-1 exhibition record wasn't enough to build the consistent excellence the Hoosiers are known for when, after consecutive Final Four runs, major reload mode hits.

Friday's first half quickly put that reload to the test.

"We looked young," Yeagley said. "We looked a bit unsure. Some of the older guys didn't have some of their better halves. It was not even close to our 'A' game. We had to get into them. We have to have our veteran players play at a higher level from the get go. We have to carry some of these young guys."

Goalkeeper Sean Caufield saw more shots on this night (18) than some recent Hoosier keepers have seen in a season. He made three saves, sacrificing his body at times to give IU a chance.

Pitt's onslaught reflected Hoosier passiveness as much as its own intensity, Yeagley said.

"It was our anticipation. Guys didn't want the ball. They were afraid to make mistakes. When you play that way you're always reacting. It makes you timid. In the second half we flipped the switch."

Credit freshman Joshua Penn, who scored off junior Ian Black's assist early in the second half. A few minutes later, Black got the tying goal.

"That first goal changed the game," Yeagley said. "It was like, Boom!"

Pitt, a team picked to finish sixth in the rugged ACC, punished the Hoosiers throughout the first half. Forward Edward Kizza, a 15-goal scorer last season, had two first-half goals. By halftime, the Panthers had a 2-0 lead and a 9-3 shot advantage.

IU roared back. Coaching adjustment, player pride and competitive tenacity turned a potential route into a nail biter. The Hoosiers attacked in waves. They got physical, gave as good as they got, better actually, and eliminated one-on-one mismatches.

"We were really moving pieces around," Yeagley said.

The Hoosiers kept up the pressure. Pitt withstood it, then delivered some of its own. The Hoosiers handled that, and then, finally, unleashed a final attack.

Pitt buckled, and then broke.

"It's important," Endeley said about the comeback. "We have a lot of freshmen. This boosts our confidence."

Endeley is part of a 14-player recruiting class that ranks second nationally by Top Drawer Soccer So is Penn, rated as the nation's No. 12 recruit.

There also are a pair of standout transfers in Simon Waever (a preseason All-Big Ten choice) and Joris Ahlinvi. Don't forget about sophomore Jack Maher, who had an assist. He and Penn are preseason All-Americans. Maher, the Big Ten freshman of the year last season, has made the MAC Hermann Trophy Watch list, an award that goes to the nation's top player.

Veteran Spencer Glass also made the Big Ten's preseason list.

Add it all up and you have -- as usual for a program with eight national championships -- plenty of reason for optimism.

"We showed what this program is all about," Endeley said. "It's about winning and fighting for each other."

#GoIU