Team heads to 2nd round

The men's soccer team supposedly put itself in a hole after losing three consecutive games heading into the NCAA tournament. The skid put the Hoosiers on the road to start the tournament for the first time since 1992.\nBut against San Jose State Saturday, IU (14-6) showed playing on the road won't hamper its quest for a third consecutive NCAA title. \nThe Hoosiers beat the Spartans 4-0.\nIU now makes it second trip west when it plays at Washington (14-5) Saturday in the second round in Seattle. The Huskies will show IU a style of play it hasn't seen often this season.\nThey play with four defenders, three midfielders and three forwards and don't have designated wide midfielders. Instead, the marking backs attack on the outside, as do the forwards. IU coach Jerry Yeagley said the style is similar to that of Virginia, which IU defeated 2-1 earlier this season.\nThe Hoosiers had no trouble defending the Huskies' style last season, when IU defeated Washington 2-0 in the tournament. Senior forward Matt Fundenberger said the Hoosiers hope to win this time by doing what they did against San Jose State.\n"I think (Washington) can keep possession well at times, and they can play textbook soccer at times," he said. "As far as what we need to do against them, I think it's the same things we did against San Jose -- putting them under pressure, forcing them to make mistakes, and then finding a way to finish our chances.\n"I think if we do those few things, we'll be all right."\nThe Hoosiers will also benefit from a healthy lineup.\nAfter ending the regular season with several starters injured, IU will play Washington in good health. Perhaps the most important returner to the lineup is senior goalkeeper T.J. Hannig.\nHannig sat out six weeks after injuring his knee in practice in late September. He returned to the lineup against Cal-Berkeley to end the regular season, but coach Jerry Yeagley said Hannig wasn't in top form in the match. Against San Jose State, the old Hannig returned.\n"T.J. looked like he was in top form," Yeagley said. "He was moving with speed and confidence. He caught everything cleanly in the air and came out on two exits extremely strong.\n"If T.J. can play the way that he's capable, his tournament experience and confidence is a big edge for us. The confidence that he gave the rest of the team through his performance was significant in that match."\nAside from individual players returning to the lineup, the Hoosiers rediscovered their scoring touch against the Spartans as well.\nAfter scoring one goal in its final three games, IU had its largest tournament opener victory since 1993. Fundenberger and Hannig said the large margin of victory gave the Hoosiers more confidence.\n"I feel real confident with the way we're playing," Hannig said. "Everything sort of came together in the San Jose State game. In the three games prior that we lost, we'd been playing well and getting chances, but we'd just been a bit unlucky.\n"But everything sort of came together (against San Jose State), and this is the time of year where everything needs to come together for us"