Shutouts earn Hoosiers top Big Ten seed

Evanston, Ill. -- IU (9-2-0, 5-0) used two gritty defensive performances to their advantage this weekend, defeating conference foes Wisconsin 4-0 and Northwestern 3-0. \nIn their last 717:38 minutes of play, the Hoosiers have allowed only one goal, which came against Penn State Sept. 28. IU's shutout total for the season now stands at eight as they head into the homestretch of the 2001 season. \nDefensive dominance continued this weekend as the Hoosiers held the Badgers and Wildcats to a combined four shots on goal, while IU tallied 31.\nSenior back Ryan Hammer said that the defense is so effective because they are comfortable with each other on the field.\n"I think we know each other, how we play," Hammer said. "Chemistry-wise, we play well together, we make sure we're matched up well. I think we just hold each other to a high standard."\nIn Friday's game against Wisconsin, the backs added offense as well, netting three of the Hoosiers' four goals. At the 31:31 mark, junior back John Swann scored on a header off an assist from freshman Mike Ambersley. Two minutes later, another back got into the offensive action. Noonan crossed a pass to Hammer, who headed the ball in to put the Hoosiers up 2-0 at halftime. \nTen minutes into the second half Swann cushioned IU's lead with another goal. Sophomore midfielder Vijay Dias sent a corner kick into the box, which Swann headed in for a 3-0 Hoosier advantage.\n"As the season goes along, our defense just keeps getting better and better," Swann said. "We realize that we can't just sit back and wait for (Mike) Ambersley and (Pat) Noonan to score goals. Tonight we managed to put ourselves in positions to score."\nWith less than 10 minutes to go in the game, freshman defender Greg Badger sent a long pass into the box from midfield. The ball found senior midfielder Tyler Hawley who put it in the back of the net for IU's final score of the game.\nCoach Jerry Yeagley said he was happy with IU's play, but he gave Moriba Baker, Wisconsin's goalie, his due as well.\n"I thought we had some of the best ball movement of the year in this game," Yeagley said. "All four of our goals came in the air. We had more opportunities than we took advantage of and I credit (Baker) for that. He came up big."\nAfter one day of rest the Hoosiers rolled into Evanston, Ill., to take on a Northwestern squad that had yet to manage a victory. IU kept the Wildcat's unfortunate streak alive with a 3-0 win.\nFirst-year Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said that his team's goal for this season is simple.\n"We've got to win a game this year," Lenahan said. "This is my first go at this and I'm learning as each Big Ten game passes. We'll be a good program down the road. Indiana's the measuring stick and there's a large gap between where they are and where we are."\nThat gap was evident Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats came out playing aggressively, but the Hoosiers were too much for them to handle.\nA mere five minutes into the game, senior midfielder Bobby de St. Aubin tallied his first career goal off a deflected shot by Ambersley.\n"I was actually running across the box and (the ball) kind of went of my stomach and went in," de St. Aubin said. "It's not the way you imagine it or draw it up, but it went in the back of the net so you've got to be happy with it."\nFour minutes later Noonan dribbled down the right side of the field and blasted it past the out stretched arms of Northwestern keeper Adam Grossman to put the Hoosiers up 2-0. \nIU's defense kept the ball out of Hoosier territory for much of the first half, which gave the backs a chance to produce offensively. De St Aubin sent a pass deep into the box where a waiting Hammer headed in his second goal of the weekend.\nWith 2:34 to play in the first half, the game was delayed due to lightning as heavy rain passed through Northwestern's campus. The teams re-entered the field about 20 minutes later and resumed play, foregoing halftime.\nThe Hoosiers failed to score in the second half as Yeagley rested most of his starters, but their defense held off the Wildcats for the shutout. \n"We're coming out and doing our job," senior back Josh Rife said of the defense. "I though we played well not only defensively, but (Ryan) Hammer and (John) Swann both did a great job this weekend and got a couple of goals a piece."\nYeagley said he was disappointed the reserves were unable to score in the second half, but was happy that the Hoosiers struck early.\n"I was pleased that we got on the board early," Yeagley said. Northwestern) is a very well-organized team, they defend very well, so getting two goals early was big.