Hoosiers shut out Bulldogs

INDIANAPOLIS --Throughout Indiana's storied 30-year soccer history, the Hoosiers have put up some impressive records, including a 46-game unbeaten streak in 1983 and 1984 and a reigning streak of five consecutive College Cup appearances. Thursday night's 2-0 victory over Butler gave this year's Hoosier squad a tie of a school record with the 1981 team.\nWith the victory over the Bulldogs, No. 4 ranked IU (7-1-2) concluded a five-game road trip with a 5-0 record, something only the 1981 Hoosier squad had previously achieved. The win over Butler (3-7-1) gave IU an all-time advantage of 13-1, including nine consecutive victories.\nHoosier coach Jerry Yeagley credited his squad with proving itself with its performance on the five game road trip, but is anticipating the Hoosier's return home on Sunday against Michigan.\n"In the first half of the season we like to get tested," Yeagley said. "We like to go on the road and find out what we have and what we need to correct. I think we found out a lot of answers and gained a lot of confidence and it sure will be nice to get back home, I am sure our crowd has been wondering where we are and will be glad to get us back there."\nThe Hoosiers started the road trip with a 2-1-2 record, but in their last game away from home prior to this road spree they were beaten 3-0 at St. John's. Now the Hoosiers are ten games into their 18 game regular season schedule and Yeagley said the team is playing its best ball.\n"If someone had told me at this point that we would have had just one loss (I would have taken it)," he said. "We are playing our best soccer right now."\nSophomore midfielder Ned Grabavoy netted the first Hoosier goal of the night as he received the ball and knifed his way through a multitude of defenders and beat Butler junior goalkeeper Grant Barrie. The second Hoosier goal came courtesy of senior forward Pat Noonan with assists from freshman midfielder Brian Plotkin and senior midfielder Ryan Mack.\nGrabavoy's goal extended his scoring streak to five games as he has come alive in the Hoosier offense during the road stint. All of Grabavoy's ten season points have come since the road trip began on Sept. 13.\n"The first five games I sat back, but lately I realized that even though I am a sophomore and we have guys like Ryan Mack and Pat Noonan, that I need to take more control of the game," Grabavoy said.\nGrabavoy is not the only Hoosier who has stepped up his play on the road trip, as sophomore keeper Jay Nolly has collected four shutouts and allowed just one goal in the five games.\nDespite his success on the road, Nolly is looking forward to returning to the friendly confines of Bill Armstrong Stadium, where the Hoosiers will play their next three games. \nNolly said the back of IU's defense has solidified throughout the road trip and he is ready to return home.\n"In the back we are so strong right now," Nolly said. "Everybody is working for each other and as our midfielders and forwards get more shots on goal, each game we are going to score more goals. We are ready to play at Bill Armstrong, it is such a great field and our fans are so great that we are ready to show our home crowd how good we are"