Penn State returns favor for regular season loss

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Every time IU travels to Happy Valley to take on Penn State, it is guaranteed to be a grudge match that goes down to the wire.\nAlthough Penn State needed penalty kicks to get revenge for a 1-0 double overtime loss during the regular season, the Nittany Lions arguably won Friday's 2-1 game in the second half. \nNot only were they inches from scoring the game-winning goal with about 30 seconds left in the game when a foot foul on the throw-in negated the goal, but Penn State (13-7-0) entered the second half with a renewed vigor that IU (14-2-3) could not combat.\nIU has struggled with second-half complacency this season, especially against rivals who want to upset the Hoosiers.\nStatistically, heart and will to win cannot be measured with numbers, but offensive and defensive production is not as difficult to ascertain. The Hoosiers have scored 22 first half goals compared to only 13 in the second half. Opponents have also put up better second half numbers as IU has allowed 37 more second half shots (91-54). \nTeams who should have no business giving the Hoosiers fits, like IUPUI (3-14-2), have pushed IU to the limit this year. Prior to IU's loss to Penn State, IUPUI came to Bloomington and almost salvaged a tie. IU took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but IUPUI tied it in the second but would finally fall to the Hoosiers in double overtime.\nIU has been able to squelch the comebacks from less than stellar teams, but they couldn't coast along against a talented team like Penn State.\n"It has happened a few times that we've taken our foot off the pedal at the start of the second half," coach Jerry Yeagley said. "I think it's more that the other teams really come out fired up. There will be ebbs and flows in every game, especially when you play a team like Penn State." \nThe Nittany Lions immediately took control in the second half on both sides of the ball. Penn State outshot the Hoosiers 9-6 in the second half after IU had an 8-2 advantage in the first.\nPenn State still could not beat the Hoosier defense despite many close calls. Once the Nittany Lions added a third forward at the front, IU's defense could not contain the constant onslaught, and Penn State's All-Big Ten forward, Chad Severs, knotted the game at one goal with 15 minutes left in regulation.\n"In the first half we were not playing a game like we like to play," Severs said. "We changed things around when coach talked to us at halftime, and we came out with a whole different attitude in the second half."\nIU dominated the overtimes though, outshooting the Nittany Lions, 7-0. But Penn State's goalkeeper, Ryan Sickman stopped everything that came his way. \nEvery save increased Penn State's momentum and confidence, and by the end of the second extra session, IU would fall in penalty kicks. It was Penn State's game to win, and everyone in the stands could smell an upset brewing.\nIU can only hope this loss does not hurt its seed for the NCAA tournament. A tournament championship would have all but guaranteed home field advantage until the College Cup.\n"We just have to see what seed we get," senior Pat Noonan said. "Whether we have home field for a couple games or we don't, we all have confidence about going on the road. Wherever our game is going to be, we'll be ready to play. We're a tournament team, and we'll find a way to win"