Tie barely avoids first Big Ten loss in 8 years

The threat of losing their first Big Ten regular season game in over eight seasons loomed large over the Hoosiers Sunday against Michigan State until freshman forward Jacob Peterson netted his first goal of the season tying the score at 1-1 with just over seven minutes remaining.\nThe Big Ten opener for both teams would end in a draw halting IU men's soccer Big Ten regular season winning streak at 36 games, a streak that began on Oct. 18, 1996, against Wisconsin.\nThe Hoosiers, (2-3-3) fell behind 1-0 with just over 19 minutes left in the first half when freshman Jed Zayner misplayed a ball leading to a John Minagawa-Webster breakaway goal.\n"I wasn't focused," Zayner said. "I'm not really making an excuse even though it took a bad bounce, but I just have to be more focused every second of the game."\nBut as one freshman mistake led to the go-ahead goal, another freshman, Peterson, was able pick up his team, tying the game and saving the Hoosiers from their first Big Ten regular season defeat since 1995. \n"I don't really recall how the ball got out there, but I was one-on-one with the defender who kind of dove in to block the shot," Peterson said. "I was trying to shoot it low but it went high." \nThe final seven minutes of the second half included little scoring chances on both ends sending the game into overtime where with just over seven minutes left, junior Ned Grabavoy passed up a shot on a two-on-one break only to have his pass deflected by a Spartan defender. \nThe second overtime saw the Hoosiers once again with a two-on-one chance but this time Peterson was unable to control a pass pushing it right at the Michigan State goalkeeper Mike Robinson for an easy save. \nThe Hoosiers outshot MSU 12-8, but with an unforced goal and several scoring chances, the Hoosiers felt fortunate to leave the field with a tie.\n"I was proud of the boys and the way we fought," Coach Jerry Yeagley said. "It's not the way we wanted to start the Big Ten, but I think the guys came back and played with heart." \nOver 2,000 rowdy fans showed up for the Big Ten opener against the Spartans, a team IU owned a dominating 30-0-0 record against. Sunday's tie was the first time in IU's history that it had not beaten Michigan State.\n"Michigan State is a senior team, with six senior starters and three junior starters," Yeagley said. "They are big and strong and I thought they were more physical then we were. We should have capitalized. Our guys sort of took their foot off the petal and thought this would be one we wouldn't have to worry about."\nPeterson's goal late in the second half ended a scoreless streak of over 190 minutes that began after IU scored three goals last weekend against Fresno State.\n"It was an exciting college game." Yeagley said. "Michigan State is a good team, but a team you can't miss the opportunity against that we did and expect to beat them."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.