Hoosiers finding their scoring touch

SOUTH BEND -- Prior to the start of the 2004 season, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America named IU senior midfielder Danny O'Rourke and junior back Drew Moor to their preseason watch list for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy given to the top collegiate soccer player in America.\nO'Rourke and Moor had a combined two goals entering the 2004 season, with Moor laying claim to both tallies. But four games into the season, the pair has two goals each, with Moor scoring both of his in No. 1 ranked IU's victory over the California State University, Fullerton Friday and O'Rourke scoring in the Hoosiers' shutout of Evansville Sunday afternoon.\n"To see Danny step up and hit a couple is credit to him," IU men's soccer coach Mike Freitag said. "I think we're just balanced. I think we can play a good game defensively, but also score goals like that. I knew sooner or later someone was going to get some goals scored.\n"Drew is dangerous and it's nice to have players who do that and can attack from the back."\nThe recent surge in goals from the back comes from the major transition the Hoosiers made at the beginning of the season by switching over to a more zone-oriented defense as opposed to a simple man-to-man. Changing the defense required more communication and could lead to mental lapses and the opposition scoring against IU.\n"Hopefully we'll have some solid play in the back, it hasn't been just me, but everybody," Moor said.\nThe opportunity for increased scoring is evident for Moor as he now has 10 shots on the season, including two shots on goal and one game winner.\nMoor's equalizer against Cal-State Fullerton came on a diving header inside the box during the 33rd minute of the game and then the game winner by way of a Brian Plotkin left side cross, which Moor calmly headed the ball into the back of the net in the 112th minute, securing the Hoosiers' 22 match unbeaten streak.\nThe watch list for the M.A.C.'s Hermann Trophy is not the only award with which O'Rourke has his named tied to as Soccer America named O'Rourke to their team of the week last week.\nBoth O'Rourke and Moor said they do not pay attention to the accolades, but rather try to focus on the next game, as O'Rourke said he did not know Soccer America bestowed him with their team of the week honors until someone came up and informed him of it last week.\n"I figure it's my senior year, I'll just come out here, I don't know how it's happened, I just find the ball, push the ball and score," O'Rourke said. "If we're all working hard together, it just makes everyone's job easier and I was lucky enough to score two (on the season).\n"The better the team does, the better I'll play, and whoever earns the awards it'll pan out at the end."\nIU plays at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening when in-state rival Notre Dame, ranked No. 9 in this week's College Soccer News poll, travels to Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium.\n-- Contact staff writer Steve Slivka at smslivka@indiana.edu.