The crowd of 3,472 at Bill Armstrong Stadium created a festive atmosphere as many fans came to support both the Hoosier and Mexican squads. The usual Hoosier backers were out in full force. However, the pep band and Hoosier student section were joined by enthusiastic Mexican fans cheering on the visiting Auglias.\nAbout half the fans in attendance were supporting the Mexican team with cheers, trumpets and tambourines. Parts of the near sideline and the entire far side of Armstrong Stadium was filled with Mexican flags, sombreros and replica jerseys of the Mexicans. The Mexican fans did not stop cheering from the opening kickoff to the final blow of the whistle.\nIU and the Indiana Youth Soccer Association both played host to the game, which was a fund-raiser for Latino soccer programs in Indiana. The game was promoted heavily across Indiana and surrounding states and was successful as many people showed up for the final spring game for the Hoosiers. Many families like the Castillo family of Bloomington came out to support the Mexican team.\n"We are very excited to see our national team for the first time," said father Victor Castillo. "It is a great honor that they came here to play."
Mexican skill impresses Hoosiers\nThe Hoosiers took some consolation in seeing the first blemish in their perfect spring season seeing that the Mexican roster was full of players with professional and senior national team experience.\n"Playing an opponent like this makes us much better," said IU coach Mike Freitag. "All of their players are associated with pro clubs in some way."\nThe Mexican team is currently training for the final round of qualifications for this fall's FIFA U-17 World Championship. Mexico is one of the favorites to take the championship as the team looks to build off its appearance at the world championship in 2003 where it lost in the quarterfinals to Argentina.\nHeading into Tuesday's game, the Hoosiers were looking to gain experience against higher competition than they will face this fall while defending their seventh overall and second consecutive national championship.\n"Technically they are the best team we have played since I've been here," said junior Brian Plotkin.\nThis was the first international match played in Armstrong Stadium since 1992, when the USA defeated Canada 3-1 in an Olympic qualifier. NCAA rules allow for college teams to play one international game a season, something the Hoosiers wouldn't mind continuing next season.\n"This was a great opportunity for us," Freitag said. "I would love to do this again."
Scoring woes plague Hoosiers\nAfter scoring seven goals in their previous two games, the Hoosiers struggled to put the final touches on the scoring opportunities they created throughout the game. Failing to score goals early on cost the Hoosiers the opportunity to finish their spring campaign undefeated.\nAfter scoring both Hoosier goals in the previous game against Dayton, Plotkin struggled offensively Tuesday night. He witnessed a 30-yard shot hit the crossbar and missed a penalty kick, which would have tied the game midway through the first half. In the second half, Plotkin saw two free kicks miss the target and saw an attempted chip shot deflected over the crossbar by Mexican goalie Sergio Delgado.\n"I had a lot of chances, we had a lot of chances," Plotkin said. "We just didn't connect."\nAfter giving up the second goal, the Hoosiers had their chances to answer. Redshirt freshman Kevin Noschang had a breakaway opportunity that was denied by Delgado, which all but sealed the victory for the Mexican squad.\n"We had some really good chances," Freitag said. "It's water over the falls now. We cannot do anything about it."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Chris \nEngel at ccengel@indiana.edu.
