No. 7-seed IU fails to advance in NCAA Tournament

It didn't rain Saturday night when Santa Clara University eliminated IU from the NCAA Tournament, but the sod on Jerry Yeagley Field was soggy nonetheless. After Bronco forward Jeff Cosgriff sent his game-winning penalty kick into the net, tears streamed down the faces of several Hoosiers and hit the yellow-tinged grass. \nThere will be no quarterfinals for the IU men's soccer team this year. No trip to St. Louis for the College Cup. No eighth national championship. \nInstead, for the second straight year, the Hoosiers ended their season with a home loss early in the NCAA Tournament. "It's tough, especially after two years having success," said senior defender Julian Dieterle, who played on IU's 2003 and 2004 national championship teams. "(I was) a little spoiled." \nThe team had hoped to sweep the Big Ten regular season and tournament championships and hang another national championship banner on the east end of Bill Armstrong Stadium. \n"It's a disappointment," Dieterle said of the loss in a 5-4 shootout. "We worked very hard all year. I think this team has been one of the tightest-knit groups I've been around. I think the finality of it all hasn't really set in yet.\n"We never expect to lose a game. That's the difference here. We always expect to go on and play next weekend."\nThe Hoosiers started the year with a 3-3-1 start. After those first seven games, the Hoosiers went 12-1-2 to finish the season.\n"(It was a team) that I enjoyed working with -- a team I think came a long way," coach Mike Freitag said. "I just commend my players for the class they play with, the heart they play with and the skill they play with."\nThe Broncos advancement in the NCAA Tournament helped vindicate a 2003 loss to the Hoosiers in the College Cup, Bronco coach Cameron Rast said. \n"Especially when you come to Indiana and play such a storied program, we're obviously very pleased to advance in the NCAA (Tournament)," Rast said. "I think you know what you're going to get when you play IU. You're going to get a great soccer match. You're going to get some quality play. And the team that can execute on their opportunities is the one that's going to walk out as the winner on the day."\nAs Santa Clara players and fans cheered after the game, many Hoosiers wondered what life would be like without soccer practice and games. \n"I don't know what to do tomorrow," Freitag said. \nFor Dieterle, it will be only the second time since he left for college that he can return home for Thanksgiving.\n"Home is not a bad place, right?" he said.