Hoosiers allow 1 goal in exhibition vs. pro team

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Despite its relative lack of experience, the IU soccer team still made a strong showing against MLS’s Columbus Crew, who IU played in an exhibition match on Saturday.\n“It was a great learning experience for our guys today,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “I think we handled ourselves pretty well. We did all right.”\nDue to rain the night before and early Saturday morning, the turf at Capital University’s soccer field was more like a Slip ‘n Slide than a soccer pitch.\nAfter a last-minute venue change, the Hoosiers took the field at Capital instead of the Crew’s training facility, where the game was originally scheduled. \nThe challenges for the Hoosiers were evident immediately. \nThe Crew got its first shot attempt within minutes of the beginning of the game, but Hoosier goalkeeper sophomore Chay Cain made the save.\nEarly in the game, sophomore Billy Weaver tried to push off defender Marcos Gonzalez when driving toward the goal. Weaver was the first, but certainly not the last Hoosier penalized. \nIU’s Neil Wilmarth received a yellow card during the second half after he tripped up midfielder Eddie Gaven in a scramble toward the goal. \nAt halftime, Cain switched out with junior Chris Munroe in goal. \nNot long after Wilmarth received the yellow card, Crew forward Brad Evans took a shot which got around Monroe and hit the inside of the post before bouncing out to make the score 1-0.\nThe style of play between the two teams was obviously different, with the Crew making longer and more deliberate plays than IU. \nThey made the Hoosier squad run for the ball, but IU soon picked up on this style of play themselves. Freshman midfielder Dan Kelly was given an open look for a goal after much movement by the team, but his shot was wide. The Crew took the ball downfield, where forward Andy Herron took the last shot of the game and missed.\nAlthough the Hoosiers lost the game, IU coach Mike Freitag still considered it a success.\nFreitag said he has noticed improvement in the team’s cohesiveness since its scrimmage in the beginning of March and thinks the team will continue to grow together with the lessons they learned on Saturday.\n“It is a game that made us better,” Freitag said. “Guys had to be more focused and communication had to be better.”\nFreitag was not the only Hoosier member to notice the improvement in communication on the field. Cain observed a difference during Saturday’s game as well.\n“Communication was very good, which is one thing we’ve been working on,” he said. “Also, defensively, especially in the first half, we looked real good.”\nThis was Kelly’s first game in the cream-and-crimson uniform and he has already seen the team’s progress since the beginning of the semester.\n“I thought we did really well,” Kelly said. “Actually, I think we communicated well because during our first game when we played each other in the inter-squad, we were sort of negative and this time we were positive and helping each other out.”