Men's soccer loses another in OT

Last night, the IU men’s soccer team succumbed to an all-too-familiar folly.

The team lost its fourth overtime game of the season, losing to No. 23 Butler 3-2 in double overtime. When walking to the bus, the players hung their heads.

Sophomore forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen’s and freshman forward Tommy Thompson’s goals in the second half were not enough to secure the win.

IU let two goals in during the last four minutes of regulation. The nail in the coffin came from David Goldsmith with about six minutes left in double overtime.

“We’re upset,” junior defender Patrick Doody said. “In the second half, I think everyone watching understood the better of the play there. Two big goals — it is just heart breaking. It really stinks, but there’s a lot of play left.”

The game started with an uneventful first half, the game tied 0-0 at halftime. Butler effectively denied the Hoosiers’ possession for most of the first half.

The Bulldogs’ physical defense kept the Hoosiers away from goalkeeper Jon Dawson by limiting them to four shots.

Although Bulter had only four shots of its own, the Bulldogs had better looks.
One of the most dangerous plays of the first half came from a drilled ball off the foot of Butler midfielder Vincent Mitchell. His shot flew over Indiana goalkeeper Michael
Soderlund, but the ball ricocheted off the cross bar back into play.  

The Hoosiers were able to maintain the Bulldogs and created some offensive production and momentum in the closing minutes.

“We ended the first half well,” Doody said. “They came out very, very quick. They put the pressure on. We played 43 great minutes in the second half. We completely dominated them, I felt.”

In the second half, the Hoosiers came out on the offensive.

The Hoosiers didn’t have long to wait until they were rewarded for their efforts.
Hollinger-Janzen blew one by Dawson on a pass from Thompson, netting his third goal of the season.

Then, in the 62nd minute, Thompson followed up with a goal of his own to notch his third of the season. The goal came in style on an unassisted drive and shot that rolled between Dawson’s legs.

“It’s good to be scoring again,” Thompson said. “I got my favorite shoes back on. It wasn’t wet out there, so I was able to wear Copas. It helps out with the touch, but I just came to the game focused.”

IU looked like it was going to secure the shutout until Jordan Burt found himself with the ball in front of the net with just more than three minutes left and drove it home.

Butler continued to fight with shots coming from several Butler players, trying to send the game into overtime.

The Bulldogs succeeded when a header from Goldsmith scored on a cross from the right flank with about two minutes left. Butler closed regulation with an unrivaled tenacity that took Indiana off-guard and bought themselves 10 more minutes of play.

Both teams found themselves locked in a sudden death battle that was evenly matched with both teams trading possessions, but neither got a great look at the goal, which sent the game into double overtime.

Butler dealt Indiana their fourth overtime loss of the season on a cross from Jeff Adkins that yet again landed on the head of Goldsmith four minutes into double overtime to end the game.

“I’m at a loss for words,” Thompson said. “Fourth overtime loss of the season. It really takes a toll on you. I can’t keep my head down for too long. We’ll be ready to go against Ohio State this Sunday.”

Follow reporter Alyssa Extin on Twitter @alyssa_extin.