I had a soccer column ready for Wednesday's paper, but with the new AD hiring, my column will be focused on the future of IU Athletics. I thought I would post the column anyway about how the men's soccer team is close to "brining it all together" and reaching its full potential.
I look forward to contributing to this blog after spending the last year at the basketblog. The rest of the season should be exciting for coach Mike Freitag and the Hoosiers.
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You have to admire the grit and determination shown by the IU men's soccer team in defeating last year's national runner-up Ohio State 3-2 in overtime last Sunday, but the team needs to be concern about mental lapses that almost cost the Hoosiers the match.
IU coach Mike Freitag was not happy with his team's performance in the first half, saying the team looked like it just got off the bus in a half-time interview on the Big Ten Network.
The Hoosiers had opportunities to take the lead in the first half, but the team was unable to convert the scoring chances. This is a reoccurring problem for the Hoosiers this year and of recent Freitag teams.
The players responded right from the beginning of the second half with two quick goals in the first 10 minutes. Watching on TV, it seemed like the Hoosiers were going to pull away - especially considering that Ohio State has not scored a regular season goal against IU in three years.
Growing up playing soccer, my coaches always told me a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous one in soccer. It is a counterintuitive statement, but from my experience there is a lot of truth in the saying. It certainly was true for the Hoosiers on Sunday.
A simple mistake brought the Buckeyes right back into the contest. Less than a minute after IU took the 2-0 lead, Ohio State struck back with a goal off a corner kick.
The goal scored by the Buckeyes was impressive, but Ohio State should not have had a corner at all. Junior defender Ofori Sarkodie had possession near the Hoosier penalty box when he was pressured by an Ohio State forward. Instead of clearing it on the sideline, Sarkodie kicked the ball out over the goal line, giving the Buckeyes a corner kick.
Granted, it is not a huge mistake, but it is just one example of mistakes made by the Hoosiers. A missed clearance here, a bad touch in the penalty box there - these are the plays that separate a great time from a good team.
The 17 Hoosier squads that made the College Cup made those plays. I've said it a few times in this column and I will say it again: this team has the talent to contend for a national championship, but the team has to eliminate the mental mistakes.
With each game, the team gets a bit closer to realizing its potential. Thankfully for Hoosier fans, the players know what's missing from making the Hoosiers a great squad.
"You have to make sure you're sharp," junior midfielder Lee Hagedorn told the IDS after the game. "If we play our game and we do it for 90 minutes, I don't think anyone can beat us."
Hagerdorn and the Hoosiers showed their best at times, especially when the game was on the line. At the start of overtime, IU was aggressive with the ball, trying to make something happen, as a tie would have eliminated a chance at the Big Ten Regular season title.
The aggressive play was rewarded as Ohio State fouled the Hoosiers near the penalty box. Sophomore midfielder Andy Adlard ended the game with a beautiful free kick that gave the Hoosiers a victory.
IU still has a chance to gain a share of the Big Ten regular season crown, but they need to win both remaining games (Penn State and No. 2 Northwestern) and get some help from the teams ahead of them (Northwestern, Michigan State and Michigan).
Though the chances of winning the regular season crown are small, Freitag should be pleased with his team's effort of late.
Now if the Hoosiers can just do the little things right the potential on this team will be limitless.
