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(12/15/03 7:06am)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Figuring he had played his last game of the season for IU in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Nov. 16, IU junior forward Ned Grabavoy broke down in tears.\nAfter the dramatic win against Penn State in the title game, an emotional Grabavoy was overwhelmed, yet he said he couldn't pass up such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play for the U20 U.S. National team.\nAlong with Grabavoy, sophomore defender Drew Moor also participated in the U20 FIFA World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates.\nThe U20 National team lost to Argentina, 2-1, Friday. With the loss to Argentina, the U.S. team finished fifth in the final standings, making it possible for the two IU standouts to return for the National Championship game -- IU coach Jerry Yeagley's last match.\nGrabavoy's flight arrived Saturday night, but Moor almost didn't make it back in time.\nMoor was set back in Germany, and missed his connecting flight to Chicago. Arriving at the gate too late, he said the people at the airport wouldn't let anyone else on the flight.\n"It was probably the longest two days of my life," Moor said. "I just wanted to get here as quick as I could ... I didn't think I was going to make it." \nMoor was able to find a flight to New York and got there at about midnight Saturday. Sunday morning, he took a flight from New York to Columbus. He said it felt like he would never arrive in Ohio. Yeagley said Moor got to Columbus at noon Sunday, just two hours before the scheduled start time of the championship match. Sure enough, Moor was there, right beside Grabavoy, when the Hoosiers took the field for warm-ups.\nBoth players hadn't played a postseason game this year for the Hoosiers. However, both started and played in the National Title game against St. John's Sunday.\nGrabavoy's presence was felt early in the first half of the game against St. John's. The All-American recorded the first goal of the match in the 16th minute. It was his 11th goal of the season and first since Oct. 24 against St. Louis. Grabavoy nearly played the full match, while Moor played the full 90 minutes. Friday, after IU's win 1-0 against Santa Clara in the semifinals, it was suspected that Grabavoy and Moor would play but not start.\nAt the pre-championship match press conference Saturday, Yeagley said having Grabavoy return to the lineup would be an offensive advantage. Little did he know Grabavoy would score in the first 15 minutes of the game. \n"Having Ned available will give us an offensive boost, but sometimes the team depends on him too much," Yeagley said. "We need to insert Ned in a positive way that will benefit the team."\nGrabavoy was substituted out late in the game, while Moor played the whole contest.\nThe Red Storm scored their only goal of the match in the 79th minute. That score cut the IU lead to 2-1 late in the second half. Thirty-five seconds after St. John's goal, Yeagley decided to take Grabavoy out of the contest. Sophomore midfielder Pat Yates, who had the game-winning goal against Santa Clara in the semifinals, replaced Grabavoy at the 79:38 mark. \nYeagley said the IU coaches had given serious thought to substituting players in for both Grabavoy and Moor.\n"We took Ned out, because he just couldn't go anymore," Yeagley said. "It's tough when you get a two-goal lead early as we did. You know you're going to be under pressure because the other team really has to send people forward and take risks to get the numerical advantage, and they did. It was a matter of us holding up."\nYeagley also substituted a player in for senior defender Drew Shinabarger, who was playing his last game in an IU uniform. Yeagley said Shinabarger was totally exhausted and that's why he made that change.\nAt the same time, St. John's coach Dave Masur said he had his team prepared for a number of scenarios, including the possibility of playing against arguably IU's two best players. \n"We prepared and imagined that both Ned and Drew would be here for the game," Masur said. "I think that's been the plan for a long time. It certainly was no surprise they were here."\nGrabavoy said he will have to sit down sometime in the next couple of days to figure out if he is going to turn pro, or return to the Hoosiers for his senior campaign. Grabavoy said he considered making the jump to the professional ranks after his freshman and sophomore seasons. The junior co-captain was a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy earlier this season.\nYeagley said having Grabavoy and Moor provided the team with a morale boost as well as extra incentive to win the match. He said that story added to the dramatics of the weekend.\n"Maybe in a couple of days, I'll collect myself," said Yeagley, who closed his career with his sixth National Championship. "But I did have the strangest feeling after the game was over. It's almost surreal, and I asked the guys in the locker room after the game 'Is this a dream, or is this real?'" \n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(12/11/03 6:50am)
What an emotional week it has been for the IU men's soccer team. First, it was announced early last week that IU coach Jerry Yeagley had the most wins in Division I soccer history, due to a recently discovered records error. Then Saturday, the No. 8 seed Hoosiers traveled to UCLA and toppled the No. 1 seed and defending National Champion Bruins, 2-1. As a result, IU will play in the College Cup this weekend in Columbus, Ohio. It will meet Santa Clara (16-3-4) 7:30 p.m. Friday at Columbus Crew Stadium.\nThis marks Yeagley's last final four, a record 16th time he has led the Hoosiers (15-3-5) to the prominent event. He will be searching for the program's sixth National Championship in his 31-year career. \nYeagley, who is set to retire at the end of the season, said he takes his accomplishments in stride and credits his players. \n"There's no secret, as I've said before," Yeagley said. "Great players make good coaches. Good coaches don't make great players. Maybe I deserve some credit for the recruiting, but the players have been instrumental. They've carried me along for a real fun ride."\nWith the pressure seemingly removed from the shoulders of the IU players because Yeagley's search for the all-time wins record is over, the players have settled down to play some of their best soccer of the season when it has mattered most.\nSenior midfielder Drew Shinabarger said there's relief of pressure now that Yeagley owns the record. Shinabarger added that winning the national title would be perfect in Yeagley's final season. \n"It would be awesome," Shinabarger said. "What a great way to cap it off. He already got the record, but we're still looking past that and trying to get him the National Championship."\nYeagley, who directed the IU club soccer team for ten years before it earned varsity status in 1973, last led the Hoosiers to the national title in 1999. Yeagley has guided the program to 66 NCAA Tournament victories in his three-plus decades at the helm. \nYeagley said he's had a handful of mentors help him realize his coaching potential.\n"I've had a number of coaches I've looked up to," said Yeagley, who is one of only two coaches in history to win 500 career games. "My high school coach, Barney Hoffman was one. Then there's Doc Councilman and coach (Bobby) Knight, who were both at IU. They're leaders in their professions. I learned the most from Doc. My most influential soccer coach was Harry Keough at St. Louis University. He's always one I looked up to."\nKeough compiled 213 wins at St. Louis -- the most victories in the program's history from 1967-1982. \nMoreover, Yeagley said the assistant coaches at IU have been a big help to him, and assistant coach Mike Freitag is the perfect man to be the new head coach.\n"Along with great players, we have tremendous assistants," Yeagley said. "Mike was one of my most favorite players here at IU. He has IU in his blood. He has a passion for the game. He's prepared. He's honest and fair. Having my son (Todd Yeagley) on the staff will keep me connected. I think of Michael as my younger brother."\nFreitag, who was a former Hoosier player, was named the second head coach in IU men's soccer history Nov. 11.\nSophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin said Yeagley stresses class. Plotkin said representing IU at the College Cup is an honor. \n"We've got Adidas we're representing; we've got the University we're representing; we're representing our team, ourselves, our coaches, our parents, everybody," Plotkin said. "You want to go out there and show everybody what it's like to be at IU. Make everybody wish they could be a part of it." \nShinabarger concurs with Plotkin and said everything the team does, it tries to do with class. He added the way the team members carry themselves on the field and off the field is important. He said Yeagley has taught the team if they win, win with class, if they lose, lose with class. \nFinally, Plotkin said winning the National Championship would be a perfect way to send Yeagley off into the sunset. \n"I don't even know if there's words to really describe it," Plotkin said. "He's just been such an amazing coach, an amazing person and an amazing leader for the whole college soccer program, and here at Indiana. There's really no better way. It would probably just be the dream walk-out for him."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(12/08/03 6:32am)
The IU men's soccer team was all business as they arrived back to Bloomington Sunday afternoon after their trip to UCLA.\nThey grabbed their luggage from the baggage compartments of the bus and quickly walked to their parked cars. The players seemed to be over the euphoria of beating the defending national champions and No. 1-seed Bruins. \nThey were already focusing on their next opponent, Santa Clara, and the next step toward a national title.\n"It's one of those goals we have set for ourselves," senior midfielder Drew Shinabarger said. "We wanted to get to the College Cup, and we have done that." \nThe team arrived back to Bloomington at about 4 p.m. Sunday. The players, coaches and their wives stepped off the charter bus.\nNo player on the team was smiling except IU coach Jerry Yeagley, who cracked a big smile when he stepped off the bus and said moments later about the victory over UCLA, "It was a good one. It was a good one."\nShinabarger, a fifth-year senior, was redshirting when IU (15-3-5) won the National Championship in 1999, so he didn't play that year, but was a member of that squad. He was a sophomore when the Hoosiers advanced to the College Cup in 2001, but didn't see any action. Shinabarger will see his first Final Four action in his last season in the cream and crimson.\nIU will face Santa Clara (16-3-4) on Friday night at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Broncos defeated Michigan, 3-1 Saturday to advance to the College Cup. Kickoff for Friday's national semifinal will be at either 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Maryland defeated Saint Louis, while St. John's beat Creighton, so the other semifinal match is between Maryland and St. John's. The College Cup championship match is scheduled for Sunday. A time has not yet been set.
(12/08/03 5:42am)
Once IU surrendered an early goal to UCLA on the road Saturday, most people probably thought the Hoosiers' chances of winning weren't that good.\nAfter all, the Bruins were unbeaten in their last 19 matches, a stretch that included 18 wins and last year's national championship.\nBut the early deficit didn't intimidate the IU men's soccer team.\nThe No. 8 seeded Hoosiers upended the No. 1 seed UCLA Bruins, 2-1, Saturday night in Los Angeles, securing the Hoosiers' 16th trip to the College Cup in the college soccer final four's 31-year history.\nIU coach Jerry Yeagley was coaching in what could have been his last game, as he is set to retire at the end of the season, but the IU players gave him the chance to coach at least one more contest.\nThe Hoosiers (15-3-5) broke through and defeated the defending national champions in the 78th minute at Drake Stadium. Freshman forward Jacob Peterson fired a shot from the right side, and it hit the top right corner of the crossbar. Sophomore midfielder Pat Yates rebounded the miss and hit the ball into the goal, breaking the tie and securing the upset victory. It was his sixth goal of the season. Yates had one goal all of last season. \n"It was a great game between two great teams," Yeagley said. "The stats bear that out. It was an open game. It was a great game for the fans. It's one of those games you want to keep going."\nIU advances to play Santa Clara (16-3-4) in the Final Four in a national semifinal at either 5 p.m or 7:30 p.m. Friday in Columbus, Ohio. If the Hoosiers win against the Broncos, they will play Sunday in the National Championship game.\nIU owns a 16-game unbeaten streak, including two comeback wins in the team's three tournament victories. Yates said Peterson aided his effort at the game-winning goal.\n"Peterson played it out by hitting it off the crossbar," Yates said. "I was making a run through. It was a huge boost going up 2-1."\nAfter IU's go-ahead goal, the Bruins (20-2-1) clawed their way back, including a free kick that missed just wide right of the goal with 34 seconds remaining. But IU would thwart the scoring threats and hang on for the 2-1 victory.\nUCLA scored first in the match when freshman forward Chad Barrett fired a shot from near the 18-yard mark on the right side into the back left side of the goal in the 11th minute.\nDespite being down early on the road, the Hoosiers didn't panic and fought back. IU came back to tie the contest at half, 1-1. Freshmen midfielder John Michael Hayden evened the match at one goal apiece just four minutes after UCLA's score. Hayden chipped the ball into the box and it deflected off a defender and bounced into the back right side of the net in the 15th minute. It was the first goal of Hayden's career.\nYates said the win is why the team works so hard in the off season.\n"It's great," Yates said. "This is what you work your whole life for."\nIU tallied 11 shots to UCLA's 10 and attempted six corner kicks, while giving up five. The Hoosiers also managed one more shot on goal.\nJunior goalkeeper Jay Nolly finished the match with three saves. \nYeagley said Nolly wasn't required to do a lot, but during the dangerous situations he came up big. \nThe Hoosiers last won the national title in 1999 and last played in the College Cup in 2001 but lost in the championship match. The Hoosiers defeated UCLA in the national semifinals in 1999 in four overtimes, 3-2, and went on win the National Championship over Santa Clara.\nIU's match at UCLA was its first on the road in this year's tournament, as the Hoosiers recorded home wins over Kentucky and the No. 9 seed Virginia Commonwealth.\nPeterson said the environment at Drake Stadium wasn't all that different from Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.\n"The atmosphere was great," Peterson said. "Our band was there. We had lots of alumni in the stands. It felt like a home game."\nYeagley, who was named the winningest coach in Division I soccer history last week, said IU proved its doubters wrong.\n"A lot of people felt we'd be up against it," Yeagley said. "But we weren't. Not too many people gave us a chance out there. It was the shocker of the tournament"
(12/04/03 5:19am)
They have won nine national soccer titles and recorded 26 trips to the College Cup combined. \nIU and UCLA are both programs rich in tradition, and they will compete head-to-head again as they battle in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament this weekend in Los Angeles. The respective programs have glaring similarities, as their records of success indicate. \n"IU and UCLA are definitely the two most prestigious programs," sophomore forward Trey Meek said. "So when you look at IU, you look at our five national championships, and then UCLA has four now after winning last year. UCLA is just as prestigious and first-class as Indiana."\nThe Bruins won the national title in 2002, outlasting Stanford for the championship. UCLA has also won national titles in 1997, 1990 and 1985 and has reached the tournament for 21 consecutive years. The Hoosiers (14-3-5) last won the championship in 1999. \n"UCLA is year in and year out a top program," IU coach Jerry Yeagley said. "They're right up there. We're side by side with them in the record book on many things. They have a chance to go back-to-back." \nWhile UCLA (20-1-1) is attempting to repeat as champions, the Hoosiers are looking for their first national title of the new millennium. Besides IU's two national titles in the 90s, during a 14-month stretch in the 80s the Hoosiers went 46 games without being beaten. They compiled a 40-0-6 mark during that span, including a win over Columbia to win the 1983 NCAA title.\nBoth schools have had players on the U.S. National Team. In fact, this year a total of three IU and UCLA players are participating in the Under-20 FIFA World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates. For IU, junior forward Ned Grabavoy, the Hoosiers' leading goal-scorer, and sophomore defender Drew Moor are playing in the event.\nMeek said the players have been integral to the success of both programs.\n"They always bring in top-quality players," Meek said. "Over the years, there's so many players coming from IU that have played professional soccer and UCLA has just as many or more. That definitely contributes a lot to their success."\nMeek, who is the only player on the IU roster from California, said UCLA recruited him too, but he visited IU first and fell in love with it. Meek added he wanted to get out of California and said it just felt right to come to Bloomington and attend IU.\nMeek's cousin is former UCLA standout Joe-Max Moore, who currently plays with the MLS' New England Revolution with former IU All-American Pat Noonan.\nJunior midfielder Danny O'Rourke said UCLA will be a formidable challenger.\n"Once you get a program that gets a couple of good national championships, it's easier to recruit, and they keep getting good players," O'Rourke said. "(ULCA) usually has a basis of just California players and they go there, and Indiana's mostly Midwest, so it's basically Midwest versus West. The best players of the West and the best players of the Midwest."\nO'Rourke said he practiced with the MLS' Columbus Crew when UCLA head coach Tom Fitzgerald was head coach of the Crew from 1996-2001.\nO'Rourke said he believes winning starts first and foremost with the head coaches.\n"The coaches instill the winning tradition in both programs," O'Rourke said. "They both just keep the tradition going."\nYeagley, who is the all-time winningest coach in Division I soccer history, said he knows Fitzgerald and added he has brought a new zest to the game.\n"Tom Fitzgerald, who is their coach, was my son's coach in the pros at Columbus for seven years," Yeagley said. "I know him very well and respect him."\nTodd Yeagley, who is a volunteer assistant coach with the Hoosiers, played for the Crew from 1996-2001.\nMeanwhile, the Bruins have a lone player on their roster from outside the state of California, as freshman forward Chad Barrett is from Oregon. Yeagley said that contributes to their success. Yeagley also recalled the type of soccer UCLA plays and added that the California influence plays a role in it.\n"A lot of their players have played together in youth soccer. They're familiar with each other," Yeagley said. "They play a similar style, different parts of the country, different regions of the country and different states. They represent a different style. The California style is a combination of the Hispanic influence of individual flair and ball control and sophistication along with the California influence of good hard work and hard-nosed play." \nWhile Yeagley focused on UCLA's style, O'Rourke named the best programs in the nation and said he's looking forward to the showdown on Saturday.\n"I'd say Indiana, UCLA and Virginia are probably the top three programs in the nation," O'Rourke said. "Just to have a quarterfinal match between two very top teams, it's going to be a great game."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(12/01/03 6:10am)
Sunday afternoon was a historic occasion at Armstrong Stadium for several reasons. Not only did the IU men's soccer team score a record five goals in the second half against No. 9 seed Virginia Commonwealth to blank the Rams, 5-0, in the third round of the NCAA Tournament, the No. 8 seed Hoosiers (14-3-5) also advanced to the tournament quarterfinals. \nMost notably, however, renowned IU coach Jerry Yeagley coached his last game at home, as he will retire at the end of the season.\nYeagley reminisced about his last match at Armstrong Stadium and a potential showdown with top-seeded UCLA.\n"If it is, I'll remember it very fondly," Yeagley said. "You never know. If we go to UCLA, what better opportunity and challenge. To play the team everyone picked to win it. If we go out there, we'll be prepared and ready."\nDefending national champion UCLA defeated Florida International, 2-0, in Los Angeles Sunday. As a result, the Hoosiers and Bruins (20-1-1) will square off Saturday night in L.A.\nAfter the win against the Rams (17-5-0), the Hoosiers have a 42-3 all-time record at Armstrong Stadium in the tournament, including 64 tournament wins all-time. \nMeanwhile, the IU players said they were happy to win Yeagley's last home game of his illustrious career.\n"Hopefully, it's not our last home game," said freshmen forward Jacob Peterson, who recorded a goal in the win over Virginia Commonwealth. "But there's no better way to send him out at home -- five goals in a game. We didn't score five goals in a game all of last year."\nYeagley has amassed 541 career victories, which are second most in Division I history, and he could tie Stephen Negoesco, who collected 544 wins in his nearly 40 years at San Francisco.\nThe Hoosiers would have to advance to the national title game and win the championship for Yeagley to tie the record.\nThis year's College Cup is in Columbus, Ohio, with the semifinals set for Dec.12 and the national title match scheduled for Dec. 14.\nHowever, sophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin said he is focused on the task at hand. \n"It should be a great challenge, if (UCLA) can find a way to win," Plotkin said before the Bruins game went final. "We're looking forward to the match-up."\nUCLA outlasted Stanford, 1-0, to capture the Championship last year in Dallas. This season, the Bruins were ranked No. 1 in all four soccer polls at the end of the regular season, and their lone loss came against No. 2 seed Maryland at the beginning of the season. \nA confident Yeagley responded after Plotkin's comment regarding playing UCLA.\n"We're going to go toe to toe with them," Yeagley said. "From our history, it's clear -- we're not just satisfied with the final eight."\nUnder Yeagley's tutelage, IU ranks third for current longest active winning seasons' streak behind only UCLA (36) and Clemson (33). He has earned a winning season in all 31 of his seasons in Bloomington, and he has won over 80 percent of his overall career games. \nYeagley summed up what it would be like to play UCLA, a team that has won four national titles.\n"Our mentality is UCLA has to play us," Yeagley said. "We're not scared of anybody. We can play with them"
(11/18/03 6:00am)
The NCAA Selection Committee announced the pairings for the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament Monday afternoon. The IU men's soccer team waited to see who it would play, and if it would host a game, after it won the Big Ten Tournament 1-1 Sunday by advancing on penalty kicks against Penn State (9-10-1, 1-5-0 Big Ten).\nThe Hoosiers (12-3-5, 5-0-1) received a top-eight seed, which means they have a first-round bye and will host at least one game; and if they win their first match, they will host another. IU will play the winner of the Cincinnati (10-4-5) vs. Kentucky (12-6-1) game 7 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Armstrong Stadium. \n"It's great. We were hoping for a top-eight seed and we got it," junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly said. "We're excited. Kentucky's a tough team. Every time we play them it's a battle. We have to prepare for both teams, though."\nIU has recorded 15 trips to the College Cup, advancing five of the last six years.\nA top-eight seed means IU will play two matches at home, a place where the Hoosiers haven't lost since Oct. 17, 2001, when they fell to Notre Dame, 1-0. Fittingly, the Hoosiers last loss this season came against the Fighting Irish Sept. 18, when they lost in double overtime.\n"I was pleased in light of losing (junior forward) Ned (Grabavoy) and (sophomore defender) Drew (Moor) that we got a top-eight seed," IU coach Jerry Yeagley said. "Sometimes, that affects your seeding. Last year, we had to go on the road and play at UConn and that was a challenge."\nThe Hoosiers lost to UConn, 1-0 in the third round of the tournament last year, after hosting a second-round contest against Notre Dame.\nJunior midfielder Danny O'Rourke described what it would be like to play Kentucky in the second round, a team IU defeated at home, 1-0 Nov. 2.\n"We played them once and it was a physical battle," O'Rourke said. "Every time we play them it's tough. It's going to be a battle."\nThe Wildcats play Cincinnati in a first round matchup in Lexington, Ky., either Friday or Saturday.\nOther notable teams on IU's side of the bracket include defending national champion UCLA (18-1-1), No. 4 seed North Carolina, No. 5 seed Notre Dame, and the only other Big Ten team to make the tournament, No. 12 seed Michigan (13-6-0).\nUCLA won the 2002 Men's College Cup, 1-0 against Stanford University in Dallas. UCLA is the only team in the tournament with only one loss.\nThe Bruins, who were awarded the top seed in the tournament, were assigned to the same half of the bracket as IU. A potential quarterfinal matchup between UCLA and the Hoosiers would take place at UCLA. But the Hoosier players said they know they have to take care of business. \n"Playing UCLA, that would be awesome," Nolly said. "We have to worry first about our games prior to that matchup."\nThe 48 teams will be competing for the right to play in the 2003 Men's College Cup Dec. 12 and 14 in Columbus, Ohio, at Columbus Crew Stadium. IU last advanced to the College Cup in 2001 and last won the National Championship in 1999, when it defeated Santa Clara.\nMaryland (17-2-1) is the No. 2 seed for the tournament, while Wake Forest is the No. 3 seed. They are both on the opposite side of the bracket from IU. \nIn addition to IU having to win two games, UCLA would need a victory against the winner of the Tulsa (12-5-2) vs. University of Central Florida (12-5-3) game, which will take place either Friday or Saturday, and then UCLA would need to win another match to play IU. \nYeagley said there's no matchup that's set in stone.\n"There's no guarantee (UCLA) may win," Yeagley said. "But I don't fear anyone."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(11/17/03 7:26pm)
The drama continued for the men's soccer team in the championship match of the Big Ten Tournament Sunday. Top-seeded IU outlasted No. 6 seed Penn State on penalty kicks, 4-1, in the championship of the Big Ten Tournament at Armstrong Stadium. \nThe Hoosiers (12-3-5, 5-0-1 Big Ten) clinched their 10th conference tournament title and extended their unbeaten streak to 13 games.\nSophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin netted the game-winning penalty kick on IU's fourth attempt, and junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly saved two Penn State shots to earn the Big Ten title.\nAfter two scoreless sudden death overtime periods, the match was tied 1-1. Plotkin scored the winning kick to the lower left corner of the goal, giving the Hoosiers a 4-1 advantage in penalty kicks and breaking the tie. IU outshot the Nittany Lions 17-4 in the contest.\nThe game is officially ruled a tie at 1-1, according to NCAA rules.\n"I felt we played so well today," IU coach Jerry Yeagley said. "It was a dominating performance. We should have put some chances way in the first half in the first 20 to 30 minutes, and I thought that might come back to haunt us. We should have had two goals in the early going. But I credit Penn State. To play three games in four days, they hung in there."\nIU improved to 9-0 all-time in Big Ten Tournament championship matches. \nBesides out-shooting Penn State (9-10-1, 1-5-0) by 13 for the match, IU outshot the Lions 9-3 in the second. In addition, the Hoosiers didn't allow a Penn State shot in either 10-minute overtime period. \n"Just a super performance by all our players," Yeagley said. "They were determined. We practiced penalty kicks. We did. Because we remembered how we were eliminated last year. We practiced some last year, but perhaps not as much. We've been practicing for a couple of weeks, everyday after training. The players picked their own order, and they buried them."\nIU lost to Penn State in penalty kicks, 2-1, in the conference tournament last year in State College, Pa. Last season marked the first time the Hoosiers had not won the Big Ten tournament in the last decade. But this time, IU prevailed on penalty kicks over its conference rival.\nLast weekend, the Hoosiers upended the Lions by scoring three unanswered second half goals at Armstrong Stadium. That 3-2 win gave IU the regular season Big Ten title. \nSunday, the Hoosiers also continued another streak -- their home unbeaten streak. IU has gone unbeaten in its past 24 matches at Armstrong Stadium.\nBoth teams scored one goal in the first half, and it was knotted at the half, 1-1. IU recorded the first goal of the match on a low shot by Plotkin in the 24th minute. It was his sixth goal of the season. Junior forward Ned Grabavoy tallied the assist on the play.\nMeanwhile, the Nittany Lions registered their goal right before the half. Penn State scored with 1:57 left in the first on a header by sophomore forward Mike Lindemann off a corner kick. \n"That's the game of soccer," said Grabavoy, who was named the tournament offensive MVP. "You can totally dominate a team so much, then they can get a free kick, and then it's tied 1-1. In the second half and the first overtime, we had so many chances. It's hard to stay positive with the past things that have happened to us throughout your soccer career for all these guys. But we did."\nAt the same time, Yeagley credited Nolly for his presence in goal, especially on the penalty kicks. \n"Jay on our penalty kicks, he's our man," Yeagley said. "During the game he wasn't called upon to make any great saves, but he had to handle some balls in the air. He kept us clean, except for that one mistake."\nNolly, who was named the defensive MVP of the tournament, tallied two saves for the game and posted two huge saves on the penalty kicks.\nIn the penalty kicks, sophomore defender Drew Moor netted IU's first penalty kick, while Grabavoy made the team's second. Grabavoy was one-of-three on penalty kicks for the season going into this game. Senior midfielder Vijay Dias made the third penalty kick, before Plotkin connected with the game-winner.\n"We were focused on winning this game," Plotkin said. "Hopefully, by winning this game we get a top-eight seed in the NCAA tournament, which means we get two home games, which is really crucial. Being at home was important, so we know we had to go out and get a victory today."\nThe Lions compiled 32 fouls in the contest, compared to 13 IU fouls in what was a tough physical affair. Penn State was also called for two yellow cards. \nTo advance to the championship game, IU edged the No. 5 seeded Wisconsin Badgers, 1-0 Friday. Sophomore midfielder Pat Yates recorded the only goal of the match in the second half in the 79th minute. After a barrage of IU shots, in which the Hoosiers had four shots in a span of three minutes, Grabavoy passed the ball forward to Yates, who chested the ball down and one-touched it into the lower left corner of the net.\nIt was his third goal of the season and was his second goal in as many games. \n"It was a total team effort in the second half," Yeagley said after Friday's match. "I was very pleased. We deserved to win, and I am glad we got it. I have seen teams that all of a sudden lose their balance, lose their shape trying to get their people forward and they give up a counter and a silly goal, and they lose. And I am proud of our team for continuing to fight." \nYeagley summed up the thrilling victory over Penn State Sunday that gave IU the tournament title. \n"I wanted my last Big Ten game here at IU to have the kind of performance that I would be proud of, and it really was," Yeagley said. "The score was disappointing, but the performance and chances we created and the way they played with heart ... I was very proud of their performance."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(11/14/03 4:01pm)
The IU men's soccer program has been notorious for producing champion-caliber teams and it will get a shot at earning another Big Ten title this weekend.\nFresh off their conference regular season title, the top-seeded Hoosiers play the No. 5 seed Wisconsin today at 5 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium in their quest for their 10th tournament championship.\nIU has a 18-3 all-time record in conference tournament games, including a flawless 3-0 mark versus the Badgers. \nTo date, the Hoosiers (11-3-4, 5-0-1 Big Ten) have won nine consecutive games. IU's last lost was Sept. 18 to Notre Dame, 1-0 in double-overtime in South Bend and their last tie was Oct. 2. \nBut coach Jerry Yeagley has his players' eyes focused on Wisconsin, which defeated Ohio State, 2-0 in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament Thursday.\n"We certainly can't take Wisconsin for granted. They looked strong (Thursday)," Yeagley said. "It's going to take a great effort from us. Earlier this season against us, they played a man down for a good portion of the match. They played us tough. They hit two shots off the post. They will be ready."\nThe Badgers (11-9-1, 1-4-1) fell to IU during the regular season, 3-0 in Madison, Wis. on Oct. 10.\nMeanwhile, the Hoosiers captured their eighth consecutive conference regular season championship with a come-from-behind, 3-2 win over Penn State Saturday. \nThursday, Wisconsin was victorious over the No. 4 seed Buckeyes as they tallied a goal in each half.\nThe IU players said the Hoosiers have a great deal of confidence, but said they know the Big Ten tournament offers the chance for a fresh start.\n"Our confidence level has been really high the past nine or 10 games," junior midfielder Danny O'Rourke said. "But everyone's even in the tournament. We shouldn't expect anything."\nLast season, IU lost to Penn State in the semifinals of the conference tournament in Happy Valley. \nThis year, the Hoosiers' offensive weapon all season has been junior forward Ned Grabavoy. The co-captain has a team-high 10 goals and is second on the team with 55 shots. He posted two assists and had two shots on goal in the win last weekend over the Nittany Lions, which clinched the conference regular season for the Hoosiers. \nGrabavoy agreed with O'Rourke that the team's confidence level is high and cited the team's nine-game winning streak as evidence.\n"Anytime you're on a streak like that you're going to have a lot of momentum," Grabavoy said. "However, it's not a good time to get comfortable. We have to win the Big Ten Tournament." \nYeagley, who is set to retire at the end of the season, said Grabavoy is instrumental to the team.\n"This is Ned's team," Yeagley said. "He's the guy we key off of. During the second half against Penn State, he led the team back to a victory. He's a difference-maker. He's working hard to become a complete player. He's learning to play better off the ball."\nWhile Grabavoy has supplied the offense, junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly has been strong in goal for IU. He has corralled 48 saves on the season and has notched a 0.68 goals against average.\nBut the IU defense collectively has played a part in the team's ability to limit opponents. Freshmen defenders Jed Zayner and Julian Dieterle have gained experience since the beginning of the season and have seemingly learned to play defensively more effectively. As evidence, IU has surrendered a mere three goals in its last eight matches. During that same span, the Hoosiers have scored 18 goals.\nGrabavoy described the team's goals coming into the season and said winning the tournament would be special.\n"It would mean a lot to win the tournament," Grabavoy said. "I haven't played in the Big Ten Tournament. It's always a goal to win the Big Ten regular season and the Big Ten Tournament."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(11/06/03 5:14am)
You won't find their names on the stat sheet following a game. In fact, they haven't seen action in a match in their college careers. Yet they are considered members of the team. Many fans might take for granted the job they do. They get equipment for players both before and after games and practice. They are the managers for the men's soccer team, and they happen to be brothers. \nSenior Tim Ryder and sophomore Mike Ryder act as managers for the team, and they perform countless duties.\nTim highlighted the satisfaction he receives from this job.\n"It's nice when you hear the 'thank yous' from the coaches," Tim said. "The players really appreciate what we do, also. When someone doesn't have to tell us what to do, I feel like I'm helping the team.\n(IU Assistant) coach (Mike) Freitag just said the other day, 'When I don't have to tell them what to do, they just go ahead and do it, that's helpful.' When coach Freitag or any other coach says that, I know I've done my job." \nThe Ryder brothers are natives of Boca Raton, Fla. Tim, who is in his second season as a soccer manager and is majoring in sports marketing, said he was attracted to IU because his mom attended school here. He said he is a big basketball fan, too, which swayed him to become a Hoosier.\nHe described his and his brother's duties and their responsibilities as managers.\n"Basically, our job is to make the assistant coaches' jobs easier," Tim said. "We set up the ball boys before the games."\nMike, who is in his first season as a soccer manager, said getting equipment ready for practice, the players and games is their biggest task. \n"We have to get practice set up and get equipment set up," Mike said. "Before the game we have to get the game gear ready. If there's a shortage of socks or a shortage or anything, we have to get that for the players. We get the home field ready to go. We get the soccer balls pumped up."\nWhile the managers themselves detailed the work they have to do, one player said he appreciates the job the managers do. Junior midfielder Danny O'Rourke said he doesn't underestimate the manager's value to the squad.\n"They're really, really important to the team," O'Rourke said. "They're really cooperative with anything the players or coaches ask them to do."\nAt the same time, IU coach Jerry Yeagley said they are an integral part of the squad. He added they have different responsibilities at different times of the year. \n"The managers are an important part of the staff," Yeagley said. "They're not just gophers. They work with us."\nIU assistant coach Caleb Porter, who oversees the managers, concurs with Yeagley. Porter said the IU players and coaches don't take for granted the job the managers do. He added the players feel the managers are a part of the team.\nFor their work, the managers said they receive a stipend, which goes to pay for tuition and books, but that's all they receive.\nO'Rourke said he feels like the managers' job is overshadowed by a lot of the players, but he added that the managers are out at Armstrong Stadium before anyone else.\n"People might get the perception they're not part of the team," O'Rourke said. "But they're a big part of the team. They work very hard every day. They hang out with us on road trips. They're good guys."\nMike was humble about his work, and said it's rewarding to be part of the team. \n"It's more about being a part of the (team)," Mike said. "I'm excited that I'm part of it. I'm doing what I can."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(11/03/03 6:44am)
A multitude of streaks continued for the men's soccer team Sunday. \nIU upended the Kentucky Wildcats 1-0 at Armstrong Stadium. The No. 14 Hoosiers (10-3-4, 4-0-1 Big Ten) have not lost a match since Sept. 18 at Notre Dame, when they fell in double overtime. IU has won eight consecutive games, including registering a shutout in six of their last seven matches.\nThe Hoosiers have won 21 consecutive matches at Armstrong Stadium, dating back to October 2001.\nCoach Jerry Yeagley highlighted the importance of this victory, especially in the late part of the regular season.\n"This was a big win, a big win for us," Yeagley said. "This was a game between two of the best teams in the Great Lakes Region, in my opinion. It shows how far we've come from the beginning of the season to the end of the season. We're a much better team now."\nIU lost to No. 24 Kentucky (12-5-1, 6-0-0 Mid-American) on Aug. 22 in a preseason match 2-1, in the IPFW Soccer Showcase in Ft. Wayne.\nIU recorded the only goal of the match in the first half Sunday, near the start of the contest. Senior midfielder Vijay Dias received a pass from sophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin after the two played give-and-go as Dias netted the goal to give IU a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute. It was Dias' second goal of the season as Plotkin tallied the assist on the play.\nDias described the team's confidence level after the team has gone unbeaten in its past ten matches. \n"We're on a good streak now," Dias said. "The snowball is rolling. It's getting bigger and bigger. We're just playing really well together and we're on a good streak."\nWith the assist, Plotkin tied junior forward Ned Grabavoy for first on the team in assists with seven. Ploktin also has 15 points this year.\nHe reflected on what happened on the Hoosiers goal, as he aided in the outcome. \n"I saw Vijay (Dias) and I just put it through to him," Plotkin said. "He finished it nicely. (The Wildcats) played a lot like Louisville. They played a lot of long balls and we were starting to lose balls (to them) in the air in the second half. But we were able to hang on." \nIU defeated another Kentucky team Wednesday by defeating Louisville, 2-0. \nIn the beginning part of the season IU struggled, but the Hoosiers have been winning with a simple formula over the past month and a half. They are outshooting and shutting down their opponents. IU has now outshot its opponents 261 to 154 on the season.\nDefensively, the last time the Hoosiers gave up more than one goal in a match was Sept. 6 when they lost, 2-1 to UConn in Storrs, Conn. Also, the Hoosiers have posted a scoreless streak this season of nearly 500 minutes, including posting four consecutive shutouts. Since Sept. 6, IU has notched four games where it has scored three goals.\nSunday, IU outshot the Wildcats 11-5 for the game, including 7-1 in the first half.\nWhile Kentucky was outshot by six in the first half, it responded in the second and threatened to score several times, as it recorded four shots in the second, a total that matched IU's.\nDespite another shutout, Yeagley said his team should have scored more than a mere goal. \n"We had several clear-cut opportunities that you've got to put away." Yeagley said. "We did a good job creating those opportunities, like we have been, we just had breakdowns. I thought our ball movement was good today, especially in the back of the team." \nWith the win, Yeagley needs seven victories to tie the record of all-time Division I collegiate soccer wins list. He has 537 career victories. \nNext on the schedule for IU is Penn State, which will close out the regular season. The Hoosiers match against Penn State was rescheduled for 7 p.m., Saturday at Armstrong Stadium. On Sept. 26 in Bloomington, the game was called after a two-hour weather delay in the middle of the second half with the Hoosiers leading 2-0, after thunder was heard and lightning spotted. The game was played through 66:30, just three and a half minutes short of a complete game.\nIU needs a win in that contest to win the Big Ten regular season title outright. Michigan currently has a conference mark of 5-1-0 and has 15 points, compared to IU's 13 points. \nDias detailed the approach and demeanor the team is taking with the winning streak.\n"We're taking each game one game at a time," Dias said. "We're treating each game separately. We're not looking too far ahead. Next up is Penn State. We're focused on them right now"
(10/29/03 5:32am)
The men's soccer team squares off with the Louisville Cardinals 7 p.m. tonight in Louisville, Ky. The Hoosiers (8-3-4, 4-0-1 Big Ten) have won six consecutive matches, dating back to Oct. 5. During that streak, IU has outscored it opponents by 12 goals and has allowed a mere two. This game marks IU's last road game of the regular season.\nIU coach Jerry Yeagley said he is a little bit anxious about this match with the Cardinals (10-5-2, 5-2-2 Conference USA) and added his team must get over its last victory. \n"I'm worried about Louisville," Yeagley said. "They beat Saint Louis. They play in a strong conference in Conference USA. Sometimes midweek games on the road are hard. We have to get over Saint Louis."\nThe Hoosiers outlasted then-No. 5 Saint Louis, 2-1 Friday at Armstrong Stadium.\nWhile IU has experienced success recently, in the early part of the season it was a different story. At one point, the Hoosiers only won one game in an eight-game stretch. \nSophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin said that challenging period helped bring the team closer together.\n"We're a close unit," Plotkin said. "We've been through adversity in the beginning of the season. That helped us. It made us better."\nAfter a tie with Butler at home, IU had two wins compared to four ties, before they went on the current winning streak.\nBut the Hoosiers have been able to turn the tide and have gone unbeaten in eight consecutive games. The youths on the team have had a say in that. In every one of IU's 15 games, at least five underclassmen, who are true freshmen, redshirt freshmen or sophomores who did not start last season, have been in the starting lineup.\nYeagley said the freshmen have been instrumental to the team's turnaround.\n"Five or six freshmen are playing with more confidence," Yeagley said. "At the midseason point, we were 2-3-4. That's the worst we've ever been at the midseason point. Part of it was us. Part of it was bad breaks. Things were going against us early on. We were starting to wonder."\nOne of those younger players is sophomore defender/midfielder Jordan Chirico. He has played in 14 contests this year and has started in four of them. Chirico said he can be used as an asset off the bench. \n"If I'm coming off the bench, I pick things up," he said. "I try to do something positive for the team. If I don't play, it's not a big deal. Whether I play or not, I just care whether we win the game."\nBesides the younger players on the team, junior forward Ned Grabavoy has provided the offensive firepower for the team. Grabavoy was awarded the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week Monday. This marks the third time this season Grabavoy has earned the honor, the last time being Oct. 13. \n"Ned's our player, our go-to player," Plotkin said. "We look to him to get us out of tough situations."\nAt the same time, Plotkin has been an offensive weapon. He ranks second on the team in goals and points behind Grabavoy, with four and 13, respectively. Grabavoy has registered 10 goals and 26 points this year, including scoring a pair of goals in the Saint Louis victory. \nMeanwhile, the players are focused on the Cardinals and are taking the remaining matches of the regular season one match at a time.\n"We try to come into every game like we need it," Chirico said. "We need every game for the tournament. We haven't won enough games to get into the tournament yet."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(10/23/03 5:50am)
Four hundred thirty two minutes and two and a half weeks -- that's how long it's been since the men's soccer team has surrendered a goal.\nThe last goal scored against the Hoosiers (7-3-4, 4-0-1 Big Ten) came on Oct. 5 at Michigan. IU has been shutting down opponents at a torrid pace. As a result, it has garnered four consecutive shutouts since the streak started-- and a total of six on the season -- which has come in the midst of a five-game winning streak. \nThe IU defense had a 0.77 goals against average in 2002, a mark that ranked 15th nationally. This season, it has been much of the same. The stifling IU defense and IU goalkeeper are allowing a mere 0.71 goals per game, a mark that ranks first in the conference.\n"I would characterize our team defense simply," IU coach Jerry Yeagley said. "Look at the Big Ten stats. We lead the Big Ten defensively. I've always said there are two aspects to defense -- individual and defense collectively. They combine to form a solid team defense. But our defense in conference games has been very good."\nThe Hoosiers have allowed two goals in their first five Big Ten matches this season. \nThe players said the experience of more than half a season is starting to pay off.\n"We're much more comfortable with each other now," freshman back Julian Dieterle said. "It's taken us a while. (Junior midfielder) Danny O'Rourke has been the unsung hero on our team. He's been strong for us. Also, we have (junior goalkeeper) Jay (Nolly) directing back there. We're a solid unit defensively."\nDieterle was tabbed the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Monday. He helped lead the Hoosiers to a pair of wins last week over IUPUI and Ohio State. Dieterle recorded a goal in the win over the Buckeyes. \n"Honestly, everybody's taken accountability," Dieterle said. "Each defensive player has improved his play since the beginning of the season."\nBesides Dieterle, freshman back Jed Zayner has been heavily involved on defense in only his first season in Bloomington. Zayner, who is a native of Orland Park, Ill., was named the Chicago Tribune Player of the Year last season. \n"(We're playing with) a lot of confidence," Zayner said. "Confidence in themselves and each other. I think we believe in each other on the field."\nMeanwhile, another part to the defensive unit is Nolly. He has a .778 save percentage and has posted 35 saves this year. But those 35 saves rank seventh in the conference, which seems to support the notion of the strength of the IU defense. In some cases, they're not even letting their opponents attempt more than four of five shots per contest. \nZayner described what it will take to continue this high level of defensive play.\n"It's going to take faith in themselves and faith in our team," he said. "Playing our hearts out."\nWhile solid team defense involves the defenders working with the keeper and vice versa, Yeagley said it's much more than that. \n"Defense is not just guys who play in the back of the field," said Yeagley, who coached IU to eight shutouts a year ago, including a stretch of three consecutive shutouts.\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(10/22/03 5:03pm)
The IU men's soccer team was victorious over Ohio State 3-0 Sunday at Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers (7-3-4, 4-0-1 Big Ten) have posted four consecutive shutouts and have won five straight matches. IU's last loss came Sept. 18 at Notre Dame when it lost in double-overtime. The Hoosiers have out-scored their opponents 12-1 in the previous five games.\nWhile IU started to knock on the door in the first half against Ohio State (3-9-3, 2-2-0), it broke through in the second. The Hoosiers scored three goals in a span of 13 minutes to open up the game. IU struck first six minutes into the second period. Sophomore midfielder Brian Plotkin netted an unorthodox goal. He was in the box and turned around and quickly kicked the ball with his right foot. The Buckeye keeper appeared to be surprised by the shot, as he didn't move and the ball trickled into the right side of the goal. It was Plotkin's fourth goal of the season.\nMeanwhile, neither team could tally a goal in the first half as IU edged the Buckeyes in shots at the half, 4-3, but the game remained scoreless at the break.\n"I was worried at halftime," IU coach Jerry Yeagley said. "But we came out in the second half with the engines going full blast. That's the best we've played as far as intensity and focus."\nWith the shutout victory, the Hoosiers still maintain a commanding 44-match unbeaten streak in Big Ten regular season action. They also have won 20 straight home games at Armstrong Stadium.\nIn the first half, it appeared as if both teams were feeling each other out, as neither team had more than a few quality scoring opportunities, although IU applied pressure in the early minutes of the contest. IU registered three shots before Ohio State attempted its first. Furthermore, it took the Buckeyes more than half of the first half to record their second shot of the period.\nThe Hoosiers' best scoring chance of the half came three minutes into the match. \nSenior midfielder Drew Shinabarger belted a low-lining shot from the right side that was saved by Ohio State sophomore goalkeeper Ray Burse, Jr.\n"Coach told us at halftime the first team to score would win," freshman forward Jacob Peterson said. "That turned out to be true."\nFreshman defender Julian Dieterle, who recorded IU's second goal of the match, agreed with his teammate about getting on the board first, especially at home.\n"It was crucial to score first," Dieterle said. "We came out in the second half and played differently than we did in the first. We were running onto balls more than we were in the first."\nDieterle scored the second goal of his career with 32:50 left in the contest.\nWith the shutout, the Hoosiers have not given up a goal since the 19th minute of the Oct. 5 match at Michigan.\n"I thought our defense played really well today," Yeagley said. "We worked on finishing offensively in practice and that paid off, but our defense was solid today as well. The play of (senior defender David) Prall, Shinabarger, and (senior midfielder Vijay) Dias was very good in the back today. Those three helped shut down Ohio State."\nIU's final goal of the contest came off the foot of Peterson, who notched his third goal of the season and of his young career to make it 3-0.\nAfter the victory, the Hoosiers own a 29-1-0 lead in the all-time series against the Buckeyes.\nIU next squares off against No. 5 St. Louis University Friday at Armstrong Stadium at 7:30 p.m.\nPeterson said IU is playing with renewed confidence, and he said he hopes this is the beginning of a very strong run.\n"Right now, we have a five-game winning streak," Peterson said. "Our goal is not to lose another game."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(10/15/03 6:43am)
The men's soccer team returns home tonight to battle the IUPUI Jaguars at 7 p.m., at Armstrong Stadium. Playing their third match in a span of six days, the Hoosiers (5-3-4, 3-0-1 Big Ten) will be seeking their fourth victory in a row. The Hoosiers shut out a pair of conference foes on the road last weekend as they defeated Wisconsin and Northwestern by identical 3-0 scores.\nDespite two shutouts over the weekend, IU coach Jerry Yeagley said the Hoosiers must be prepared for a fight.\n"We can't afford not to be ready," Yeagley said. "They will be ready. This match is their NCAA championship. This is the match where they have the chance to be a giant killer." \nIUPUI (1-10-2, 0-2-1), a member of the Mid-Continent Conference, was outlasted by Akron, 1-0 last Friday, a team the Hoosiers fell to earlier this season. The Jaguars lost to Wisconsin, 5-0 in Mid-September on a neutral field, a team IU blanked last Friday. In addition, IUPUI lost to then-No.17 Oakland, 1-0 earlier this year.\nThe Hoosiers have won three consecutive games, and have outscored their opponents 8-1 in those matches.\nYeagley said the experience of half a season is starting to pay dividends for the youth on the squad.\n"We're playing with more confidence," Yeagley said. "Our young players are different. They're playing with more composure. Our depth is getting better, too."\nFreshman defender Julian Dieterle tallied the first goal of his career in the Wisconsin victory. Meanwhile, IU used six substitutes in the Northwestern victory, including three freshmen. \nWhile Yeagley credits the younger players for improving their games, the players said the bad luck doesn't seem to be going the team's way anymore. \nDieterle described not allowing a goal last weekend and the makeup of the season thus far. \n"Honestly, we've been playing good team defense all season," he said. "The bad breaks just seemed to be going our way. Now, I think we're getting luck on our side."\nAn example of the unfortunate luck the Hoosiers have experienced this season was the Penn State match. With the Hoosiers leading 2-0 in the middle of the second half, that game was called after a two-hour severe weather delay. The game was played through 66:30, just three and a half minutes short of a complete game. A full contest is scheduled to be played Nov. 8 in Bloomington. \nBesides the emergence of younger players on the team, junior forward Ned Grabavoy leads the IU offense. The co-captain has scored eight goals this year and has recorded a team-high 20 points. He netted three goals in the team's pair of weekend matches. As a result of his play over the weekend, Grabavoy earned Big Ten Offensive Player-of-the-Week accolades Monday. He shared the award with Michigan junior midfielder Knox Cameron.\nGrabavoy's fellow players praised him for his soccer knowledge.\n"He's got a great soccer mind," Dieterle said. "He's one of those players who has an instinct for the game. He can make things happen on the field. He just has a great sense of the game."\nAt the same time, junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly has been a stalwart on defense. He owns a Big Ten best (all games) goal-against average of 0.76 and has four shutouts this year.\nBecause of his defensive performances over the weekend, Nolly earned Big Ten Defensive Player-of the-Week honors Monday.\nMost importantly, sophomore midfielder Pat Yates said the team is definitely starting to put things together.\n"In the first half of the season we made mistakes and the breaks were going against us," Yates said. "Now hopefully we can avoid those mistakes and continue to get the breaks to go our way."\nIU will be eyeing its first home victory since the season-opener. The Hoosiers last home win came Aug. 29 when they defeated California in the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. \nYeagley said the team must focus on the Jaguars and can't look past them.\n"The danger in this game is looking ahead to Ohio State," Yeagley said. "If you look at (IUPUI's) scores, they were in all of their games. I expect it to be like last year when it went to overtime."\n-- Contact staff Writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(10/09/03 5:50am)
Every player who has played men's soccer at IU for four years has competed in at least one College Cup, a statement that no other program can make.\nFrom this level of competition at the collegiate level, seven former Hoosiers now play professionally on five different Major League Soccer teams.\nJunior forward Ned Grabavoy said the advanced environment at IU prepares players for the MLS. \n"This is a professional atmosphere," said Grabavoy, who considered jumping to a pro league in France prior to this season but decided to remain at IU. "From where I've been, it's the best there is. From the atmosphere to the coaches, it's top notch. Players aren't surprised when they reach the MLS because the atmosphere at IU was so similar."\nWhile the Hoosier soccer program has been successful in producing players for professional ranks, IU coach Jerry Yeagley has experienced his own success. He's only the second NCAA Division I head soccer coach to win 500 games. But Yeagley said he doesn't adhere to the adage that coaches make players. \n"They were talented when they came to IU," Yeagley said. "The tools here help them develop their games. The training facilities at IU are outstanding. We also play a difficult strength of schedule year in and year out. The younger players are surrounded with talented, experienced players, too, and they play against them in practice everyday. The rest is up to the players. They have to continue to improve while they're at IU."\nThose seven former Hoosiers are playing for various MLS squads. Chris Klein and Nick Garcia play for the Kansas City Wizards. Klein played at IU from 1994-1997, while Garcia played in Bloomington from 1997-1999. Klein, a midfielder, was awarded MLS Player of the Week Monday, after his two-goal performance against the Colorado Rapids. As a result of his offensive effectiveness, Kansas City has pulled to within four points of second place in the Western Conference standings. It marked the second time Klein has garnered the accolade this season. \nGrabavoy said he's happy to see Klein performing strongly in the MLS and said the IU soccer program helped ensure his success.\n"It makes me feel real good to know that he came through the same program," Grabavoy said. "It's satisfying. It's nice to see he's doing well."\nYeagley said Klein played very little his freshman season, and he would get tired very quickly. He added Klein would sometimes shy away from competitive situations. But Yeagley said by his senior year, he was one of the most dynamic, explosive players around.\n"He's like a fine wine," Yeagley said. "He just keeps getting better with age."\nMeanwhile, Garcia, who was a three-time All-American at IU, is a defensive specialist for the Wizards. He has started all 26 games he has played this year. \nAnother former IU standout, Pat Noonan, is competing in the MLS. He played at IU from 1999-2002, and now plays for the New England Revolution. Noonan, who also was a three-time All-American, earned MLS Player of the Week honors Sept. 15.\nOther former Hoosier players in the MLS include Brian Maisonneuve and Mike Clark of the Columbus Crew, Dema Kovalenko of the D.C. United, and Chad Deering of the Dallas Burn. Maisonneuve, who played at IU from 1991-1994, was the National Player of the Year in 1994 as he earned the Hermann Trophy Award. \nGrabavoy said he hopes to one day be in the MLS. He explained what it would be like to make it in the pros and to excel in the professional ranks.\n"That would mean a lot," Grabavoy said. "That's what I want to do. I've wanted to play pro soccer ever since I was a little kid. I just don't want to make it, I want to leave my mark on the game."\nWhile Grabavoy is excited to possibly advance his soccer career, Freitag described his feelings in seeing former IU players on the pro level. \n"It makes me proud, extremely proud," Freitag said. "You see them go to the MLS with potential. Then, they use that ability and build on it to have a successful soccer career. It just makes you proud. You're a part of that process."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(10/09/03 4:13am)
A tumultuous season continued for the men's soccer team Thursday night. The Hoosiers (2-2-4, 0-0-1) tied in-state adversary Butler 1-1 Thursday night at Armstrong Stadium. \nIU's lone goal of the contest was scored by sophomore forward Trey Meek. He tallied the goal in the waning minutes of the first half. After a nice pass from a teammate, the streaking Meek was able to beat the Bulldog goalkeeper with a low shot with a mere 18 seconds left in the first.\nIt was the sophomore's first goal of the season. \nDespite a hard-fought draw, Coach Jerry Yeagley said his players have to continue to believe in themselves.\n"I thought we played a great second half," Yeagley said. "The difference tonight was (Butler junior goalkeeper) Evan Reinhardt. Give him credit. Trey Meek had an excellent game. That's the best he's played. The guys were heartbroken, though. I told them to keep their heads up."\nButler (4-4-2) scored first in the 35th minute. Sophomore midfielder John Mariscalco recorded the score. \nDespite the 1-1 tie at the break, IU had out-shot the Bulldogs 6-4 at the break. But it was the second half that was misleading. The Hoosiers had the first six shots of the second period, and IU out-shot its opponent 12-2 in the second stanza. Yet the Hoosiers could not break through with the difference maker. This has been a reoccuring theme for IU as they have out-shot their opponents by almost four shots per game prior to this match. \nThe Hoosiers out-shot Butler for the match 20-9, which left the players frustrated and stressed the importance of being able to finish scoring chances.\n"We have a great team with great talent. We just need to get a win under our belt," junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly said. "We thought we had one against Penn State, but that didn't work out in our favor. It's frustrating. We're creating chances, we just not putting away balls."\nMeanwhile, with six and a half minutes remaining in the second, Meek netted the apparent go-ahead goal, but he was ruled offsides by the official on the opposite side of the field. It would have been Meek's second goal of the contest.\n"I thought I had a goal," Meek said. "I couldn't have been offsides because the ball was deflected. I didn't think I was offsides." \nIU's last home victory came on Aug. 29, when they defeated California 3-0 in the season-opener.\nThe Hoosiers last win came on Sept. 14, when they beat Fresno State 3-1 at Notre Dame.\nIU has now recorded 13 victories against Butler in the all-time 15 game series. It marked the first tie in the series. \nYeagley said he still has confidence in the product he is putting out on the field.\n"Every team we've played we've had the better of," Yeagley said. "Tonight it was obvious. We out-shot them, we got more corner kicks, we did everything we could. We just couldn't get another goal. (All the players are) frustrated, but no one has the feeling that we're losers."\nOn just two-days rest, IU will travel to Ann Arbor to battle the Wolverines for its second Big Ten match of the season. The Hoosiers are seeking their first conference victory after tying the Spartans in the conference opener. \n-- Contact staff writers Zack Eldridge and Daniel Cohen at zeldridg@indiana.edu and djcohen@indiana.edu.
(10/02/03 6:09am)
After a struggling first half of the regular season for the men's soccer team, which included a tough loss at Notre Dame in double-overtime and two scoreless ties, IU jumps out of conference and hosts Butler at 7 p.m. tonight.\nThe Hoosiers (2-3-3, 0-0-1 Big Ten) were arguably the recipient of a bad break against Penn State Friday. The match was ruled "no contest," according to an IU Athletics press release, because of inclement weather after IU was leading 2-0 in the middle of the second half.\nThe game was played through 66:30, just three-and-a-half minutes short of a complete game. Friday night's match was called after a two-hour weather delay. A full match is scheduled for Nov. 8 in Bloomington. \nCoach Jerry Yeagley said that the game was disappointing, but added he was proud of the way his team started against the Nittany Lions. IU scored less than three minutes into that contest. In addition, Yeagley explained the rivalry with Butler (4-4-1) and said the past records of the teams have not mattered.\n"It's a local derby," Yeagley said. "For years it's been throw out the books. It's for pride in the state. They've had a couple of impressive results. They tied Creighton at Creighton and defeated Kentucky at Kentucky. But they've been inconsistent like us. We need to give our total focus to Butler."\nThe Hoosiers have posted nine consecutive victories over the Bulldogs. Overall, IU owns a 13-1 advantage in the series. Butler's lone win came in the 1995 NCAA Tournament when it outlasted the Hoosiers, 1-0, in Bloomington.\nDespite IU's recent dominance in the series, the Hoosier players and Yeagley said they know the importance of this match. \n"Realistically, every game now is a big part of our season," junior Ned Grabavoy said. "We've had our share of bad bounces. Getting a victory against a tough opponent like Butler would be big."\nJunior Jay Nolly said getting a positive win is key for the team. He added that getting a solid victory would give the team momentum heading into the upcoming road trip.\nNolly has posted two shutouts and has collected 19 saves this year. \nAt the same time, Grabavoy is on the watch list for the 2003 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy, which honors the nation's best college soccer player. He has recorded 10 points on four goals this season. Last year, he tallied a goal against the Bulldogs in IU's win over its in-state foe. \nGrabavoy described his increased leadership role on this team, compared to last season when he was an underclassman. \n"I kind of think of this as my team," Grabavoy said. "Coach was telling me that I need to get into scoring more. (Sophomore) Brian (Plotkin) has also been a main component of this team, and he has helped me."\nIn addition to Grabavoy, Plotkin has notched two goals and dished out three assists for the Hoosiers.\nGrabavoy and Plotkin have been the primary offensive weapons for IU, in a year which is the last for Yeagley, who is retiring at the end of the season. \nYeagley said success all starts with demeanor and highlighted the significance of pride. \n"We have to have a positive attitude," Yeagley said. "We need to take a 'we're Indiana' attitude.' We have to take pride in the uniform."\nThe Hoosiers have out shot their opponents by nearly four shots per contest. They also have 30 more shot attempts on the season than their counterparts, yet have only scored two more goals.\nAs a result, Nolly said the emphasis of practice this week has been finishing. He added that a great deal of finishing and organization has been stressed. \nYeagley said they need to come out the same way they did against the Lions. \nMeanwhile Yeagley, who remains 15 wins shy of tying the all-time wins record, has strong ambitions for this squad. \n"After this match, it's the halfway point in the regular season," Yeagley said. "We want the worst start to the beginning of the season to become the best turnaround ever in the history of the program."\nNolly isn't downplaying the magnitude of this match either. He encapsulated the significance of this game by treating it as a do-or-die situation. \n"It's just as big as the last match," Nolly said. "Every match we play now has to be like a championship match."\n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(09/26/03 6:18am)
It's been home to five national championship teams. It's seen players come and go, some on to professional leagues. It's seen the victories -- and losses -- of countless Little 500 teams. 314,306 fans have been in its stands to watch the men's soccer team over the last 12 years. \nIt's Bill Armstrong Stadium. \nThe facilities include lockerooms, a full training room and a player lounge. All of which are products of the recent renovation.\n"I haven't seen better yet," Zayner said. "Looking around at the other places. They're incredible here." \nArmstrong Stadium, which was first built in 1981, is the cornerstone of IU soccer.\nIn the summer of 2000, the venue received major renovations that made it one of college soccer's premier stadiums. The renovations were the first of a two-part project, according to the IU Athletic Web site. \n"The first phase included a new grass playing surface, the first upgrade since the field was constructed, in addition to a 5,000-seat, poured-in-place grandstand," according to the site. "The concrete grandstand includes a complete soccer press facility, including seating for 50 media members, restrooms and a food service area. The entire cost of Phase I was over $2.5 million. The second phase was completed in the spring of 2001. It included the removal of the old north stands and the two-level press box."\nSenior midfielder Drew Shinabarger highlighted the importance of quality facilities and his demeanor towards them. \n"It's the main thing you look for when you're going to attend a school," Shinabarger said. "We have great facilities and should be proud of them." \nHe said the facilities weigh in on every student-athlete's decision when they choose a school. He added the facilities heavily influenced his decision to become a Hoosier. Shinabarger also shed light on one luxury that sometimes gets overlooked at the soccer complex. \n"We've received great donations from alumni and friends," Shinabarger said. "One thing those donations have gone to are the lights. The lights are unbelievable. Most people don't notice our lights either." \nArmstrong Stadium was financed completely by private donations. Coach Jerry Yeagley said looking back on the situation it is amazing to see what they have now. \n"We've come a long way," Yeagley said. "Our first office had chicken wire in the glass window. It was located in the bowels of Assembly Hall. When we were a club team, we used to play on Jordan Field behind the fraternities. Now we have one of the best facilities in the country. I'm extremely proud. Bill Armstrong was a humble man and we owe a lot to him. We also owe a great deal to the other contributors as well." \nWhile Yeagley detailed the history of the IU soccer stadiums and thanked Armstrong, Zayner said the other IU sports are privileged to have fine facilities, too. Zayner added soccer is only one sport at IU that receives the very best facilities.\n"It's a blessing," Zayner said. "Just going to Connecticut. Seeing the other places where we play. It's so nice here at IU. The facilities are great for football and for track and field as well. It's not just soccer that the facilities are great for." \nLike his teammate, Zayner said the soccer facilities were instrumental in his decision to attend IU. He added it was a big factor as to why he chose to become a Hoosier. \n"They're not going to put up good facilities for bad players," Zayner said. "Only the best players go to IU and play soccer for the Hoosiers." \nMeanwhile, Yeagley said this project was a big undertaking and added that work still needs to be completed on the north side of the Stadium.\n"It was a major capital campaign," Yeagley said. "It's still not quite finished. But even though it's not completely finished, we can honor the great players of the past with it."\nYeagley said they still need to put some finishing touches on the stadium, especially on the north stands, opposite the press box. It is expected to add another 5,000 seats to the stadium. \nMoreover, the future plans include a new entry plaza to join Hayes Track at Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex with Armstrong Stadium. Also, improvements to restrooms, concessions and storage space have been discussed.\nArmstrong Stadium currently includes complete locker room amenities for both IU and the visiting team on the north side. The Hoosiers' locker room includes a complete training room on location.\nZayner said the most impressive thing that stands out to him about Armstrong Stadium is the belief in the men's soccer program. \n"The tradition that went into it (Armstrong Stadium)," Zayner said. "When they put the flags up, you understand what you're playing for. You're playing for the IU logo. There's just so much tradition in it (Armstrong Stadium)." \n-- Contact staff writer Zack Eldridge at zeldridg@indiana.edu.
(09/19/03 6:17am)
SOUTH BEND -- The word heartbreaking best characterizes the men's soccer team's match at Notre Dame last night. The No. 18 Hoosiers (2-3-2) were outlasted by the Fighting Irish, 1-0 in double-overtime at Alumni Field.\nNotre Dame (3-1-2) tallied the game-winning goal off a free kick with 2:58 left in the second overtime. Irish junior Kevin Goldthwaite was credited with the game-winning score as he deflected the free kick from just outside the 18-yard box past goalkeeper Jay Nolly.\nIU Coach Jerry Yeagley said he was disappointed with his team's lack of firepower on offense. \n"This game should have been over way before overtime," Yeagley said. "We struggled finishing tonight and that has been the case in our last few games."\nBoth teams struggled to get scoring chances in the first half, and it appeared as if both teams were feeling each other out at the outset of the match. \nThe Hoosiers controlled the ball possession the majority of the first 45 minutes. As a result, IU out-shot the No. 16 Irish 4-1 at the half. But the Hoosiers could not break through on the scoreboard.\nJunior midfielder Danny O'Rourke echoed his coach's sentiments.\n"We came out firing hard," O'Rourke said. "We stuck to our game plan. We played strong at the start. But like coach said, we need to finish."\nNotre Dame is the site of Yeagley's first career coaching victory. He defeated the Irish 5-1 to earn his first career win on September 14, 1973. This match, however, would take on a different tone.\nJunior forward Ned Grabavoy described the difficult stretch of the season the squad has experienced thus far this year. \n"I would like a rematch with every team we played so far this season," Grabavoy said. "Nothing's going our way right now. But we return home on Sunday and hopefully we can gain some confidence from that match."\nGrabavoy said this contest was particularly frustrating because of the way IU lost and the nature of the match. \n"We did everything right in this match," Grabavoy said. "We just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net. You can't complain though, because that's soccer. That's the way it goes sometimes." \nYeagley said a line has to be drawn with his team's inefficiencies offensively. \n"We're just not capitalizing," Yeagley said. "For whatever reason we can't seem to score when we get close to the goal. I'm proud of the way we played tonight, though. But we need somebody to step up when we get the ball deep into our offensive end." \nThe Hoosiers had their share of opportunities in the first. \nSophomore forward Trey Meek belted a powerful shot in the 32nd minute that was grabbed by Notre Dame's goalkeeper, junior Chris Sawyer.\nGrabavoy blasted a shot in the eighth minute of the second that was just wide right.\nBut Notre Dame applied the pressure in the waning minutes of regulation. A high cross by an Irish player was bobbled, but corralled by IU junior goalkeeper Jay Nolly, Regulation ended with a scoreless tie.\nGrabavoy knocked a shot that went high over the goal a little more than a minute into the first overtime. But both teams had few scoring chances in the two overtimes.\nThe Hoosiers next host Michigan State on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium. Yeagley said he has to prepare his team for that affair, but it will be a challenge after the one-goal loss to Notre Dame. \n"It's conference time and we've dug ourselves a hole," Yeagley said. "We'll see what kind of character this team has. It should be interesting to see. We've got to get wins."\nThe Hoosiers have a 36-game winning streak in Big Ten matches. The last time they lost in conference play was on October 13, 1995 when the dropped a match to Wisconsin.\nIU's all-time mark in Big Ten action stands at 57-4-2.