BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Missed opportunities and dismal playing conditions left Indiana searching for a goal it couldn't find in a 2-1 loss to Xavier (15-5-2) in an NCAA Tournament second round match Sunday afternoon at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
The Hoosiers end the 2014 campaign with a 12-5-5 record.
Indiana set the tone early for a dominating first half, pressuring the back line of Xavier and breaking them in the eight minute when a penalty kick was called for IU after a handball in the penalty area. For the fourth time this season Jamie Vollmer batted down by a Xavier defender.
Less than 10 minutes later in the 17th minute Indiana had another golden chance to get on the scoreboard as a cross into the box found the foot of a wide-open Femi Hollinger-Janzen. Hollinger-Janzen angled his shot just left of the target as the Hoosiers saw their second prime scoring opportunity go by the wayside.
Against the run of play it was Xavier on the scoreboard first as Matt Vasquenza netted his seventh of the season in the 29th minute. A long ball over the top off a goal kick found a streaking Vasquenza, who made his way around two sets of IU defenders before hitting a low, hard shot to the far post. Indiana goalkeeper Colin Webb got a mitt on it but not enough to angle it out of danger.
Being down a goal was not an unfamiliar place for Indiana this season and the Hoosiers came right back with the game-tying score in the 34th minute. Vollmer sent a cross into the box where freshman defender Grant Lillard made a run to the far post, heading the ball down and in for his fifth goal of the season.
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Lillard ended his rookie campaign with five goals and one assist.
The Hoosiers went into the locker room feeling good about their play, holding an 8-4 shot advantage with four of the eight on frame.
Indiana was again the aggressor in the second half, starting with a shot from Andrew Oliver in the 47th minute requiring a diving stop from Osswald. With just over 30 minutes left to play Hollinger-Janzen sent in a shot, requiring another save by Osswald.
In fact the Hoosiers out-shot the Musketeers by a 7-1 margin in the second half, but the one shot for XU was the difference maker. In the 74th minute Xavier was awarded a penalty kick after goalkeeper Colin Webb came off his line and tangled with the Xavier attacker just left of the goal. A yellow card for Webb and PK was the result; with Will Walker tallying his seventh goal of the season for the 2-1 Xavier lead.
Indiana continued to try to muddle through the sloshy, rain-soaked pitch but every attack was met by Osswald, who finished the day with seven saves. Thompson led the way for IU with five shots, three of them on frame.
The game marked the end of the careers of seniors Sean Weidman. They leave with the program's 12th Big Ten Tournament title (2013) and eighth NCAA Championship (2012) to their credit. Bradford and Lax were also true freshman on the team that won the Big Ten regular season title in 2010.
Media Contact: Melanie Schneider (ms48@indiana.edu)
Go Hoosiers!
per Varsity Club
The Hoosiers end the 2014 campaign with a 12-5-5 record.
Indiana set the tone early for a dominating first half, pressuring the back line of Xavier and breaking them in the eight minute when a penalty kick was called for IU after a handball in the penalty area. For the fourth time this season Jamie Vollmer batted down by a Xavier defender.
Less than 10 minutes later in the 17th minute Indiana had another golden chance to get on the scoreboard as a cross into the box found the foot of a wide-open Femi Hollinger-Janzen. Hollinger-Janzen angled his shot just left of the target as the Hoosiers saw their second prime scoring opportunity go by the wayside.
Against the run of play it was Xavier on the scoreboard first as Matt Vasquenza netted his seventh of the season in the 29th minute. A long ball over the top off a goal kick found a streaking Vasquenza, who made his way around two sets of IU defenders before hitting a low, hard shot to the far post. Indiana goalkeeper Colin Webb got a mitt on it but not enough to angle it out of danger.
Being down a goal was not an unfamiliar place for Indiana this season and the Hoosiers came right back with the game-tying score in the 34th minute. Vollmer sent a cross into the box where freshman defender Grant Lillard made a run to the far post, heading the ball down and in for his fifth goal of the season.
The Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Lillard ended his rookie campaign with five goals and one assist.
The Hoosiers went into the locker room feeling good about their play, holding an 8-4 shot advantage with four of the eight on frame.
Indiana was again the aggressor in the second half, starting with a shot from Andrew Oliver in the 47th minute requiring a diving stop from Osswald. With just over 30 minutes left to play Hollinger-Janzen sent in a shot, requiring another save by Osswald.
In fact the Hoosiers out-shot the Musketeers by a 7-1 margin in the second half, but the one shot for XU was the difference maker. In the 74th minute Xavier was awarded a penalty kick after goalkeeper Colin Webb came off his line and tangled with the Xavier attacker just left of the goal. A yellow card for Webb and PK was the result; with Will Walker tallying his seventh goal of the season for the 2-1 Xavier lead.
Indiana continued to try to muddle through the sloshy, rain-soaked pitch but every attack was met by Osswald, who finished the day with seven saves. Thompson led the way for IU with five shots, three of them on frame.
The game marked the end of the careers of seniors Sean Weidman. They leave with the program's 12th Big Ten Tournament title (2013) and eighth NCAA Championship (2012) to their credit. Bradford and Lax were also true freshman on the team that won the Big Ten regular season title in 2010.
Media Contact: Melanie Schneider (ms48@indiana.edu)
Go Hoosiers!
per Varsity Club
