No. 10 Indiana Drops Big Ten Opener at Penn State, 1-0
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – The Indiana men's soccer team dropped their Big Ten Conference opener at Penn State, 1-0. Penn State scored their decisive goal in the 70thminute, when James Brian's free kick found the waiting boot of Robby Sagel from six yards away.
Indiana had their best chance of the match in the early stages of the first half. Hoosier defender
Andrew Gutmansplit the Penn State defense on his way to the box, drawing a penalty kick opportunity in the process.
Tanner Thompson stepped up to take the shot, having made a penalty kick earlier this season against UAB. Thompson's placement was superb, but a diving save by Penn State's Matt Bersano disrupted the attempt.
Gutman had a strong showing from the wing on offense. The freshman led all players with three shots in the contest, including a pair of rifled attempts in the second half. Gutman also initiated the lion's share of scoring chances for the Hoosiers on Sunday afternoon.
The Hoosier defense continued their run of early-season success in the conference opener. The back line held Penn State to just two shot attempts on frame. The first, a curler by Drew Klingenberg from outside of the 18, threatened in the upper right corner, but an acrobatic save by
Colin Webb kept Penn State scoreless in the first half.
Femi Hollinger-Janzen played one of the best chances of the match in the second half. The senior midfielder collected a cross with his chest and made his strike off of the half volley, which echoed off of the crossbar. Hollinger-Janzen used his athleticism and uncanny situational awareness to draw restarts and cause problems all afternoon for the Penn State defense.
Indiana out-shot and drew more corners than their opponent this afternoon. Penn State's goal came from an opportunistic strike in a match that, for the most park, took place between the 18-yard boxes.
The Hoosiers (3-2-0, 0-1-0) return to action on Wednesday, September 16 with an away match against the Butler Bulldogs (3-0-1). The match will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET in Indianapolis, and will be Indiana's last road match before returning to Bloomington for a two-match home stand.
Go Hoosiers!
http://www.iuhoosiers.com/news/2015/9/13/MSOC_0913150107.aspx