Men’s Soccer: Hoosiers Extend Winning Streak

It was a rainy night at Bill Armstong Stadium in Bloomington Wednesday, but the field wasn’t all that was sloppy as the Hoosiers (8-3-2) took on rival Kentucky (8-7-1).

IU looked to stretch to a three game winning streak after defeating Butler and Michigan in their past two games. The Wildcats didn’t let the Hoosiers off easily, however.

Kentucky came out of the gate looking much more aggressive than the Hoosiers, putting up eight corner kicks compared Indiana’s one.

Both teams had some good looks at the net, but neither could connect for a goal in the first half.

IU goalkeeper Luis Soffner kept the game in check with saves on a few close calls for the Wildcats that could have easily put the Hoosiers down at the half. But the combination of Kentucky’s attacking offense and pressing weather conditions would keep the Hoosiers out of their normal offensive groove for most of the first half of the contest.

Despite sloppy play and a lackluster performance by Indiana in the first half, the Hoosiers came out in the second half with the aggression and confidence typical of a Yeagley coached IU squad.

“That’s three in a row we haven’t been playing our best in the first half,” said Midfielder Nikita Kotlov, “but we picked it up in the second half.”

Freshman Forward Eriq Zavaleta knocked in a penalty kick for the Hoosiers early in the half, giving Indiana the 1-0 lead.  IU continued to fight for possessions, and would dominate most of the second half.

As the match drew to a close, the Hoosiers sealed the win with a goal from 20 yards out from Nikita Kotlov with only 8:34 left to play in the contest.  Indiana would defeat Kentucky 2-0, extending their record against the Wildcats to 22-1-3.

Despite the win, Indiana’s sloppy first half is not atypical for the Hoosiers of late.  This match marked the fourth game in a row that the Hoosiers did not score in the first half.

While the IU players said the weather played a factor in the slow startup, they didn’t use the tough playing conditions as an excuse.

“It was hard to get going with it being cold and rainy out,” said Goalkeeper Luis Soffner. “ But we needed to trust our defense and be confident. It was a good feeling getting a few saves, but if we limit those chances, that’s an even better feeling.”

The Hoosiers go on to face Michigan State on Sunday and hope to continue their recent win streak.

The players and coaches are well aware that if they want to continue playing at the level signature to IU soccer, stretches of no offensive production like in the first half of this game can’t happen, especially as they near the post season.

“We need to find results in games like these because in the post season, each team’s gonna be better,” Coach Yeagley said after the win over Kentucky. “We need to stay motivated to keep us in the hunt, which we very much are right now.

The Hoosiers are certainly in the hunt in a post season race that seems wide open after a week of unexpected losses from many top ten teams including Connecticut, Louisville and Akron.

“We know how good we can be when we’re on,” said Midfielder Alec Purdie. “A lot of teams have fallen his week, but at the end of the day, we know we control our own destiny.”

A _-_ On a team where over half of the starting lineup consists of freshmen and sophomores, its no surprise that much of the IU offense comes from these underclassmen. Freshman defender Eriq Zavaleta is no exception, and in fact leads the Hoosiers in goals this season.

Eriq Zavaleta:

- Coming off his first career multiple-goal match

- His seven goals this season are the most by a freshman since Darren Yeagley in 2006

- Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week this week and honored by College Soccer News for the second time this season

- 3 goals in a two game span with 2 over Michigan and 1 on October 12 against Butler

-Soccer runs in the family: his uncle and father are both in the UCLA Bruins hall of fame and his uncle is currently the

- 4 percent (6/11) of Indiana’s starting lineup is either a freshman or sophomore. In addition, the first two players off the bench are also sophomores.

• Twelve different players have scored points for IU this year.

• The Hoosiers have been held scoreless in the first half for three-straight matches (Creighton, Butler, and Michigan).

• Zavaleta is currently tied for the team lead in goals scored with seven. That is the most goals in a season by a Hoosier freshman since Darren Yeagle also netted seven in 2006. Freshman Eriq Zavaleta’s uncle, Greg Vanney, is currently an assistant coach with MLS’ Chivas USA and was an 11-year member of the U.S. Men’s National Team. Both his uncle Greg and father, Carlos, played at UCLA and are in the Bruins’ Hall of Fame.

- Freshman Eriq Zavaleta has earned national honors for the second time this season as he was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and to the College Soccer News Team of the Week and the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week on Oct. 17.

• It is the second time this season Zavaleta has been honored by College Soccer News as he was also named to the team of the week on Sept. 5.

• Zavaleta earns the recognition after tallying three goals in a two-match span for the Hoosiers. He netted the game-winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Butler on Oct. 12, and added a pair of scores in a 4-1 win at Michigan on Oct. 15.

• The two goals vs. Michigan give Zavaleta his first career multiple-goal game.

• Zavaleta is currently tied for the team lead in goals scored with seven. That is the most goals in a season by a Hoosier freshman since Darren Yeagley also netted seven in 2006.

• Freshman Eriq Zavaleta’s uncle, Greg Vanney, is currently an assistant coach with MLS’ Chivas USA and was an 11-year member of the U.S. Men’s National Team. Both his uncle Greg and father, Carlos, played at UCLA and are in the Bruins’ Hall of Fame.

Photo by Mike Dickbernd, IU Athletics