Aug. 20, 2011

Box Score

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - In front of a crowd of more than 3,000, the 17th-ranked Indiana men's soccer team kicked off its 2011 campaign with a 1-1 tie against No. 23 Duke in an exhibition match at the ShindigZ National Soccer Festival in Fort Wayne, Ind.

"I thought we came out and put some good pressure and had some excellent chances," said head coach Todd Yeagley. "As the game went on I thought our decisions on when to try the killer pass or ball in behind were a little off, which didn't allow us to possess the ball as much as I would have liked to.

"This was a good team we went up against. Duke is tough and they have some of what I think are the best players in the country. We were definitely challenged."

The first half was all Indiana, beginning with a goal-scoring opportunity for sophomore midfielder Harrison Petts. Petts brought the ball to eight yards out inside the box but chose to make the extra pass instead of taking a chance against Duke goalkeeper James Belshaw, who had come off his line. Just minutes later, sophomore midfielder Blake Wise got his head on the end of a cross but sent his attempt high.

Forward Alec Purdie took one of his team-high four shots midway through the first half, sending the ball just over the cross bar. After a steady attack inside the Duke half of the field, the Hoosiers finally broke through in the 35th minute with a score from Petts. The play began out of the back with senior Chris Estridge, who was playing left back, bringing the ball up the left flank. He laid off a pass to Petts at the top of the 18, and Petts hammered home a shot for the score.

Indiana went into the half with a 1-0 lead and a 5-1 advantage in shot attempts. Junior goalkeeper Luis Soffner played the first 45 minutes, coming up with one save.

Freshman Michael Soderlund took over in goal to start the second half and was tested early as the Blue Devils began to find their rhythm on offense. A shot from Nick Palodichuk forced the freshman to make a quick reaction save, punching the ball over the cross bar. Soderlund finished with two saves on the evening.

The game-tying goal for Duke came in the 60th minute with a rocket shot from Andrew Wenger from 19 yards out. Chris Tweed-Kent assisted on the play.

Purdie had another good look at the goal, sending a ball into the right-side netting, and Estridge also hit the side of the net, this time on the left as he tried to chip a shot over Belshaw.

Indiana's best chance to tie up the game came late in the half when Duke was called for a handball in the box on a shot attempt by Estridge. Purdie took the penalty kick attempt but Belshaw came up with the game-winning save to keep the score at 1-1.

Duke also had one last gasp late in the game when Wenger had his shot headed off the line by defender Tommy Meyer after Soderlund had come out to try and grab the ball on the left side.

Indiana finished the evening with 11 shots, while Duke tallied eight, led by five from Wenger. The Hoosiers finished with four saves, as did the Blue Devils.

The Hoosiers wrap up the preseason on Sunday with an exhibition match against Xavier to close out the National Soccer Festival. The 2011 season begins on Saturday, Aug. 27 with a game at Notre Dame.