Nov. 29, 2009

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The up-and-down ride for the 2009 Indiana men's soccer team came to an end Sunday afternoon with a 1-0 loss at No. 4 North Carolina at Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. in the third round of the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship.

Indiana finishes the 2009 season at 12-10-1. North Carolina improves to 15-2-3.

"I want to congratulate the Tar Heels on a good win," said Indiana head coach Mike Freitag. "We knew coming down here it was going to be a tough task against a team that keeps it solid and they don't give things away.

"But I would also like to congratulate my team on a season where I really challenged them with our schedule and they found a way to get it going at the end of the season to make it to the sweet sixteen. I am awfully proud of them."

North Carolina scored what would be the game-winning goal at 27:01 when Alex Dixon took on two IU defenders on the left post, spun his way out of traffic and shot the ball to the lower right under an outstretched Luis Soffner. Cameron Brown and Jordan Graye assisted on the score.

It was nearly a two goal Carolina lead two minutes later when Zach Loyd headed in a corner kick, but Darren Yeagle cleared the ball off the line for the team save.

Prior to the goal the Hoosiers had controlled the run of play for a stretch but were unable to finish their chances.

Eight minutes into the first half, Eric Alexander came up the right side, weaving through the UNC defense and tried to lay the ball off to Will Bruin but Bruin was called offsides on the play.

In the 11th minute, Ofori Sarkodie played a ball over the top for Yeagle who came up under it, but UNC goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty was able to scoop it up before Yeagle could get a foot on it.

Indiana's first shot of the match came at 21:21 into the first half of play. Yeagle won the ball just past midfield and dribbled up the middle before laying off to a streaking Bruin. Bruin saw Andy Adlard open in front of the net about 18 yards out, but Adlard's shot was stopped by UNC goalkeeper Brooks Haggerty.

A few minutes later, Adlard had a free kick opportunity 30 yards out with a straight shot at the net, but Haggerty made the easy save.

In the 26th minute, Bruin won the ball in the left corner and sent in service to Hagedorn on the far post, but the senior midfielder could not get enough behind his header and Haggerty made the easy save.

Indiana nearly took a goal back with 2:20 left in the first half as Yeagle was all alone on the back post and had Haggerty out of position, but sent his header just inches wide left of the frame.

The Hoosiers' best chance of the second half came with 10 minutes to play as Adlard settled the ball 13 yards out, spun and shot the ball, forcing Haggerty to made a split-second save by blocking the ball with his hands.

Indiana's defense stood strong throughout, including a block on the line with nine minutes to go. Soffner finished the match with five saves. Adlard led the attack with three shots, while Alexander had two. Bruin was held without a shot for the first time this season.