Soccer: Hoosiers beat Kentucky in physical match

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Three IU soccer players sat on the bench after the Hoosiers' 2-0 win against Kentucky Wednesday night. Vapor rose from their moist jerseys as they took their time drinking from Gatorade cups and resting after a highly physical match that had eight yellow cards and a red card.\nIn the 50th minute, Kentucky coach Ian Collins left the bench with trainers after one of his players was taken down without a call. Seconds later, IU senior forward Matt Fundenberger was knocked down near a sideline, resulting in a Kentucky foul. A shoving match ensued between the two teams before the referees stepped in. IU coach Jerry Yeagley was issued a yellow card for his heated words with an official.\nLess than a minute later, junior goalkeeper Colin Rogers leaped over a Kentucky defender to save a shot, taking down the defender underneath him. Another tussle between players followed. A yellow card was called on the Wildcats' defender.\n"I was pleased we didn't get intimidated and retaliate because there were some situations that could have gotten ugly," Yeagley said about the physical match. "In saying that, I don't think Kentucky is a dirty team. I just think frustration took over out there."\nWith 10 minutes left in the game, Kentucky midfielder Brian Mitts was issued a red card for deliberately fouling sophomore midfielder Marcus Chorvat. After the foul, Chorvat grabbed his leg in pain and the Wildcats had to play with just 10 on the field.\nThe play had become more intense after IU's first goal, which came after sophomore midfielder Pat Noonan shot the ball from 20 yards out in the 30th minute. The ball was deflected over the crossbar by Kentucky's goalkeeper, setting up an IU corner kick. Off the restart, junior midfielder Tyler Hawley headed the ball for his first goal this season. Junior midfielder Ryan Mack assisted the goal.\n"The first goal was our goalkeeper's fault," Collins said. "I don't care if somebody pushed into him, ran into him or whatever. (If the ball) is inside the six-yard box, he'd better play that ball. No question about it. That was a goal we didn't need to give up."\nA poor Kentucky clear in its defensive third set up IU's second goal early in the second half. Mack brought the ball upfield, and then passed to Noonan, who outraced two defenders and fired a shot into the net off his right foot.\nNoonan could have had three or four more goals, Yeagley said. Noonan often dominated the midfield on offense and lead three-on-one plays. \n"(The match) wasn't very clean in any way," Noonan said. "Not too many passes put together, balls in the air. That's the way they play. They tried to hit a lot of headballs and we did too. It was all over the place, and in that kind of game, you've just got to keep your composure and play good defense and not give up a goal."\nThe Wildcats' best chance for a goal was in the 69th minute. Freshman marking back David Prall was called for a handball to the right of Kentucky's goal, setting up a free kick from about 10 yards out. Off the restart, the ball was headed out three times off two corner kicks before it was cleared.\nA quick IU counterattack followed as Noonan raced upfield against two defenders. He gave the ball to Chorvat, who passed it to Fundenberger, who shot it wide.\nAlthough IU's offense didn't capitalize on such opportunities, Yeagley said he was pleased with his team's defense, which limited Kentucky to seven shots on an offense that mainly passed the ball in the air. The Wildcat's biggest scoring threats came off of restarts.\n"It was a choppy game and in saying that they gave us the counter and we didn't capitalize," Yeagley said. "When you have the number of good opportunities that we had tonight, we've got to do better with the finishing. We can't be satisfied, and that's one thing we're going to have to do better"