Cardinals shut out in high-scoring game

After struggling to score only three goals in its first four games, the IU men's soccer team was looking for a breakout game.\nThe Hoosiers might have found one Thursday night in Louisville.\nIU (3-2-0), eclipsed its total goal output for the season by pouring in four goals and shutting out the Cardinals, 4-0.\nAfter controlling most of the offense in the early going, Indiana broke through at the 23:35 mark as freshman Mike Ambersley found junior Pat Noonan streaking down the right sideline. Noonan cut the ball to the middle and sent a rocket into the back of the net. The two former high school teammates would hookup again at the 33:59 mark, as Ambersley controlled a Noonan shot that bounced off the crossbar and fed it back to Noonan, setting Noonan up for his second goal of the game.\n"Pat Noonan showed he was an All-American, Player of the Year candidate tonight," coach Jerry Yeagley said. "His knee was sore and it was questionable whether he would even play tonight, but his two goals says it all."\nIn the second half, freshman J.D. Johnston assisted senior Tyler Hawley on a strike in front of the goal, making the score 3-0. Ambersley then capped off the high scoring performance, netting the fourth and final goal of the evening.\n"This was a big game," Ambersley said. "We knew going in that there was a lot of pressure on the forwards to score some goals. After a three or four goal effort like we had tonight, that kind of takes the pressure off. We just finally clicked."\nNoonan said he thought the team played well together.\n"We finally came out and scored some goals," he said. "We always knew what we could do, now we just have to build on this effort and continue to get stronger." \nThe scoring touch could not have come at a better time for the Hoosiers.\nIU opens its Big Ten season when it hosts Michigan State 2 p.m. Sunday\nTo say IU has dominated Michigan State would be an understatement. IU has won all 26 of its meetings against the Spartans. The Hoosiers have outscored the Spartans 95-6 in those contests, including escaping East Lansing last season with a 1-0 victory.\nEven with history on his side, Yeagley says the match will be a challenge.\n"Michigan State through last weekend was undefeated," Yeagley said. "(MSU coach Joe Baum) is a good coach and works to produce a very disciplined, man-marking system. We've had some very close calls with them in the past and I look forward to a great game."\nMichigan State (3-1-0) jumped out to a quick start earning this year with wins against Wisconsin-Green Bay, Robert Morris and Cleveland State. The Spartans lost their first game last weekend, 3-1 to Bowling Green.\n"This is going to be a very big game," Noonan said. "Our Big Ten opener on our home field. But if we play the way we did tonight, its going to be hard for anyone to beat us"