IU 2, OHIO STATE 1\nThe IU women's soccer team split two games in their first home games this weekend.\nOn Friday night the team beat Ohio State 2-1 at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The victory propelled IU to its best start in school history, at 5-1-1, and surpassed its conference win total from last season in the year's third conference game.\nIU jumped on the board early when junior midfielder Kara Bryan took a cross from sophomore midfielder Emily Hotz. Hotz put the ball by Ohio State goalkeeper Jen Heaney from 18 yards at the 6:18 mark. Bryan's high shot caught Heaney just off her line and gave IU its earliest goal scored in a game this season.\n"That was a good goal for us," Bryan said. "We came out strong against them. It was our first game here. It was great to score an early goal. It helped set the tone."\nAs for the goal, Bryan said it was a great pass from Hotz, and she just blasted it hard.\nBryan took more of a leadership role as the Hoosiers were missing team co-captain Kelly Kram, who was home because of family matters.\n"Not having Kram hurt us," Bryan said. \nShe also said the entire team, including herself, took more responsibility and stepped up the intensity.\nThe Hoosiers allowed a goal to Buckeye Lisa Grubb with less than four minutes left in the first half. It was the fourth goal allowed by the Hoosiers all season. The goal was an exclamation to a half dominated by Ohio State, who controlled the majority of the tempo. The Hoosiers seemed flat after scoring the early goal.\n"That goal was a good shot," coach Joe Kelley said. "There was a breakdown before the shot. The forwards didn't pressure enough. You have to give them credit," he said.\nThe Hoosiers dominated the second half. IU outshot Ohio State 8-2 in the second half, captivated with a goal by junior forward Lisa Tecklenburg at 66:46. It was the last goal scored in the game.\nTecklenburg said it felt good to score the game-winning goal in the home opener. But, she didn't take all of the credit for the goal, which she shot high into the net from 20 yards out straight away.\n"I was there in the right place at the right time. Shelly Gruszka did most of the work," Tecklenburg said.\nThe Hoosiers had opportunities, but were hindered by offside calls. \n"The score easily could've been 5-0," said Hotz, who played a dominating defensive game, added with an assist. "The team did great tonight. There are tons of things we could've improved on, but we did great as a team. We needed this. We wanted to all step up and win this one for Kram."\nAnother factor in the victory was the return of sophomore back Carly Everett, who suffered an injury last week. She played an integral part of an IU defense that smothered and frustrated the Buckeyes all night.\n"I would say our style is tenacious. We don't give up on winning balls," Kelley said. "We have good tenacity to the ball and I think right now we are playing a style that is conducive to doing well in our conference."
IU 1, Penn State 4\nSunday, the Hoosiers had a chance to show their strength as they entered the game on top of the Big Ten standings. They were facing Penn State, who entered with a 22-game unbeaten streak in conference play, and enjoyed an 8-1 all time record against the Hoosiers. \nThe Hoosiers suffered a set back with a 4-1 defeat in a game they were thoroughly dominated by the No. 7 team in the country.\n"Today was one of those days where nobody could really pull it together," Kram said, in her return to the IU lineup. "We can't dwell on this though. We have to forget today. We have had a great Big Ten start so far. We just have to move on," she said.\nThe Hoosiers trailed early on a goal by Nittany Lion Heidi Drummond, assisted by National Player of the Year candidate Christie Welsh. The goal was set up by an indirect kick after IU sophomore goalie Shaunna Daugherty fielded a ball kicked to her by a teammate, which is an infraction leading to a short indirect kick. \n"That's a mental error that cost us," Kelley said.\nThe Hoosiers answered the goal when Bryan scored a goal on a penalty shot at 20:41. The goal was her second of the weekend.\nAfter that goal, the Hoosiers defense was unable to contain the Nittany Lions' attack. At 30:41, Joanna Lohman scored a goal from 26 yards out. The Hoosiers went into halftime with two shots, with the ball usually winding up on the Hoosiers side of the field. The Hoosiers came out in the second half flat. Chrisite Welsh gave Penn State a two-goal lead at 65:45, and six minutes later Drummond added another goal to seal the Hoosiers' fate. The four goals equaled the total the Hoosiers had allowed all season up until the game.\n"They're a great team," Kelley said. "They are the best we have played all year. They are athletic, big, strong, and experienced. They played hard and we played hard, but we lost."\nFreshman Kara Kornfeld was assigned to mark the explosive Welsh.\n"We were prepared," Kornfeld said. "We scouted them. You can't be intimidated by them. We made stupid mistakes. Breakdowns in the defense cost us. We allowed too much space. We need to learn from this loss."\nKram said it was hard for her to return to the lineup after attending to her family. \n"We have to work harder for the next game," Kram said. "It's only one game out of 13"
