Defense shuts down Air Force and Hartwick

IU notched its third straight shutout Sunday, downing Hartwick College, 1-0, in the Butler University SoccerFest.\nThe No. 9 Hoosiers entered the game 4-0 against the Hawks but had not faced them since 1984. It did not take long for IU to continue where it left off.\nIU controlled the pace of the game on both ends of the field, even though the low score showed otherwise.\n"We should have put them away in the first half," coach Jerry Yeagley said. "We could have easily had four or five goals today, but I'm pleased that we are creating opportunities. We've just got to get that final touch."\nAll season, IU has had plenty of scoring chances, outshooting its opponents 94-51, but has lacked the composure in the box to take advantage of the opportunities.\nYeagley said he knows that his team will explode soon because his players know how to find the net.\n"I pity the team when the floodgates finally open because we're going to roll over someone," Yeagley said.\nGoing into the game, Yeagley showed concern over whether his midfielders could control Hartwick's speedy attack after watching the Hawks dominate Butler Friday. Yeagley received a nice surprise from all of his midfielders, especially sophomore Danny O'Rourke.\n"He's got a heart of a lion," Yeagley said. "He's so valuable to the team. When others wear down, he always picks it up."\nThe Hoosiers' stifling defense prevented any shots on goal, and held Hartwick to only a couple good scoring chances. But they could not capitalize on their own chances in the first half. \n"The good thing is, that we were worrying about our defense, and that's been quite good," Yeagley said.\nSenior Pat Noonan launched four first half shots, but each barely missed the net. He found his touch early in the second half. Senior Ryan Mack sent a cross to sophomore Ned Grabavoy in the middle of the box who snuck a pass through to Noonan. He settled the ball and lifted over the goalkeeper for the lone goal on the day.\nIU continued its pressure, but rushed its shots leading to many near misses, moans and sighs from the Hoosier faithful.\n"Our composure in the final third has not been very good so far," Noonan said. "There were a lot of different players that had opportunities that did not put them away including myself."\nThe win over Hartwick improved IU's record to 4-1-2, and they finished 2-0 in the tournament.\nIU defeated Air Force Friday night 2-0 in the first game of the tournament. \nMack provided the offensive spark in the game notching two goals for the second time in his career.\nMack found the back of the net 15 minutes into the game off feeds from Noonan and Grabavoy. In the closing minutes of the half, Mack tallied his third goal of the season on sophomore Josh Reiher's assist.\n"I just was in the right place at the right time," Mack said. "I played 100 percent just like every game, and I got the chance to put them in."\nIU's success of the weekend didn't end with the two games they won; four Hoosiers were named to the All-Tournament team and two were recognized as MVPs. Noonan, Mack, Phil Presser and John Swann all received All-Tournament honors while Noonan was named offensive MVP and sophomore Jay Nolly took the defensive title.