Hoosiers get statement win against Michigan State Spartans

East Lansing, Mich. -- The IU men's soccer team made a statement to the rest of the Big Ten conference on Sunday in East Lansing, Mich. The Hoosiers are back to defend their six-year run atop the Big Ten regular season standings. Despite a sluggish start offensively, the No. 9 ranked Hoosiers had posted a 4-1-2 record against stiff competition.\nIU battled Michigan State to open Big Ten regular season play and dominated the No. 22 Spartans, winning 6-1.\n"We had struggled up here in recent years, but we really worked hard on having the guys ready mentally and I think that was a big part of our coming out and having all cylinders working," Hoosier coach Jerry Yeagley said. "There were some beautiful goals and some beautiful offense; we were able to get some valuable time for some reserves that will pay off down the line."\nThe Hoosiers did not waste any time showing their capability either, as sophomore Vijay Dias found the back of the net just 46 seconds into the match. Senior Pat Noonan was credited with an assist on Dias' goal, which came off a rebound off the crossbar. At the 24:40 mark, senior Ryan Mack found the back of the net after receiving a pass in the middle of the field from Noonan, who was on the right wing.\nWith just 1:41 remaining in the half Noonan scored his first goal of the day to push the Hoosier lead to 3-0. Sophomore forward Ned Grabavoy and Mack were given assists on the play. Noonan scored again just 4:02 into the second half when Grabavoy fed him the ball on the right side of the field. Noonan touched the ball right and back left to lose his defender and then placed the ball perfectly in the top left corner out of the reach of senior Spartan goalkeeper Tyler Robinson.\n"There were a couple guys fading to the back post and I just tried to cut it in and bent chipped it to the back post," Noonan said of his second goal. "It was fortunate enough for the ball land where it did, I wish I would have intended for it to go right there, but it looked good and I'll take anything I can get."\nThe onslaught continued as senior forward Michael Bock and Grabavoy found sophomore back Michael Bowditch on the in the back of the box on a corner kick. Bowditch received the ball and drilled it past Robinson for the first goal of his career.\nThe Spartans broke up IU sophomore keeper Jay Nolly's shutout bid at the 69:46 mark of the match. Junior Thomas Trivelloni beat Nolly after receiving a pass from redshirt freshman Steve Doster, who was a transfer from IU last year. The goal was MSU's first goal against IU since 1996 and only its seventh in the thirty game series.\nNolly did make four saves on the day, including two saves in the first half to preserve the IU lead. The win gave Nolly his first career Big Ten victory.\nMack put the finishing touches on the game with 4:16 left as he received a cross from the left side and headed it off the crossbar. Falling down, Mack reacted quickly and notched his second goal, driving the ball to the left of Robinson.\nMack, a native of Beverly Hills, Mich., said it was nice to put up an impressive performance in front of fans familiar with his play.\n"Out of any game we have played I have been more excited before the game to play this game than any other one," Mack said. "It was good to go out there in front of a bunch of fans who knew who I was and for us to get that first goal. I think (Michigan State) thought this was their year. Our coaches got us fired up and our teammates got us fired up and we just wanted to go out there and start the Big Ten season with a great performance."\nThe Hoosiers return to Big Ten play Friday, Sept. 27 when they travel to Penn State to take on the Nittany Lions.