Team handles turf, shuts out SEMO

IU dominated host Southeast Missouri State Sunday evening with a 2-0 victory, improving their record to 3-2-0 in their last game before the Big Ten season. The Otahkians were stifled offensively by a Hoosier defense that earned its second straight shutout. \nIU struck quickly, scoring in the eighth minute off a corner kick from senior midfielder Kara Bryan. Junior defender Erin Hesselbach found the ball on her head and knocked it into the goal. The score was especially gratifying for the St.Louis native Hesselbach who said she knew many of the SEMO players from high school rivalries.\nThe Hoosiers then fought through a physical game for over an hour before getting the game winner in the 75th minute. Senior forward Jenny Mann gave the ball a hard boot from 25 yards out after it bounced her way on a corner kick. Mann's shot was deflected passed the goalkeeper by one of her own Otahkian defenders, junior Valerie Henderson.\nMann was credited with an assist on the play. \n"It kind of put a knife through SEMO's heart," Mann said. \nThe score put the game out of reach for the Otahkians and gave the Hoosier defense relief towards the end of a hard fought game, Hesselbach said. It was the Otahkians' first regular season shutout since October 3, 2000. \nIU flew in and out in the same day and had to deal with another astroturf field. The surface gave them trouble ten days before in Cincinnati. There was a brief period of rain during the contest that made the ball bouncy, but the team came together to ensure the win, Mann said.\n"SEMO played us very difficultly," coach Mick Lyon said in a press release. "Everything was stacked against us -- the travel, the Astroturf, the strength of the other team -- but we were able to play a very solid game and overcome those odds for the win."\nBryan led the team in shots with five and three on goal. Bryan also got an assist on Hesselbach's score. \n"Kara Bryan found her touch tonight in linking with the front players and was very effective," Lyon said in a press release.\nAfter two straight wins, the Hoosiers feel ready to start the Big Ten season at Bill Armstrong Stadium this weekend against Wisconsin and Minnesota. The team has been focused all season on succeeding in conference play and will have to continue to play physically and win the battles for the possession in the air to continue their dominance. \n"It's going to be great to start off the Big Ten season at home," Hesselbach said.