Noonan nets OT game-winner against Jaguars

IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis took the IU men's soccer team to limit on a cold and drizzly afternoon yesterday as it took the No. 5 Hoosiers double overtime to down the Jaguars 2-1. With the win, IU (14-2-2) concluded its regular season play undefeated at home going 5-0-2 record at Bill Armstrong Stadium.\nThe Hoosiers dominated much of the play as they had 15 shots on goal to the Jaguars' three. IU also had season highs with 33 shots and 17 corner kicks in the match. IUPUI freshman goalkeeper Drew Deffner made 13 saves on the day, an opponent high against the Hoosiers this season. IU now holds a 3-0 record all-time against the Jaguars, who are 3-14-2 on the year.\nDespite struggling to put the ball in the back of the net, IU coach Jerry Yeagley said he was not upset with the way his squad played.\n"A lesser team, a non-IU championship caliber could have tied or lost this game today," Yeagley said. "We hung in there and did not get frustrated to the point of doing things we should not be trying to do."\nSophomore forward Mike Ambersley started the scoring 39:31 into the match when he received a touch pass from senior forward Pat Noonan and drilled a shot into the lower right corner past Deffner. The goal was Ambersley's first of the season after he netted six goals as a freshman last year.\nAmbersley said it was a good feeling to get back in the scoring column for the Hoosiers.\n"It has been a tough season for me scoring," Ambersley said. "I just kept at it and knew it would come one of these times. I scored a big goal today and I am just happy to contribute."\nIUPUI knotted the game at 1-1 with 36:16 remaining in the match when freshman forward Shane Bonin beat IU sophomore keeper Jay Nolly with a hard shot into the low right corner of the goal.\nIU looked to regain the lead just two minutes later as freshman Brian Plotkin was pulled down in the penalty box and the Hoosiers were awarded a penalty kick. Senior Ryan Mack took the kick for the Hoosiers, but Deffner made a diving save to his right to preserve IUPUI's chances. Deffner also made a diving save on a shot by Noonan with 20:21 left in the match when it looked as though the Hoosier senior All-American might have come up big again.\nAs the game entered overtime, it was apparent IUPUI was content to leave Bloomington with a tie as they continually put nine and 10 defenders in IU's offensive box to stymie any Hoosier chances. After the Hoosiers were unable to generate any great chances in the first overtime, IU was on the attack in the second overtime.\nWith 8:22 left in the second overtime, Noonan sent a cross into the IU box and senior John Swann put a header off the right post. Just more than a minute later, with 7:03 remaining, Mack made a run down the left sideline before crossing the ball toward the goal. The ball went to Noonan's feet and he knocked a shot into the right side past Deffner.\n"It was a good feeling to get that goal, because if we don't win that game there are a lot of disappointed people," Noonan said. "Luckily we were able to get it before the end of overtime. Mack played a great ball in and I was able to be in the right place and put it in the net."\nIU once again played without sophomore midfielders Danny O'Rourke and Ned Grabavoy, both out with injuries. O'Rourke is hoping to be back for the Big Ten Championships on Nov. 15 and Grabavoy could be back for Big Ten's unless he is with the U.S. Under-20 National Team in South Carolina that weekend. Junior midfielder Vijay Dias sat out much of the game after he separated his shoulder last weekend in IU's match with Cal-State Fullerton.\nYeagley emphasized the need for the Hoosiers to get healthy heading into postseason play.\n"We are missing some key people," Yeagley said. "For Vijay to come in the game with a separated shoulder, we were not going to use him unless we were desperate, so we got a little desperate. Of course we missed Ned and Danny; we need to get healthy now"