Seniors finish regular season with overtime victory

IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis almost ruined Senior Day for No. 5 IU Sunday.\nBut a storybook ending lifted the Hoosiers over the in-state rival in double overtime, 2-1.\nSenior Ryan Mack sent a cross to fellow senior Pat Noonan in the second extra session for the game-winner in what coach Jerry Yeagley dubbed as the "Patty-Mack show."\n"For Pat to get the game winner from Mack, it's appropriate for them on Senior Day," Yeagley said. "For those two All-Americans to find a way to get a victory on that last play, that's symbolic of the entire group of seniors."\nNoonan kept IU's hopes alive for a good seed in the NCAA Tournament with his goal, but Yeagley knew a win would not be easy when one of Noonan's shots hit the inside of the post, but the ball seemed like it did not want to go in the goal.\nThe Hoosiers (14-2-2) had plenty of chances to finish off the Jaguars (3-14-2) in regulation, but the shots kept missing. IU outshot IUPUI 33-7, and goalkeeper Drew Deffner came away with 13 saves, but it was IU's resolve that was the key in the game.\n"The seniors are the heart and soul of this team," Yeagley said. "They fight their hearts out and never quit. They really play for each other. You would think with all the talent in the group, there would be some egos, but they work to make each other look good."\nThis year's senior class of Noonan, John Swann, Matt Reiswerg, Michael Bock, Phil Presser, and Marcus Chorvat has managed a 69-16-3 record and three trips to the College Cup and a National Championship in the past four seasons. Fifth-year senior Mack has one more National Championship under his belt from 1998. Reiswerg and Swann were redshirted in 1998.\nOf the seniors, Noonan and Mack have been the most potent on offense. \nAll-American Noonan has won the Big Ten Player of the Week honor four times this season and seven times in his career. He is in the seventh position on IU's career goals list with 48 and sixth with 127 points.\nThe tight-knit group of seniors has helped Noonan excel, and every time he takes the field, he knows it's going to be a good experience.\n"It's been a pleasure on the field and off the field," Noonan said. "Once we get on the field, it's just as much fun as off the field. We love playing for each other. We don't have many more games to play with each other, so hopefully we end it on the right note."\nFellow All-American Mack ranks second in points this season for IU with 21 on six goals and nine assists, and is tied for eighth all-time with 35 assists.\nBoth were named first-team preseason All-Americans. Swann was a second-team selection and has helped tie down the Hoosiers' defense after losing three starters from last year's team.\nSwann wants one more shot to finish the same way he started at IU.\n"There's no feeling like it," Swann said. "When you look up and see zero on the clock and you've won a National Championship, you'll always remember that. Last year was the closest to winning a National Championship without winning one, and that's the worst feeling. The championship is what we're going for, and anything less is unacceptable"