Fans tune in to victory

Gathered in front of their computers and huddled around their radio dials, Hoosier fans across the country tuned in Saturday night to one of IU coach Jerry Yeagley's biggest victories in 31 years.\nIU defeated No. 1 UCLA 2-1 to advance to this weekend's College Cup in Columbus, Ohio.\nWith the Hoosiers playing more than 2,000 miles from home, many soccer loyalists were unable to make the trip to Los Angeles but now get the chance to watch IU play in its 16th College Cup, just 226 miles from Bloomington.\n"After we beat VCU, I never thought I'd be able to see IU play soccer again," senior Jordan Robinson said. "I'm so excited that Columbus is a short trip and I'll be able to watch IU."\nThe Hoosiers will travel nearly four hours to Columbus Crew Stadium, home of Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew, to battle Santa Clara Friday. \n"With the College Cup falling on a weekend in a city not too far, this is turning into a dream season for the players, but also the fans now," Robinson said. "I hope a ton of fans make the trip."\nIU's last College Cup in 2001 was also in Columbus, where Hoosier fans watched IU beat St. John's 2-1 in the semifinals only to lose 2-0 to North Carolina in the title game. \nHeading to UCLA, many of the Hoosier followers doubted seeing another IU game coached by Yeagley. In fact, many senior students attended last week's 5-0 pummeling of VCU to catch a glimpse of Hoosier soccer one last time. \n"I try to never doubt our ability to win a game, but going to UCLA without our two best players didn't have me planning any kind of trip to Columbus," senior David Lizzo said. "Going to watch your team play in the College Cup is an opportunity few students get."\nOn Sept. 18, IU fell to Notre Dame 1-0 in double overtime falling to 2-3-2 and making most IU fans wonder if the team would even make the tournament. But a 16-game unbeaten streak, including a Big Ten regular season and tournament championship, gives IU fans a chance to see one of college's hottest soccer teams finish a remarkable second half of the season. \nBarely able open his eyes junior Paul Markowitz sat on his desk chair nervously listening to the game on his 1989 General Electric radio. \nThrough the static, Markowitz constantly adjusted the radio, attempting to get a better signal. \n"Listening to the game with all my friends was amazing," Markowitz said. "Everyone sitting around my G.E radio, listening to IU pull off the comeback was an unbelievable experience."\nIU will battle a Santa Clara squad coming off a 3-1 victory over Michigan.\n"I think if we can go to California and beat the nation's best team, then we can beat anyone," Lizzo said. "I just hope the team gets a strong following in Columbus because the players and Yeagley have definitely earned it."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.