Happy Valley rewards

The IU men's soccer team took its 47-game conference unbeaten streak into University Park this weekend to face Penn State, a team that hadn't lost in a nation's best 12 games.\nIn the end, it was IU's streak that was extended to 48.\nThe win pushed the Hoosiers to 2-0 in Big Ten play and 7-2 overall. Penn State is now 5-1-4 and 0-1 in the Big Ten.\nThe final score was 2-1 with all the scoring coming in the first half.\n"I thought we came out real well and took it to them in the first half," IU coach Mike Freitag said. "I thought their goal was their first real chance and we just didn't clear very well. It was nice for the boys to come right back and get one before the half."\nThe Hoosiers started the scoring when junior forward Mike Ambersley headed in a corner kick from junior midfielder Brian Plotkin. It was Ambersley's second goal of the season and the fourth assist of the year for Plotkin.\nIn the 28th minute, Penn State netted an equalizer from the foot of Brian Devlin. After a deflection by senior goalkeeper Jay Nolly, Devlin one-timed a shot from 25-yards out that then got by Nolly.\nFor the fourth time this season, it was sophomore forward Jacob Peterson to the rescue with a game-winning goal. The goal brings his season total to seven.\nPeterson scored when fellow sophomore midfielder Josh Tudela played a crossing ball that hit Peterson at the left post of the PSU net. It was Tudela's third assist of the season.\nThe defense did the rest of the work despite playing without sophomore back Julian Dieterle. Freshman Greg Stevning made his first collegiate start and played outstanding, Freitag said.\n"They didn't really have any great opportunities to score," Freitag said. "A lot of balls were played in that (Nolly) snagged. I'm very proud of the way we defended as a team."\nEntering the season, getting both forwards, Ambersley and Peterson, on the same page was a major goal. Both forwards found the net Friday, but there is still some ironing out to do.\n"I still think we have got a little ways to go," Ambersley said. "But I'm getting to know his tendencies a little better than the beginning of the season. Playing with a new striker takes time."\nIt was nine games into last season when the Hoosiers turned things around and began their quest for the title. The team stands well ahead of the 2-3-4 record it held last year, but still needs to stay focused for a repeat finish to the season.\n"I think it's a lesson we learned last year," Plotkin said. "You can't click off at all. You've got to know what's going on and be clicked in every moment and I think that's what we've learned now."\n-- Contact staff writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.