Kentucky packs defense versus IU

When the Hoosier men's soccer team went to Lexington Wednesday night, the Wildcats played for a shutout and that's what they got.\nThe University of Kentucky packed all but one player into the defense at times versus the Hoosiers, leading to an eventual 0-0 score after double overtime. IU was still able to muster up 15 shots, many of which were from 20 yards out.\n"Soccer is a hard enough game to score in," head coach Mike Freitag said. "But when a team packs in with nine players it's even more difficult. That was not a good game for college soccer."\nThe Hoosiers were able to hold possession for much of the match, but the six defenders played by Kentucky were just too much for the two forward offense of IU.\n"Kentucky came out, not as a soccer team," senior midfielder Danny O'Rourke said. "They just cracked the ball in back looking for counters and dead balls. It's frustrating, but if that's the way they have to play us, I guess we just need to work on finishing."\nThe statistic lines read a closer game than those who were in attendance saw, as the 15-8 shot differential would infer a close game. When in reality, IU senior goalkeeper Jay Nolly only needed to make two saves and the rest of the UK shots came off dead balls and long desperation attempts.\n"I don't think our position changes much," junior midfielder Brian Plotkin said. "This is what they wanted to do, but it doesn't set us back at all."\nThe game capped off a five-game road swing for the Hoosiers that stretched from New Mexico to Pennsylvania. IU finished the road trip 2-2-1.\n"(Road games) strengthen us," Freitag said. "I think the players like playing on the road and going into hostile environments and showing what they can do, and they did that tonight. The score may not indicate it, but everyone here saw."\nWhen IU finally does return home they won't have long before having to lace up their boots again as Big Ten rival Michigan comes to town Sunday. Playing in front of the home crowd will be welcomed by the Hoosiers, but the road swing may be a bigger benefit once the postseason begins.\n"It makes us stronger," O'Rourke said. "I think the coaches do that on purpose because you have to play tough teams on the road during the tournament. It makes us better players."\nIU plays Michigan at home Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium. \n-- Contact staff writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.