Hoosiers post shutout for coach's homecoming

EVANSVILLE -- For IU women's soccer coach Mick Lyon, it was a happy homecoming indeed.\nIn his first game against his alma mater and the team he coached for nine seasons, Lyon's Hoosiers defeated the University of Evansville 1-0 to extend the team's unbeaten streak to 11 games.\n"I didn't expect anything less than a win," Lyon said about his homecoming. "I expected a shutout."\nThe Hoosiers (8-2-3, 4-0-0 Big Ten) scored the game's only goal in the 18th minute of play when senior midfielder Carrie DeFreece crossed the ball to junior forward Lindsay McCarthy, who was covered by a Purple Aces defender. McCarthy was able to get under the defender and placed the ball past Evansville goaltender Whitney Raeon to give McCarthy her first goal since scoring against Texas Tech Sept. 2.\n"I knew Carrie DeFreece always crossed the ball," McCarthy said. "I just ran as hard as I can, and my defender hit it up. I knew I had a one-touch hit to get it in the goal."\nIU had another chance with five minutes left in the first half when McCarthy had the ball down by the net. McCarthy was able to find an open senior forward Megan Pipkens, who had a one-on-one opportunity against Raeon. However, Raeon denied the Hoosiers an opportunity to go up by two goals going into halftime.\nComing out of halftime, the Hoosiers were able to keep the same intensity they had during the first half. McCarthy was presented with another scoring chance in the 67th minute, after senior midfielder Ali Brown found herself down in the corner by the Purple Aces' goal. Brown crossed the ball to junior forward Suzie Teixeira, who passed it to McCarthy five feet in front of the net. McCarthy kicked it into Raeon's chest. Three minutes later, McCarthy took the ball down the field and found freshman midfielder Kristin Arnold streaking toward the net. Once again, Raeon was able to make a save, and the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Hoosiers.\nFrom there on the Hoosiers were able to shut down the Evansville offensive attack, giving junior goalkeeper Stacey Van Boxmeer her sixth shutout of the season.\n"If you look at the stats -- one shot on net, one save," Van Boxmeer said about the shutout. "My defense is helping me out so much, they're so consistent, so comfortable that it makes my job basically just talking to them and telling them positionally what to do."\nThe Hoosiers will try to extend their win streak to 12 games at noon Sunday when they take on No. 13 Penn State at Bill Armstrong Stadium.