The Hoosiers' hearts beat on

Facing a penalty kick in the first half of IU's first-round NCAA Tournament game Wednesday night, IU sophomore goalkeeper Chay Cain was shivering in the box, but not because of the pressure.\nCain shrugged off the bone-chilling cold on a rain-soaked field, which made for less-than-ideal playing conditions, to make a sliding save of Northern Illinois University forward Marcus McCarty's penalty shot, deflecting the ball off his toe. Little did McCarty know, Cain already had an idea of where McCarty might shoot.\n"We try to get a (penalty kick) read on one of the opponent's shooters (each game). This time it was McCarty. (IU coach Mike Freitag) told me where he likes to go, so I had an idea," Cain said. "Luckily, I was able to get a foot on it, and the defense was there to knock the ball out."\nThe save, one of several by the keeper on the night, helped preserve IU's fourth shutout in a row, and, considering IU's limited offense this season, shutouts are a must for this team if the Hoosiers are to make a run at the NCAA College Cup.\nCain credited his defensive backs -- freshman Ofori Sarkodie, senior Julian Dieterle and junior Charley Traylor -- for keeping the close calls to a minimum.\n"They play well out there. They fight for each other," Cain said. "Honestly, they don't give me much to do."\nAgainst a big, physical Huskies team on a sloppy playing field, IU got on the board early and, as Freitag said, "fought tooth and nail" for the win. The Hoosiers were able to overcome field conditions that favored the defense-minded Huskies and effectively adjusted their playing style to the slow field conditions. The weather conditions were so bad that watching the path of the ball was like watching the fall of a Plinko chip on "The Price is Right."\nThe game sure wasn't pretty with numerous fouls on both sides, but this year's squad does pretty about as well as Bobby Knight does subtle.\nSophomore Brian Ackley's goal in the middle of the first half off an assist from midfielder John Mellencamp proved the difference and exhibited once again that this team knows how to defend a one-goal advantage.\n"This team finds a way to win," Freitag said. "It's been his refrain all season."\nCain praised the tenacity of his teammates when crammed near the goal saying, "It's a lot about our fight, our heart."\nFor at least one more round, that heart beats on.