Former Hoosiers play against each other in Major League Soccer

While IU fought to upset No. 2-ranked UCLA on the pitch last Sunday, four alumni of the IU men’s soccer team were fighting a battle of their own in Major League Soccer.\nThe Columbus Crew hosted the Colorado Rapids, where Danny O’Rourke, Jed Zayner, and Ned Grabavoy of the Crew played against Jacob Peterson of the Rapids. All four men played on the 2004 Hoosier squad that won the College Cup on penalty kicks against UC-Santa Barbara.\nToday, the former national champions find themselves on professional teams fighting to make the playoffs. \nThe Crew and the Rapids went into Sunday’s game tied for the eighth and final MLS playoff spot, but the Rapids would win the tiebreaker over the Crew with a greater goal differential on the season.\nBefore the match, Zayner said he thought the game would be a launching pad for the Crew for the remainder of the season. \n“It’s going to be a turning point for us,” Zayner said. “The last few games haven’t been too good for us.” \nThe Crew and Rapids went on to play a 1-1 tie. Although it was not a loss, members of the Crew were still disappointed to walk away without the win. \n“It was a choppy performance,” Zayner said after the game. “We let up at the end. It was an average day for us.” \nZayner was not the only disappointed Crew member. O’Rourke is hopeful of gaining the last playoff spot as well. He has been on two teams that have reached the postseason, but was unable to play Sunday due to injuries. \n“It’s frustrating watching your team from the sidelines,” O’Rourke said. “(Getting to the playoffs) is the most important thing to me right now.” \nAll three Crew players said they enjoy playing with and against former teammates. \n“We always say ‘what’s up’ before the games,” said Grabavoy. “But once the game starts, it’s not (friendly) anymore.” \nZayner agreed, saying that he uses his former teammate’s strengths and weaknesses against them. \n“As a defender, I know the attackers’ tendencies,” Zayner said. “But that means I need to focus more because they know me as much as I know them.” \n“Danny (O’Rourke) and I are like brothers, and Ned (Grabavoy) and I played on the same club team when we were younger,” Zayner said. “It’s nice, we always win the smack talk competition on \n(the Crew).”