Yeagley: ‘Plenty to fix’ in 1-1 stalemate

The IU men’s soccer team remained undefeated for the spring Wednesday, though not in the manner it would have liked.

Twenty-two shots converted to just one goal for the Hoosiers, who went to 1-0-2 during the spring season with a 1-1 tie in two overtime periods against IU-Purdue University Indianapolis.

“There were a lot of positives tonight,” IU coach Todd Yeagley said. “When you generate the amount of opportunities that we did, that’s positive. The positive side is that you get that many quality looks. The disappointing part is we didn’t convert.”

Nine different IU players took shots at the Jaguars, and four Hoosiers attempted two or more with sophomore forward Will Bruin’s team-high eight.

IU saw one corner kick opportunity after another pass without a score.

“I felt that the players, early, felt that the next one would come too quick, so they weren’t as focused on their final pass or touch,” Yeagley said. “And then late in the game, you then start stretching and you start forcing. When you play and create enough opportunities, you have to reward yourself, and tonight, we didn’t.”

However, neither did IUPUI, whose 11 shots translated to just one goal at 83:49 when Emile Garcia put a corner kick past IU freshman goalkeeper Luis Soffner for a late 1-0 lead.

The Hoosiers finally got their score shortly afterward in crunch time.

Freshman midfielder Caleb Kostanski took a pass from junior midfielder Cameron Jordan and fired a header to junior midfielder Andy Adlard, who put the ball in at the right post of the Jaguars’ goal for the tying score with just over a minute remaining in regulation.

“There wasn’t much time left, so we were rushing to get it,” Adlard said. “We played an early one to the top of the box, and Cam did real well to play a back-post ball to Caleb, who did well to stay onsides. It was a great header back across, he found me very well, and, you know, a wide-open goal; I couldn’t miss it.”

Adlard said the feeling of finally coming through with a goal in the waning moments of the game was rewarding.

“It’s very frustrating; soccer’s like that,” he said. “We nearly had 25 shots or so, and we hit the post two or three times. It’s frustrating, but the good teams keep going and just keep doing what they’re doing and trust that the goal will come.

“I thought we deserved to win. They were dangerous on their long throws and corners, and that’s what they were hoping for. One lapse and they get a goal, but we did well to fight back.”

Yeagley agreed that the tying goal was a positive.

“When their backs were against the wall, and they got one against the run, maybe that focus was heightened just a little bit,” he said. “I was proud of them. They didn’t panic, they felt it coming, and we were able to score a nice goal. That’s very positive when you’re down one late.”

While Adlard’s goal kept IU alive and sent the contest to overtime, missed shots again plagued either side.

Freshman midfielder Jacob Bushue’s two shots came in the two extra 10-minute periods, and Bruin added more looks to his busy night.

The Jaguars also had a shot on goal that Soffner saved, and after the second overtime with no resolution, the Hoosiers picked up their second straight 1-1 stalemate.

Yeagley said there are still plenty of things to fix, including the need for increased energy in the opening half.

“We’re seeing a trend that we have to address,” he said, “and we’re still looking for the personnel to start the game. Some players are better in a reserve role; some do better in a starting role, and we’re still sorting that out.”