Sports

IU field hockey finds confidence amidst defeat

Despite an overtime loss against No. 9 Penn State on Friday, the IU field hockey players felt they proved themselves proud by staying close. Junior Lucy Ireland’s broken nose is the evidence. Penn State’s Amy Bonenberger scored the game’s lone goal on a breakaway in the first minute of overtime to give the Nittany Lions their eighth consecutive win. The defensive game often led to scrappy play by both teams. In the second half, a Penn State forward smashed her head into Ireland’s face, breaking her nose.

IU volleyball sweeps northern road trip

All the IU volleyball team needed to win was a little time away from home. IU headed into this weekend’s road trip sporting a 2-6 Big Ten record. Even tougher for the Hoosiers was the fact they had played six of their first eight matches at home and faced the prospect of many road games remaining as a result. IU responded to the challenge this weekend, knocking off Northwestern 3-2 on Friday and upsetting No. 21 Wisconsin 3-1 on Sunday. The victory against Wisconsin was the Hoosiers’ first in their last 12 tries against the Badgers and the first in Madison since 1995.

IU women's golf team excited for Vegas trip

The Hoosiers won’t have a lot of time to visit casinos or gamble this week, but IU coach Clint Wallman is betting his team is ready to play well. “I think they are in a good frame of mind right now to go out and play,” he said. The IU women’s golf team concludes its fall season this week in the Las Vegas Collegiate Showdown in Las Vegas. The Boulder Creek golf course, which will host the tournament, is a favorite of senior Amber Lindgren.

Zubkova, IU women's swimming and diving teammates blow visiting Wildcats out of the water Friday

The women’s swimming and diving team improved to 2-0 on Friday with what IU coach Ray Looze termed a “grind-it-out win” against conference foe Northwestern on Friday. Coming off the most challenging week to date in both the pool and in the weight room, the Hoosiers responded with a 172.5 to 127.5 victory against a strong Wildcat team.

IU men's swimming and diving tops ranked Northwestern for 2nd straight win

The IU men’s swimming and diving team won its second straight dual meet to open its season on Friday, defeating Northwestern 158-129 at the Councilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center. “I thought our guys stepped up and swam hard again,” IU swimming coach Ray Looze said. “I thought the men reacted well. Hopefully we have some momentum ready.”

Despite wins, IU women's soccer just misses tournament

The IU women’s soccer team’s final weekend is probably best described as bittersweet. IU came into the weekend needing two wins and some help to make the Big Ten Tournament in two weeks in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hoosiers (8-10-1, 3-6-1) did their part, winning both games over Michigan State and Michigan, each 1-0. But because Illinois defeated Ohio State on Sunday, the Hoosiers will not play in the conference tournament.

Triumphant IU men's soccer bests Ohio State in OT

The hero returned. Only four days after a successful penalty kick and a 1-0 Hoosier victory against Louisville, sophomore midfielder Andy Adlard saved IU again on Sunday. Adlard sent a free kick into the bottom left corner in the 92nd minute for a 3-2 road victory against unranked Ohio State.

Hoosiers poised for upsets this season

Call it the first honest look at IU basketball – the first time Tom Crean was forced to turn over his cards and prove what kind of poker player he’s been the last seven months. He underbet his hand.

Chappell has the tonic to cure ailing offense

Now, IU quarterback Ben Chappell is the kind of change you can believe in. So he’s not the most persuasive guy at his craft, big deal. But by all means, he’s no phony.

Chappell, Belcher, Doss break out for IU

From the stands at Memorial Stadium earlier this season, sophomore quarterback Ben Chappell might not have appeared to be the leader the IU football team needed. But in the huddle, in the locker room and on the turf at the Rock on Saturday, Chappell blossomed before fans’ eyes. Forced into the starting role after Kellen Lewis suffered an ankle injury against Iowa two weeks ago, Chappell struggled in his first start at Illinois.

Hoosiers show progress in scrimmage

It wasn’t always clear if the football team would prevail Saturday, but there was never any doubt the basketball team would come out atop its intrasquad scrimmage. In a game quicker and more competitive than last week’s Hoosier Hysteria exhibition, the Hoosiers showed what they had learned in their first full week of practice in a 40-minute scrimmage in front of about 5,000 fans in Assembly Hall. Led by freshman guard Verdell Jones, the Cream team edged out the Crimson squad in the closing minutes, 91-86. Jones finished with a game-high 30 points, while freshman guard Nick Williams led the Crimson team with 28.

Passion for the game

They come slowly, piece by piece, trickling off the gravel drive and onto the grass parking lot around 6:30, just as the sun touches the southern Indiana leaves, colored by fall. Easing out of their cars, they laugh, enjoy a beer, catch up on the week that was. This is a release point, when they can slow life down and let the game take over. They come from all manner of careers – accountants mix with blue-collar workers mix with IU students. Some have no jobs at all. “That’s the unusual thing about semi-pro football,” head coach Brent Slinkard says. “You’re getting a host of age groups and a host of different backgrounds and educations all coming together for one thing that we all have in common – it’s just passion for the game.” They come every Tuesday and Thursday night to the green and brown field behind Brown Elementary School, white helmets and mish-mash practice gear in tow. They come to play football. They are the Indiana Cutters, a semi-professional football team based out of Bloomington that competes across the state and sometimes into Ohio. Their cobblestone roster boasts the likes of former IU wideout Jahkeen Gilmore and Lee Becton, the only Notre Dame running back ever to tally seven straight 100-yard games and the Irish’s 12th all-time leading rusher. Anywhere between 60 and 65 men from college age on up call themselves Cutters, as they have since conditioning began in January and practices started in March.

Chappell, Hoosiers upset favored Northwestern 21-19

Defensive end Jammie Kirlew had more than just a spark in his eye – he had his swagger back. And the junior, along with his teammates, had good reason.PODCAST: Hoosier SidelinesSLIDESHOW: IU beats Northwestern

IU ‘very close’ to AD decision

The search for the next IU athletics director is nearing its end, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said Sunday.PODCAST: Hoosier Headlines

Possible timetable announced for athletics director decision

The search for the next IU athletics director is nearing its end, IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said today. IU trustee Philip Eskew Jr. said the University announcement could come as early as this week.

Hoosiers pull out stunning win against Northwestern

For the first time since September, the IU football team and its fans know what it is like to win. The Hoosiers (3-5, 1-4) ended their five game losing streak on Homecoming, defeating Northwestern 21-19 after suffering a heartbreaking loss in Evanston, Ill., a year ago. Sophomore quarterback Ben Chappell, starting in place for injured junior Kellen Lewis, led the Hoosiers by running and throwing for a touchdown. Chappell spread the ball around well but completed the majority of his passes to freshmen Tandon Doss and Damarlo Belcher.

Hoosiers look for 1st win in 6 games

The hope Hoosier fans had for IU football in 2008 has slowly subsided over the team’s last five games, all losses. Now with five games remaining and seemingly no shot at going to a second-straight bowl game, IU will attempt to break out of its skid against Northwestern on Saturday.PODCAST: Hoosier Sidelines

Change IU needs

How do the Hoosiers initiate change? Glad you asked.

Double-threat offense rumbles into the Rock

The IU football team has been having a rough go at stopping opposing offenses lately. The Hoosiers (2-5, 0-4) have let up an even 100 points in their last two games, and an average of 40 points per game on their current five-game skid. “I think we got banged up a little bit mentally,” junior safety Nick Polk said. “But the guys have come together, and we have said we are going to stick together and pull through this.” Slowing the landslide of points won’t get any easier this Homecoming weekend, when the Hoosiers welcome to Bloomington the Northwestern Wildcats, a team with two dynamic facets to its offensive attack. The first head on the Wildcats’ offensive front is tailback Tyrell Sutton. Sutton comes into Saturday’s contest averaging just shy of 100 yards on the ground per game. But Sutton also comes out of the backfield to make big catches for NU. The Akron, Ohio, native has 28 grabs for 262 yards so far this season, with two touchdowns. Sutton is a smaller back – at 5-foot-9, 205 pounds – than the last two backs to run over the Hoosiers: Shonn Greene of Iowa and Jason Ford of Illinois. Greene had 115 yards and a score in Bloomington on Oct. 11, and Ford had 172 yards and three scores last weekend against IU. But senior safety Austin Thomas warned Sutton is bigger in person than what paper shows. “Wait till you see this guy’s legs,” Thomas said. “He’s a thick guy. He is a little quicker in space than Shonn Greene and Ford, who we played the other night. But he’s quick; he’s a good back.” Sutton helps to distract defenses from quarterback C.J. Bachér, who is equally formidable. After Bachér lit up opposing teams for 3,656 yards, seventh-most in Big Ten history, Sporting News named the California native the Big Ten’s “Best Player Under Pressure.” In seven games, Bachér has tallied solid offensive numbers, including a 112.6 passing efficiency, 1,545 yards through the air with 10 touchdowns. Bachér can also run – he has two rushing scores and 180 net yards.

Heading north: IU takes on ’Cats and Badgers