September 14, 2012
SECOND HALF SPARK
Hoosiers topple SIE-E 2-0

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Second-half goals from defender Caleb Konstanski and midfielder Jacob Bushue, along with superb goalkeeping from senior Luis Soffner, were the difference as Indiana blanked SIU Edwardsville 2-0 Friday night at Armstrong Stadium.

With the win, the Hoosiers improve to 5-1-1, while SIUE falls to 5-2-0

“That was a good win tonight,” said Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley. “SIUE is a really nice team. I knew this would be a tight game and it was well played. Both teams had some really good moments.

“I thought we came out really strong but toward the end of the first half we weren’t connecting passes like we normally do. Second half I really thought we turned things around offensively.”

Konstanski broke the scoreless stalemate in the 56th minute with his second goal of the season. A point of emphasis for the Hoosiers this week had been set pieces, and Konstanski got on the end of an A.J. Corrado corner kick, covering the far post and skirting the ball past everyone.

That shot was just one of eight on the night for the Hoosiers, but five of the eight were placed on frame. The Cougars finished with 11 shots, putting six on goal.

It was another defensive stalwart for the Hoosiers getting on the board with the second goal as Bushue knocked home his first of the season. The 71st-minute score was the indirect result of a set piece as Corrado again got his corner kick into a dangerous area near the six-yard box. After bouncing off sophomore Eriq Zavaleta and through several SIUE defenders, Bushue unleashed a well-placed strike for the two-goal lead.

Another solid effort from Soffner in goal resulted in his fourth shutout of the year. With 22 minutes to play in the first half, the Cougars’ Christian Volesky took a shot that deflected off a teammate, but Soffner was still able to corral for the save. With less than four minutes remaining in the match, Soffner again came up big for the Hoosiers, making a point-blank chest save on a line drive from Brian Groark.

Soffner finished the match with six saves.

Indiana did a good job possessing the ball early in the first half but it resulted in nothing for the Hoosiers on the scoreboard asthey managed a lone shot from freshman Femi Hollinger-Janzen in the first 45 minutes of play.

The Hoosier attack perked up after the halftime break when Konstanski’s header off the back post in the 53rd minute was deflected. The resulting corner kick saw SIUE goalkeeper Kent Kobernus save an Andrew Oliver shot attempt.

Two minutes later, junior Harrison Petts decided to test Kobernus with a shot from distance that required a leaping punch over the cross bar. Hoosiers' Leading scorer Eriq Zavaleta was held without a shot attempt for the first time this season.

Indiana opens Big Ten play on Sunday, Sept. 23 as it travels to Columbus, Ohio to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The 1 p.m. ET match will be shown live on the Big Ten Network.