October 19, 2012
FIRST BLEMISH
Hoosiers fall to Michigan 2-1

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — A second half goal by James Murphy ended Indiana's unbeaten and unscored upon record in Big Ten play fall by the wayside as the Hoosiers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Michigan Wolverines Friday night at Armstrong Stadium.

The loss drops IU to 10-3-2 overall and 3-1 in Big Ten play. Michigan improves to 5-7-1 and 2-2-1 in conference action.

It looked early on as if the Hoosiers would have little trouble coming away with another Big Ten win. Both A.J. Corrado and Eriq Zavaleta had driving shots within the first 15 minutes that were saved by Michigan goalkeeper Adam Grinwis.

Indiana held an 8-1 shot advantage through the first 25 minutes and the attacking mindset paid off in the 26th minute when Femi Hollinger-Janzen, who had entered the match just 45 seconds earlier, gave Indiana a 1-0 lead. Corrado, who picked up his ninth assist of the year on the play, switched fields to send the ball to Hollinger-Janzen on the right side, who them chipped an on-rushing Grinwis for the goal.

The lead only lasted a little over six minutes as the Wolverines stepped up the pressure after the goal and netted the equalizer in the 33rd minute. A give-and-go between Tyler Arnone and Fabio Pereira ended with Arnone sliding a shot under IU goalkeeper Luis Soffner from 18 yards out.

It only took two minutes and 38 seconds into the second half for Michigan to score the game-winning goal. T.J. Roehn played a ball to James Murphy, who caught Soffner flat footed and sent the ball into the lower right for his first goal of the season.

Grinwis was the hero of the game for the Wolverines as Indiana stepped up its attack and the goalkeeper was there to make every save. With 28 minutes to play Nikita Kotlov had what looked to be a sure goal, but a leaping Grinwis punched the ball back into the field of play.

With just under 14 minutes remaining, Eriq Zavaleta sent in a rocket that bounced of the post. The rebound landed at the foot of Kotlov, who hit the back of the net but was judged to be offside on the play. That would be a common theme on the night as the Hoosiers were called offside and total of eight times.

Zavaleta had another shot in the 80th minute that was saved by Grinwis, and less than a minute later Richard Ballard, who made his first career start tonight, send one in that was again stopped by Grinwis. The rebound went to Zavaleta, but his shot went off the crossbar. In the 82nd minute, Zavaleta had another shot that was blocked.

At the end of the night the Hoosiers held a 20-13 shot advantage and 11-1 advantage on corner kicks but could not find the equalizing score.

Grinwis finished with seven saves for the Wolverines, while Soffner tallied three.

The Hoosiers are back in action Wednesday, Oct. 24 as they play host to the Evansville Purple Aces at 7 p.m.