Bloomington, Ind. - The MSU men’s soccer team met Indiana for the third time this season Sunday and the outcome was the same.
Indiana (15-3-1 overall) defeated MSU 1-0 in the second round of the CAA Tournament on Sunday at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
With the loss, the Spartans’ first tournament season in 32 years is over, and fourth-seeded Indiana advances to the third round to play Rutgers.
“I thought we were a little nervous early,” head coach Joe Baum said. “We just seemed kind of shaky. I think we were a little too excited it was a big match for us, and the players are a little tight and, hey, that’s to be expected.”
The Hoosiers took the lead early in the second game of the weekend. Little more than 10 minutes into the game, Indiana pushed toward the net, forcing MSU to commit a foul in the box and set up a penalty kick.
Midfielder Tyler Hawley took the kick and sent the ball toward the left post. Sophomore goalkeeper Mike Robinson guessed left but could not lay a hand on the ball as it sailed into the net.
With 13 shutouts this season, the Hoosiers made scoring tough on MSU, but substituting Craig Hearn and Thomas Trivelloni in off the bench with fewer than 15 minutes left in the half provided an instant increase in scoring chances.
The two sophomore forwards each scored Friday in MSU’s 2-1 win over Butler. Hearn notched the first goal to tie the game, and Trivelloni scored the game-winner.
Indiana automatically advanced to the second round with a bye in the first round.
In the next Spartan drive following the substitutions, Trivelloni and sophomore midfielder John Minagawa-Webster drove toward the net after a pass up-field from senior midfielder Steve Arce. Trivelloni put his head on the ball, but Hoosier goalkeeper Colin Rogers made the save.
Minagawa-Webster, the team’s leading scorer last year, said the scorers felt an increased pressure because of the circumstances of the game.
“The tournament was just something else,” he said. “I think everyone just stepped it up and tried as hard as they could the whole time.”
But just as MSU’s scorers were continually thwarted by Rogers, forward Pat Noonan, Indiana’s leading scorer, was also held in check. Sophomore defenseman Kevin Wittig marked him for most of the game.
“He’s a strong player,” Wittig said. “The strongest player on the ball I’ve ever played against He’s a fast, skillful player and they’re the hardest to mark.”
The physical level of the game was apparent as both teams racked up a total of 39 fouls and four yellow cards.
“It’s always frustrating if you’re not scoring,” Minagawa-Webster said. “We were playing hard and we did the best we could. Sometimes, being overaggressive, there’s going to be a foul or two, but there’s not much you can do about it.”
In the second half, the Spartans continued the momentum they ended the first half with, but Rogers, who gave up only six goals all season, denied every Spartan opportunity.
MSU posted only one shot in the entire second half.
“They’re just a great defensive team,” Bum said. “You have to give them credit. I thought we created some wonderful chances today and they came up with some big plays by their defensive backfield.”
