November 1, 2012
NOT QUITE ENOUGH
Hoosiers tie Northwestern 1-1

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Eriq Zavaleta scored his 16th goal of the season, but it wasn't enough as Indiana tied Northwestern 1-1, Thursday night at Armstrong Stadium.

Indiana finishes the regular season 11-4-3 overall and 3-2-1 in Big Ten play. Northwestern ends at 10-4-4, 3-1-2 in conference action. A share of the Big Ten title was on the line for both teams.

“An emotional night,” said Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley. “The team left it all out on the field tonight. The first-half performance was avery complete half. We dictated the flow and created some great chances. Our surge the last 25 minutes of the game is what you want from teams looking for championships.”

If Michigan State beats Michigan Saturday night, the Spartans win the Big 10 title at 4-2, with Penn State second, NU third and IU fourth. A Michigan win gives NU and PSU a share of the Big Ten title, with PSU earning the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines would be third, with IU fourth. In the final scenario, if MSU and UM tie, NU and PSUshare the title, with Michigan State third and IU fourth.

Indiana got off to a great start in the match, dominating possession early and rarely allowing the Wildcats to string more than three passes together. In the 15th minute, Nikita Kotlov unleashed a screaming shot that was just wide left of the target.

The early intensity paid off with a goal in the 29th minute when Zavaleta scored his 16th goal of the season to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead. Patrick Doody ran past his marker down the left and served the ball to the far post. Zavaleta chested it down to his feet before cracking a shot into the lower right.

Northwestern was much more organized and aggressive in the offensive third coming out of halftime and the Wildcats netted the game-tying goal in the 52nd minute from freshman Joey Calistri. Eric Webberman played the ball in and while IU goalkeeper Luis Soffner tried to take possession, Calistri out-maneuvered him to take a shot on an open net for his seventh goal of the year.

In the waning minutes of regulation, Dylan Lax, who earned the start for an injured Jacob Bushue, had an on-goal look but could not get enough power behind it, resulting in an easy save for Tyler Miller. In the 79th minute, Kotlov played a ball through to Zavaleta, but his shot from a tight angle left of the goal sailed high.

In the 86th minute, defender Matt McKain made a run up the right side, but his shot hit the side netting for the final threat of the second half.

Northwestern took the lone shot in the first 10-minute overtime period.

Some of Indiana’s most dangerous chances came in the second OT, beginning with a shot from Femi Hollinger-Janzen that was just high. With 3:49 to play, Harrison Petts broke free on the right and took a hard, curling shot that knicked off the left post and just out of danger for the Wildcats.

The Hoosiers’ two final chances of the match nearly gave them the victory, with Zavaleta’s shot from close range in the 110th minute saved by Miller. The rebound fell right back to the sophomore, who took another chance that was cleared off the line by Scott Lakin.

Indiana finished with a 20-7 advantage in shots, led by eight from Zavaleta (five on frame). Kotlov had three attempts, while Soffner tallied two saves in 110 minutes of play. Northwestern goalkeeper Tyler Miller made a season high seven saves.