Sept. 20, 2009

Box Score

Box Score

AKRON, Ohio - After putting three goals in with his head this season, it was sophomore Will Bruin's foot that proved to be the difference as No. 8 Indiana (3-2-1) posted a 2-1 double overtime win over Florida International (3-4-0) Sunday on the final day of the University of Akron Tournament.

Bruin, who was named to the All-Tournament team, put home the game winner at 105:38. Darren Yeagle sent a pass forward from just beyond the midfield stripe and layed it in front of Bruin who beat the keeper for his team-leading fourth goal of the season.

"FIU is a team where if you don't put away your chances, they are going to stick around and that is exactly what happened," Bruin said. "But we picked our heads up and found a way to win."

The shot tally was decidedly in the Hoosiers' favor with a 20-9 advantage. Bruin had six of those shots, four of which were on frame. IU also led in the corner kick department, 6-1.

Before letting his foot do the talking, Bruin continued to use his head on scoring opportunities, getting on the end of a free kick from Joe Tolen for a 1-0 Akron lead at 67:19. It was Bruin's third goal of the season and the first career assist for Tolen.

Indiana thought it had a goal at 62:10 when Daniel Kelly kicked in a free kick offering from Eric Alexander, but Tim Wylie, who was waiting on the back post, was called offsides.

In the 71st minute, Alexander took a free kick that resulted in a diving save from FIU goalkeeper Phillip Lamarre.

Two minutes earlier, Bruin sent in a shot that was saved by Lamarre, and the rebound was in the area for Wylie but by the time he got his foot on the ball Lamarre was back in position to make another save.

Just when it looked like the Hoosiers had the game in hand, FIU's Steven Jair Cabas took a feed from Diego Tamburus and slid it home to the far post to tie the game at 1-1 in the 85th minute.

The Hoosiers' best scoring opportunity of the first overtime came at 95:43 when Andy Adlard was fouled at the top of the box and took a free kick that curled just inches wide to the right.

Bruin opened the second half of play collecting a feed from Yeagle but Lamarre scooped up the shot for his second save of the match. Just seconds later it was Alec Purdie who had a shot that was blocked by Lamarre. Bruin was there to make an attempt on the rebound but kicked the ball high.

At 51:30, Matt Wiet ran up on the ball and unleashed a shot from 25 yards out that was just high.

In the first half of play, Ofori Sarkodie was knocked out of action on a hard foul in the ninth minute and was done for the remainder of the half as Tyler McCarroll came on in his place. McCarroll took over the left wing spot, while Lee Hagedorn moved to left back. Sarkodie was back in his left back spot to start the second half.

Adlard nearly gave the Zips a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute with a free kick that clanged off the cross bar but refused to cross the goal line. Tommy Meyer had a shot off the rebound but it was poked wide by the FIU defense. A pair of corner kicks ensued but the Hoosiers were unable to convert.

Just seconds after entering the game in the 30th minute, Yeagle broke away from his marker but sent the shot wide left. Bruin had a solid look in the 31st minute but FIU defender Anthony Hobbs stepped in front and used his body to block the attempt.

At 38:10, Bruin just missed sneaking the ball in on the far post with a shot across his body rolled just wide left. The play began with a shot from Purdie that bounced off a defender and landed at the foot of Bruin. Kelly took a long-distance shot in the waning minutes that had the distance and the power but sailed high on him.

Indiana opens Big Ten play on Friday, Sept. 25 when it travels to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers. Game time is 8:30 p.m. ET in Madison.