BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Missed opportunities was the name of the game for the Indiana men’s soccer team as it could not translate a 22-7 shot advantage over Michigan State into a victory, falling by a 1-0 score in double overtime Sunday afternoon on Jerry Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium.
 
The loss puts Indiana at 7-5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play. Michigan State improves to 7-4-1, 1-3 in conference action.
 
“You have to play every second of every game,” said head coach Mike Freitag. “That is probably the most we have ever dominated a Michigan State team but they found a way to win. It is very disappointing; this one hurts.  Sometimes when you are dominated a game you lose focus and let your guard down, and to Michigan State’s credit they found a way to win the game.”
 
The Spartans’ only shot on goal on the day was the one that won it for them, with Jeff Ricondo sliding the ball home off a pass from Rubin Bega in the 103rd minute.
 
Up until the final second, the game had been all Hoosiers, beginning with a first half that saw them put up an 11-1 shot advantage. Andy Adlard got things started just 37 seconds in with an attempt that MSU goalkeeper Avery Steinlage bobbled before making the save. He added his second of six shots on the day a minute later.
 
The Hoosiers were inches away from a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute when Rich Balchan served a ball from the left corner in front of the net and Will Bruin made a diving attempt at a header that was just wide to the right. Bruin had another header off an Adlard corner kick in the 26th minute but Steinlage was right there to nab the ball in mid air for the save.
 
With 53 seconds remaining in the first half, Bruin again got his head on a diving attempt but the shot was deflected over the cross bar. Bruin finished the match with a season-best nine shot attempts, three of which were on frame.
 
One of several plays the Hoosiers would like to have another crack at came in the 64th minute when Darren Yeagle sent the ball off the left post on an open net. The play began with Bruin tracking the ball into the right-hand corner and getting service through the Michigan State defense and across the box to Yeagle, who had Steinlage out of position but clanged his shot off the post.
 
With just under 18 minutes to play in regulation, Bruin sent in a line drive from about 25 yards out that forced Steinlage to make a leaping stop, punching the ball over the cross bar. That set up one of 10 corner kicks on the afternoon for the Hoosiers.
 
After being limited to just one shot in the first half, Michigan State put up four in the second half and one in each of the overtime periods. The Hoosiers matched their first-half total with 11 in the second period but were shut out in both overtimes.
 
In addition to the sizeable advantage in shot attempts, the Hoosiers took 10 corner kicks to the Spartans’ four and forced Steinlage to make eight saves on the afternoon.
 
Indiana will get right back on the pitch, traveling to regional foe Louisville on Wednesday for a key regional match. Game time is 7 p.m.