Written by BTN.com staffIndiana got a goal from Nikita Kotlov in the 64th minute and the stifling Hoosier defense made it stick Sunday. Indiana defeated Georgetown 1-0 at Regions Park to claim its eighth national championship.
The goal came after a kick from near the corner-kick spot came in to Eriq Zavaleta. Georgetown goalkeeper Tomas Gomez rushed to the right of the goal to keep Zavaleta in check. When Zavaleta’s header attempt came to the center, Kotlov then had a wide-open net and didn’t miss.
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It was Kotlov’s ninth goal of the season and one of a dozen shots the Hoosiers took in the second half.
“I think Eriq deserves a lot of credit,” Kotlov said. “As you can see from the past few games, he’s assisted on a cross. This was just like that. Eriq makes a great run gets to the ball, sees me there and makes it really easy for me. I just tapped it away.”
Read the full recap at IUHoosiers.com.
Once again it is clear for all to see. We have the FINEST Soccer Program in the Country. They showed great toughness and resiliency all year—
Tom Crean (@TomCrean) December 09, 2012
Congrats to IU men's soccer #NationalChamps #Godisgood—
Remy Abell (@23Abell) December 09, 2012
Congrats men's soccer national champs—
Tre Roberson (@tre_roberson5) December 09, 2012
National champs babyyy!!! Congrats to all my guys on the team esp @_AIR_RIQ_ #1NDIANASOCCER—
Austin Etherington (@austin13e) December 09, 2012
A true champion. http://t.co/mMf9pmvC—
Indiana Men's Soccer (@IUMensSoccer) December 09, 2012
Congrats to IU men's Soccer for winning the national championship #nothem #yessirrboys—
Victor Oladipo (@VICICANFLY4IU) December 09, 2012
Congratulations to Indiana men’s soccer for winning the national championship, the first by a Big Ten school this season! That’s one more 2012-2013 NCAA championship than the SEC can claim! While the Big Ten’s prospects of winning postseason football games this season are rather bleak, the Big Ten is dominating in so many other sports (men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball). Penn State women’s soccer came really close to winning the national championship. Half of the semifinalists in the NCAA women’s volleyball tournament are from the Big Ten (Penn State and Michigan). I don’t even need to get started talking about how many highly ranked men’s basketball teams are from the Big Ten. All of the success that I have described makes me proud to be a fan of the Big Ten, the greatest collegiate athletic conference around.