Text Box: Indiana 2 - St. John’s 1 (OT) - A crowd of almost 5,000 was on hand as the Hoosiers and the Red Storm squared off in the second game of the evening Friday at Columbus Crew Stadium with the winner earning a shot at the 2001 National Title. As in the earlier match between North Carolina and Stanford, the crowd saw a great match that required extra play to determine a winner. This one was particularly unique in that it featured two teams whose focus, determination, and work ethic rivals that displayed by Michael Jordan. From the start to the finish it was clear that both Indiana and St. John’s were going to give it all they had plus some. At the conclusion of the match, St. John’s head coach Dave Masur stated, “I can’t be more proud of this team. Their character, focus on the field and attitude made them very special.” Indiana head coach Jerry Yeagley stated “First of all I have to congratulate St. John’s. They battled us as hard as anyone has all year. They are a great team.” It was an outstanding come from behind win for the Indiana Hoosiers who once again established that as a team they respond to the challenges placed before them with a discipline and poise that is second to none. In fact, Indiana appeared in many ways to get stronger as the contest progressed. Both teams battled each other in the first half with neither finding the back of the net. St. John’s got on the scoreboard just three minutes into the second half of play when their All-American midfielder Jeff Matteo scored a beautiful goal out of a free kick to give the Red Storm a 1-0 advantage. Indiana formed a six man wall to defend the free kick but Matteo skillfully rifled a shot around the wall into the far corner of the net. The goal was the first scored on the Hoosiers in over 700 minutes of play. Indiana responded about 18 minutes later off a nice combination of passes that began with a pass from midfielder Phil Presser to forward Pat Noonan who played the ball to the feet of teammate Mike Ambersley whose shot from about 22 yards out found the upper left corner of the goal to knot the score at 1-1. The goal shifted the upper hand from St. John’s to Indiana but neither team was able to score again and the match ended tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation. Neither team scored during the first overtime period but Indiana appeared to get the best of it. The winning goal came in the second overtime period with the Hoosiers again putting together a solid series of passes that opened the field that created space and gave sophomore midfielder Vijay Dias from Helena, Montana the opportunity to record the game winner. Indiana All-American Pat Noonan, who was closely marked all evening, began the play with a pass to freshman forward Ambersley who played a nice ball to an open Dias who redirected the pass off a dribble and then finished it at the 112 minute mark. St. John’s ends what has been a very successful season with a 17-3-3 record. The Indiana win avenges a 2-1 loss to St. John’s during regular season play and advances the Hoosiers to a national title match against the Tar Heels for the University of North Carolina. The match will be carried live Sunday on ESPN at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Matteo scores Ambersley scores Dias scores at the 112 minute mark St. John’s 1 - Indiana 0 St. John’s 1 - Indiana 1 Indiana 2 - St. John’s 1