Jerry Yeagley goes out with a win. And another title.
In his final season at the helm of the program he created, Yeagley led his Indiana Hoosiers to their sixth national championship with a 2-1 victory over St. John's in snowy Columbus, Ohio on Sunday.
Yeagley, 63, announced earlier this year that he will retire as coach after this season and that longtime assistant Mike Frietag will take over. Yeagley helped the team move from club to varsity status and finished as the winningest coach in Division I history with a career record of 544-101-45.
Junior Ned Grabavoy gave the Hoosiers (17-3-5) the lead in the 16th minute with a well-placed free kick — roughly 48 hours after losing to Argentina at the U-20 World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates. Grabavoy and IU defender Drew Moor both played the entire game in Abu Dhabi, yet started for Yeagley Sunday.
Freshman Jacob Peterson expanded the margin about four minutes later when he spearheaded a counterattack and, instead of dishing to the open Grabavoy, took a shot that deflected slightly off of St. John's defender Chris Wingert and beat goalkeeper Bill Gaudette. St. John's (17-6-3) closed the gap in the 79th minute on Ashley Kozicki's goal from close range, but could not find the equalizer as snow fell late in the game.
On Friday, St. John's defeated Maryland, 1-0, on Sebastian Alvarado-Ralph's penalty kick in the 35th minute. Indiana moved past Santa Clara, 1-0, on Pat Yates' overtime strike.