Fallon riding success along with Indiana soccer team

Taylor Fallon, a Corona del Mar High product and a sophomore at Indiana University, helped the Hoosiers women’s soccer team to a noteworthy victory Friday.

Fallon, a defender for Indiana, had an assist in the Hoosiers’ 3-2 overtime triumph over Toledo in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. Indiana (13-6-2) posted its first NCAA Tournament win since 1998.

The Hoosiers will play against Purdue in the second round today.

Fallon helped Indiana gain a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute. Her throw-in on the near side found teammate Jessica Boots in the corner. Boots sent a cross to Katy Stewart, who headed the ball past the goalkeeper. Fallon and Boots were each credited with an assist on the play.

Indiana went up, 2-0, with 5 minutes, 49 seconds left before halftime. But Toledo came back to tie the score, gaining the equalizer with 5:04 left in regulation.

Indiana’s Kristin Arnold netted a golden goal in the 108th minute to lift the Hoosiers to the win to send Indiana into the second round.

It was just more reason for Fallon to rejoice. She has been enjoying success recently with Indiana.

Four days before the game, it was announced that she was named to the Big Ten women’s soccer all-tournament team. Fallon has started all 21 games for the Hoosiers.

Indiana lost to Ohio State, 2-1, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament, last week, but gained an at-large NCAA berth. The Hoosiers finished fourth in the Big Ten Conference.

Fallon has one assist and no goals thus far. She is one of four Hoosiers to start all 21 games this season.

Last year, she had 10 starts and finished the year with one assist. She was also named to the Top Drawer Soccer All-Freshman Team, as she helped a defense that allowed just 15 goals on the season, the fewest of any team in school history.

She was also one of the leaders of the defense that held opponents scoreless for a span of 404 minutes, 57 seconds from Sept. 1-15, the second-longest such a period in school history.

This year, the Hoosiers have allowed 32 goals and have scored 36 goals.

— From staff reports