Hoosiers advance to 5th place game against Maryland

Since being ranked in the top 10 in the preseason poll, the Hoosiers have continued to earn their ranking, entering the weekend as No. 9.

Through the first three games of the Triton Invitational in Santa Barbara, Calif., the team had compiled a 2-1 record, improving to 6-3 for the season. The first of the wins came against Santa Clara on Saturday, when the Hoosiers had a 9-6 victory. Sophomore Amanda Redfern scored a trio of goals in the first half.

Freshman Colleen McNaught helped her teammates’ offensive barrage, compiling a career-high five assists. Despite a three-goal comeback in the final period, the Broncos were kept in check for most of the contest by senior goalkeeper Cassie Wyckoff, who notched 10 saves.

No. 12 Loyola Marymount proved to be too much for IU, and the Hoosiers fell 7-5. The defenses kept the game scoreless until Loyola Marymount scored with 33 seconds remaining in the first period.

Freshman Alexis Jones put IU on the board with a goal at the 1:03 mark in the second period, but the Lions quickly responded 22 seconds later with a goal of their own.

A second-half momentum swing wasn’t enough, and the Lions completed the victory and sunk the Hoosiers to 6-3.

IU played No. 16 UCSB for the second time in as many weeks Sunday with a similar result. The Hoosiers defeated the Gauchos 7-5 to advance to the fifth-place game against No. 17 Maryland.

Fournier led the Hoosiers with four goals in the game. Wyckoff had 10 saves again, making it the eighth game this season for her with double-digit saves.

IU advances to face Maryland at 3:10 p.m. PST Sunday.