Sophomore midfielder Tanner Thompson scored the game-winning goal in the 65th minute, and junior midfielder Femi Hollinger-Janzen scored in the ?21st minute.
After being shut out the past two games, players said frustration was building, but both the coaches and players knew the goals would come.
“It feels great,” Thompson said. “We said the goals were coming, and we actually could’ve had a couple more (Saturday).”
Thompson’s goal was his first of the season. It came on a rocket of a shot from about 18 yards out and put the ball in the left corner of the net.
After a Thompson corner kick, the Hoosiers had possession inside the Rutgers box and, after a couple passes, Hollinger-Janzen was able to finish for his second goal of the year.
“The Penn State game was still in our heads,” Thompson said. “We were a little bit pissed off about that one, a little bit angry. We thought we could’ve had a win. So it was nice to bounce back in the Big Ten and get a big win against Rutgers.”
IU Coach Todd Yeagley said Thompson has been a key player throughout the season and continues to become a bigger piece in the Hoosier offense.
“Tanner is a true number 10,” Yeagley said.
“He is balanced off the pass, off the dribble, his elusiveness, his IQ and (he knows) how to bring players into the game. He is a big part of how the attack is ?generated.”
The Scarlet Knights (3-4, 1-1) run an unusual offense, which senior defender Patrick Doody said gave IU a little bit of trouble. But, overall, he was pleased with the defense.
“They’re very skillful, and their spacing was very good,” Doody said. “When they attack, they attack with seven or eight guys which is just different than most teams.”
With this offensive-minded attack, Yeagley said his team was sure to get its chances.
No. 14 IU improved to 4-1-2, 1-1 after the win and will take a break from conference play to go against Central Florida at home Wednesday.
“This conference, I feel, is the toughest conference in the country,” Yeagley said. “There is not a team where you can have a ‘B’ day and expect to win.”
