The Hoosiers started the game ahead, dominating most of the possession and had more attempts on goal than the Fighting Irish during the regulation 90 minutes.
IU had the chance to put itself ahead in the game as early as the eighth minute when senior forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen flashed a header across the goal, only for it to hit the post and go out.
This would set the tone for the rest of the game. Though the Hoosiers dominated, they struggled to find the breakthrough.
“Our guys left everything out there,” IU Coach Todd Yeagley said. “I can’t fault one bit of effort in what we created. Notre Dame is a team that is tough to break, and we didn’t get a break today.”
The Fighting Irish held on with resolute defense and brought the game into overtime.
It was in the second period of overtime when freshman midfielder Thomas Ueland popped up to score the win for Notre Dame.
“It is hard in the moment, but it will be a good lesson for us,” junior Tanner Thompson said. “We weren’t as disciplined as we needed to be in overtime communication wise. Defensively just all over the field, we weren’t as sharp.”
Despite the close loss, the Hoosiers do feel that a number of positives can be taken from this game.
“It’s a lesson,” Yeagley said. “It’s a long season, and we’ve been in these situations before. Sometimes you’ve got to experience these moments to help you become a championship-level team.”
Apart from the loss to Valparaiso, this was the only game they conceded a goal.
With junior Colin Webb in goal and sophomore Grant Lillard marshaling the defense, the Hoosiers have a strong rearguard.
The Hoosiers have, however, no tangible rewards to take from this harsh defeat except positive lessons, Yeagley said — lessons that will be beneficial to them as they head into conference play.
“It’s tough to view that (defeat) as a positive right now,” Thompson said, “but guys are going to know that getting it out in those extra five minutes is a lot better sitting in the locker room with a draw than sitting in there with a loss.”
