IU Coach Amanda Janney said she knew it was important for the Hoosiers to work on their defense in practice prior to going on the road this weekend.
IU was looking to upset its second ranked opponent of the season after knocking down then-No. 6 Northwestern. Thanks to a defense that defended 12 penalty corners, IU was able to do it.
IU upset No. 12 Michigan on the road Friday night to notch its third conference win of the season and first win in 10 years against a top-15 program on the road.
“The team brought good energy today,” Janney said after playing Michigan. “Our defense really held strong. To get a shutout against such a talented, well-coached team shows how strong our defense is.”
IU got on the board 19 minutes into the first half by way of a penalty stroke executed by senior defender Kate Barber. The goal ended a four-game scoring drought for Barber, who leads the team with 16 goals.
“The past couple of games we have been lacking goals,” Barber said. “But a lot of other people have stepped up and created those chances for us. It is great to see others step up and take those as well.”
Michigan would take six shots at IU sophomore goalkeeper Noëlle Rother in an attempt to tie the game, but Rother came up with a save every time.
IU wasn’t able to keep the momentum going in its next matchup against Michigan State on Sunday. Once again an early goal decided the game’s outcome, but this time that goal was Michigan State’s.
Rother was stout in goal again and recorded eight saves, but IU was kept off the scoreboard in a 1-0 defeat at Michigan State.
Junior forward Taylor Pearson and junior midfielder Cameron Gibson attempted to tie the game, but their shots struck the post of the Spartan goal.
The Hoosiers come out of the weekend 8-8 overall and 3-3 in the Big Ten and have two conference games left on the schedule.
IU will play Ohio State on Oct. 21 at the IU Field Hockey Complex for its last home contest of the season.
“It is so important for us to keep gaining confidence,” Janney said. “We are playing our style of hockey and executing the plays we are asking of our team.”
