The Hoosiers returned to action Friday after a five-day layoff, but the rest was not enough to defeat the Murry State University Racers.
Instead, the Racers used a goal in the 81st minute to topple IU in a closely-contested battle.
IU’s loss was more so a result of missed opportunities, rather than a lack of opportunities. The Hoosiers had a whopping 10 corners and 15 shots, but mustered only one goal, a strike from freshman forward Jaimie Tottleben in the 50th minute.
The Hoosiers scoring chances began almost immediately, with a couple of close calls that were ultimately saved in the fourth and sixth minutes. In the 11th minute, the Hoosiers picked up their second and third corner attempts of the game, but could not successfully convert either of them.
In the 28th minute, after making a couple of saves, IU's junior goaltender, Bethany Kopel, finally gave one up, allowing a goal to Racers’ freshman forward Lilly Strader.
With the score at 1-0 heading into halftime, it became imperative for the Hoosiers to convert on the offensive chances they were receiving. It did not take long for the Hoosiers to convert,however, when Tottleben found the net in the 50th minute. The forward’s strike from 15 yards out was the first of her career and knotted the game at 1-1.
From there, a defensive battle ensued as neither team gave up much ground. Both teams continued to rack up shots, but nothing broke for either team until the 80th minute.
Freshman midfielder Avery Lockwood had a one-on-one chance right in front of the net, but her shot was tipped out for a corner kick. IU earned back-to-back corner kicks, but trouble ensued as Murray State cleared the latter and, on the counter, scored in the 81st minute to reclaim the lead.
Junior forward Rebecca Kubin finished off a feed from freshman teammate Parker Greer to put the Racers up for good 2-1.
The Racers improved to 2-1-0 with the win while the Hoosiers fell to 1-2-0 on the year. This season,the Hoosiers have now been outscored by a grand total of five goals to two, with their only win being a shutout last Sunday against the University of Illinois-Chicago.
With six days off before next Thursday’s matchup with the University of Louisville, the focus in practice will once again be on creating scores off offensive opportunities.
It will also be one of the last opportunities the Hoosiers have for a full week of practice as they will begin playing twice a week in September leading into Big Ten play.
