Only one of IU’s 25 shots found its way into the goal Tuesday. In a tie that some players called a loss, No. 4 IU’s fifth consecutive overtime game resulted in a 1-1 stalemate with the No.16 University of Notre Dame.
“I thought we grew as a team tonight, but it feels like a loss,” junior defender A.J. Palazzolo said. “We expect to win every game and when we dominate in shots like that, it’s tough coming out of here without a win.”
At the end of the first half, the Hoosiers had triple the amount of shots as the Fighting Irish. The team also put more shots on goal and more corner kicks. Yet, they were unable to convert.
“To generate 25 shots against a good Notre Dame team was a very good positive, but it’s a disappointed locker room because you feel like you didn’t do enough to win the game,” IU head coach Todd Yeagley said.
According to Yeagley, IU’s defensive formations and communication were key throughout the match. Palazzolo seemingly intercepted every pass by Notre Dame and sophomore defender Jack Maher guarded the air with headers to clear the ball from the goal box.
Despite its lock-down defense and efforts to strike first, IU surrendered a goal in the 39th minute.
Notre Dame’s sophomore midfielder Mohamed Omar beat IU goalkeeper Sean Caulfield off the dribble on the left side of the goal box and gave it to sophomore and fellow midfielder Ben Giacobello for the goal.
“No matter if we’re down or up a goal, we’ll still have the same fight in us,” Palazzolo said. “Obviously we would like to start a little better but that’s something we’ll keep growing as a team on.”
Doing what it does best, IU added to the dramatics by notching a game-tying goal in the second half.
From the right side of the field, senior defender Simon Waever found freshman forward Herbert Endeley who tore through the defense and headed the ball into the right corner at the 66th minute.
This was Endeley’s second goal of the season since his golden goal against the University of Pittsburgh on Aug. 30.
“I made sure to thank Simon after he gave it to me,” Endeley said. “I know the positions he likes to take up and he knows mine. We have a good connection on that right side.”
Yeagley also said Endeley’s speed and field awareness contributed to keeping IU in the game.
“He was dynamic all night and I’m really pleased for him,” Yeagley said. “He got chopped down quite a bit in transition and he just gets up and plays.”
The defense on corners for the Fighting Irish prevented the Hoosiers from any further scoring. Senior goalkeeper Duncan Turnbull, who at 6’7’’ towers over the other athletes, picked off several of IU junior midfielder Spencer Glass’ corner kicks and launched the ball to the other end of the field.
“The keeper was very good and his anticipation on a couple of our finishes were excellent,” Yeagley said. “We could have been a little more clinical at times but that’s being a little critical, we were pretty good in the final third.”
Neither teams put up much of an offensive scare in either overtime periods. A combined six shots were taken in overtime, with each goalkeeper only seeing one shot threaten the goal.
IU takes on its first Big Ten rival on Friday against Wisconsin at home. While the Hoosiers have a different makeup on their roster than in previous years, Palazzolo has high hopes for conference play.
“Last year we went 8-0 in the Big Ten and we expect to do that again,” he said. “We’re excited and we’ll be ready come Friday.”
