After Wednesday’s match against Michigan State was postponed due to COVID-19-related issues within the Spartans’ program, IU women’s soccer returned to the pitch Sunday afternoon in a 1-0 win over Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers, in just their second game in 13 days, came out of the gates strong, scoring a twelfth-minute goal from freshman forward Anna Bennett, the first of her IU career. Bennett’s goal was the only score of the afternoon.
“It felt good, it was like a little confidence booster. I think once I get the first one, they’ll start coming more,” Bennett said. “It felt like after the first one, I belong in the Big Ten and I can play with everyone else.”
Following Bennett’s goal, the Hoosiers’ offense stagnated, relying on defense to help capture the win. Wisconsin only took three shots on goal all afternoon, failing to convert on any of them in another shutout performance for IU senior goalkeeper Bethany Kopel.
Wisconsin’s limited opportunities held the team back all afternoon. The team failed to score despite the goal coming very early in the match, with 78 minutes to play after Bennett scored. The Badgers’ offensive woes have been a trend recently. They’ve scored just one goal in their last four games.
Wisconsin came into the game ahead of the Hoosiers in the standings, following a 1-0 win against Northwestern. The Hoosiers, who lost 1-0 to Illinois in their last match, got a much-needed victory.
“We got a good win against a really good team,” head coach Erwin van Bennekom said. “We played probably our best soccer of the season.”
The win moves the Hoosiers back above .500 on the season at 4-3, moving them into fifth in a tight Big Ten standings. The Hoosiers’ four Big Ten wins equal their total from 2019.
“Just looking at this game, it’s nice,” van Bennekom said. “Good win against a team that has a better record than us and is ahead of [us in] the standings.”
IU will travel to Columbus, Ohio, to face Ohio State on Thursday. The Hoosiers are looking to get their second consecutive win over the Buckeyes, who they defeated 1-0 in Bloomington a season ago.
“Come out quick, come out strong, impose our will on the game and beat the Buckeyes,” Bennett said.
