In a game originally scheduled for March 17 but postponed due to COVID-19, IU women’s soccer defeated Michigan State 2-1 Wednesday afternoon in Bloomington thanks to a go-ahead 46th minute penalty kick goal by sophomore midfielder Avery Lockwood.
The Spartans, entering the game on a seven-game losing streak, had scored just one goal in their last three games. Michigan State’s bad luck continued for much of the match, giving up an early goal to freshman forward Gabi Rennie, the first of her IU career.
In IU’s final home game of the regular season, Rennie made her first career start after notching her first career assist off the bench Sunday against Michigan. Head coach Erwin van Bennekom said he was happy with the New Zealand native’s performance.
“She’s here to score goals,” van Bennekom said. “She’s a forward — that’s what she does.”
Van Bennekom said he was also impressed with Rennie’s speed, athleticism and “physical presence,” in helping lead the Hoosiers to victory.
Michigan State soon got back into the match, controlling possession and shots near the end of the first half leading to a goal by sophomore forward/midfielder Sydney Kloosterman in the 36th minute.
The score was tied at halftime, but the tie did not last long as Lockwood scored on a penalty kick, putting IU ahead for good in a game it would control the entire second half.
While it wasn’t the prettiest of performances, van Bennekom said he was proud of the team’s effort in securing the win.
“Not our best performance by any means, and not the soccer we want to play,” van Bennekom said. “But proud of the team to get the win and fight to the end.”
The win helps solidify the Hoosiers in the top eight of the conference, the cutoff mark for the Big Ten Tournament, and for the third time in program history, the team has won six conference games in a season. The Hoosiers are aiming for their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2013.
IU will travel Saturday to Folk Field in West Lafayette, Indiana, to face in-state rival Purdue in its final match of the regular season.
