The trees shook, the corner flags flapped and the Indiana men’s soccer team breezed to a victory over IUPUI on a windy Friday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium. After three 30-minute periods, the Hoosiers came out on top 3-0.
Indiana nearly took an early lead three minutes in thanks to sophomore forward Luka Bezerra, but his shot attempt just outside the six-yard box was blocked by an IUPUI defender and his rebound deflected off the post.
The pressure sustained throughout most of the first period, but Indiana was unable to get a goal on the board, mustering up only two shots — both on the Bezerra chance. However, the Hoosiers controlled the ball for almost the entirety of the period as they held IUPUI to zero shots and zero corner kicks.
“They didn’t pose any threat, which is great,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said postgame. “I thought some of our attacks, we did get around the corners [but] a little off with our final pass. Some of our intermediate play I thought was a bit sloppy at times. But overall, pleased.”
Just two and a half minutes into the second period, junior forward Sam Sarver split two defenders and was brought down in the box for a penalty. Granted the opportunity to put the Hoosiers on the board, Sarver blasted his penalty kick over the crossbar, keeping the game a scoreless tie.
Only five minutes after the Sarver miss, Indiana broke the deadlock. After defeating his defender on the touch line, freshman midfielder Clay Murador placed a low cross into the box for freshman forward Lucas Wolthers to glance past the keeper with his left footed shot at the near post.
Murador comes off a season in which he was unable to register a goal or assist but played in 16 matches as a true freshman. As displayed with the assist Friday, Yeagley hopes Murador can improve upon his freshman campaign.
“We saw Clay last year with his explosive moments,” Yeagley said. “He clearly has a different change of gear and can beat guys, but now can he work off combination? Can he be easier to play with? Can we get him to get more composure in the key moments? The ball he gave was a good one.”
As for Wolthers, redshirting his first season gives him four years of eligibility that Yeagley is eager to see unfold.
“There’s signs that you see out here tonight, what Wolthers can help us [with],” Yeagley said. “He’s a big body, he likes to get in scoring positions. He's one that, knowing with four years of eligibility, there’s a lot ahead for him.”
The onslaught continued for Indiana as redshirt senior defender Andrew Goldsworthy rose above the pack to head Sarver’s free kick into the corner of the net, only minutes after coming off the bench. The goal came in the Bloomington native’s final match at Bill Armstrong Stadium as he is set to depart from the program at the end of the spring season.
“He’s been a great teammate,” Yeagley said. “He’s been a guy who’s pushed our guys all the time. I’m really happy he got this moment tonight to score in front of his family because this will be his last season with us before he heads off to his next adventure.”
The third period retreated from the breakneck pace of the second, and only until the 19th minute did Indiana add to its advantage. After picking up the ball near the halfway line, Sarver sat down his defender, raced towards the net and slotted the ball past the onrushing keeper to seal the dominant display.
The 3-0 scoreline reflected both a lopsided attacking and defensive display from Indiana. The Hoosiers finished with double digit shots and five corners, while holding IUPUI to zero shots and only one corner.
Indiana will finish its spring schedule against the University of Notre Dame, the squad that ended the Hoosiers’ season in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals Dec. 2. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. April 19 at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana.
