Game Recap and Takeaways:
The No. 1 overall ranked Indiana Hoosiers Men’s Soccer Program took on the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday at Bill Armstrong stadium and, after one of the most exciting and roller coaster finishes you’ll see all season, the Hoosiers ended up losing by a score of 3-2.
Michigan is a good team – they received votes for the top 25 during this voting cycle and certainly played like a team that deserves to be ranked. Surely, after beating the Hoosiers, they will enter the top 25 this time around. If they continue to play like they did on Saturday, the Wolverines will present strong competition to the rest of the country.
The Wolverines certainly brought that on Saturday, as it was regularly quite difficult for the Hoosiers to get anything going on the attack. Regularly, the Hoosiers would easily bring it into a dangerous area and then get a case of one or more of the following: happy feet, making an extra or unnecessary pass, or overthinking. This would lead to Michigan center backs consistently creating turnovers for nearly the entire game. The Hoosiers just couldn’t get much going (outside of a beautiful first half goal from Alex Barger).
Meanwhile, the Wolverines were clinical, strong on the counter attack, and made the most of their chances. They were aggressive and made the Hoosiers look vulnerable for the first time since Indiana’s opening match against Clemson. Indiana only began to apply real threatening pressure in the final 10-15 minutes when Michigan was inviting it all. Then, it seemed like things started to click and real chances arose.
As the game progressed, the environment became tense. Fans had started leaving in droves when Michigan made it 3-1, but those who stayed around were rewarded with an unbelievable finish. Collins Oduro doubled Indiana’s score with about 6 minutes remaining, making it 3-2 with Michigan leading. The Hoosiers then amped up the pressure even further. It was rewarded, as the Hoosiers earned a penalty kick with under 2 minutes remaining.
This was the Hoosiers’ chance to tie the game, continue their “comeback kids” nature, and subsequently preserve their undefeated season. Palmer Ault placed a beautiful ball to the right side of the net, but it was met with an even more beautiful save from Michigan’s keeper. Effectively, this was the last kick of the game, and capped off what was an incredible roller coaster of a soccer game. Truly, it is a perfect example for why soccer is such an amazing sport – it unfortunately was just not the Hoosiers’ night and the game ended with a score of 3-2.
Hoosiers Player of the Match:
Without a doubt, outside back Alex Barger gets the nod from me for Hoosiers Player of the Match. He score his first goal of the season in the first half with a nicely placed ball in the back corner of the net but also was the Hoosiers’ biggest offensive threat all game long. Every ball played into the box was seemingly kicked by Barger. Every chance the Hoosiers had was seemingly started by Barger. Every dangerous threat the Hoosiers had…well, you get the picture.
Barger – a defender who plays in a traditionally defensive-heavy system under Coach Yeagley – was the biggest offensive threat on Saturday. It was rewarded with an immensely strong game from him and offers a lot of excitement moving forward for how the Hoosiers can use Barger in future matches.
Other IU Soccer Reads:
–IU Men’s Soccer Season Preview