No. 2 Indiana men’s soccer (6-0-1) took on the reigning national champion Washington Huskies (4-2-1) this Friday night. It was Indiana’s first home conference game of the season, and they squeezed out the win by a score of 1-0.
It was a game where Indiana’s defense was tested. Washington came in, averaging 3.1 goals per game, but wasn’t successful in scoring in this one. This was mainly due to Michael Mroz’s stellar performance on the night.
It wasn’t all pretty for the Hoosiers; they came out flat, as Washington got an early look at the net. Fortunately for Indiana, Michael Mroz was there to make the save. Washington dictated the pace in the first 15 minutes. Washington made Mroz work again, as he saved a shot in the eighth minute.
Indiana wouldn’t allow Washington to hurry them up for too long, as Indiana started to control the pace. IU then got a quick run and applied pressure immediately, led by Stephon Njike. Njike entered the Washington box and crossed the ball to the head of Easton Bogard. Bogard buried it, and Indiana took a 1-0 lead off of their first shot of the game in the 16th minute.
IU would continue its pressure as Oliver Moller-Jensen took a shot, but it missed far left. Njike had a beautiful cross to set up this shot in the 19th minute
Indiana would continue to control the second-half, not allowing Washington’s elite attack. IU took there 1-0 lead into the second half.
Washington’s offense came out with a purpose after the break. The possession battle immediately flipped, but Indiana still wouldn’t allow a Washington breakthrough. Washington got shots, and got them early, but Mroz was always there.
The Indiana attack wasn’t really able to generate much, but Washington hammered IU’s backline. The largest moment was the three minutes from the 78th minute to the 81st.
Washington had an elite attack in these three minutes and got three shots on goal, but Mroz wouldn’t let the Huskies find the back of the net. He was Indiana’s hero. Mroz had to save the day one last time in the 88th minute, as Washington delivered its final strike. Indiana then was able to bleed out the rest of the clock and move to 7-0-1 on the season.
Takeaways
Hoosier fans need to learn who Michael Mroz is. The most saves he had in the season before tonight was four. He recorded eight, all of which were vital to the Hoosiers’ win. Mroz was simply unbelievable.
“They put some pressure on us tonight,” Indiana men’s soccer head coach Todd Yeagley said. ”We expected them to have some opportunities. I told Michael, like, you’re gonna have to make some saves in this game. You play them any night; the team that has that much quality in the attack, you’ll need your keeper”.
Washington came in averaging 3.1 goals per game, and it showed. Their offense was relentless, specifically in the second half. Mroz stood tall throughout all of this pressure and put together an incredible game.
Mroz’s mentality is what allows him to have the success in these high pressure moments.
“We knew that it was gonna be a dog fight, that it’s gonna be a war, and we’re all ready for it, so there’s really nothing to change that,” Mroz said.
The team’s mindset was correct, as this game was a “dog fight”. IU didn’t play their best game in the second half, but was able to dig deep and claw out the victory.
Easton Bogard also had his fourth goal of the season. He had three total goals last year, and his improvement is one of the main reasons that IU is undefeated two games into conference play.
The road only gets more difficult for Indiana moving forward as they face No. 7 Wisconsin on the road next Tuesday. The game will be on BTN at 8:00 p.m., and you can expect more Hoosier Huddle coverage for that top-ten matchup.
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