Bruin, defense earn men's soccer team 1-0 victory

At one end of the field was junior forward Will Bruin. His seventh goal of the season that came in the 30th minute of the game made up the Hoosiers’ side of the scoreboard Wednesday.

On the other end of the field was sophomore goalkeeper Luis Soffner. His second shutout of the year against Evansville — the No. 6 team in the nation in goals scored with 20 coming into the game — made up the scoreboard’s other side.

In between the two was a physical Hoosier effort that led to the 1-0 win at Bill Armstrong Stadium and improved IU’s record to 5-3-0, which includes a three-game winning streak.

“It’s good to get that shutout, even in a game we might not have played our best,” Soffner said.

Maybe not their best, but the defense and midfield was able to stifle any chances the offensively savvy Purple Aces threw at them. Evansville outshot IU 12-9, with most threats coming from corner kicks, free kicks and headers within an arm’s reach of Soffner.

“We knew that going into the game,” he said. “That was kind of our write-up on them.
We knew they had the long throw, the corner kicks, the free kicks. We knew all their services were pretty good and that they were going to throw most of their defenders forward too. We trained the last couple days just preparing for it.”

With 15:02 left in the first half, Bruin drove a ball past Evansville goalkeeper Phil Boerger from 25 yards out to give Soffner and the defense a 1-0 lead and some breathing room during a barrage of Evansville attacks.

It was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week’s fifth goal at home this year.

“We got that shutout we’ve been looking for awhile,” Bruin said. “If we keep a zero on the board, we’re in good shape to win every game. I hope it’s a trend.”

Bruin credited his hot streak to striking early.

“When you start off with getting that first or second chance, putting it in is a big confidence booster rather than missing your first four or five,” he said.

Bruin and Evansville midfielder Tad Kreamalmeyer led their respective sides with five shots each.

In a game that saw 25 fouls between the two teams, senior defender Rich Balchan and sophomore defender Caleb Konstanski went down with injury, but both players returned to action.

Balchan has battled a bone bruise in his right ankle most of this season.

On the other end, Soffner was just glad Evansville could not finish any of its opportunities, which included a last-second effort with 13 seconds to play.

“They threw everybody forward, even the goalie came up,” he said. “The more bodies in the box, the little more hesitant we get. That was good that Caleb (Konstanski) just knocked it far.”

IU is 1-0 in conference play. The Hoosiers continue their three-game home stand when they face Wisconsin at 5 p.m. Sunday.