Clay Murador sits just outside the 18-yard box, lurking, watching, ready for a loose ball. The corner whips in, and the defensive clearance conveniently falls right to the junior forward.
He takes one shuffle, sets his feet and rifles the shot over the bar.
Murador spins his heels and looks up to the sky, unable to watch his strike soar over the trees behind the goal at DeMartin Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. No. 3 Indiana men’s soccer would end up losing 1-0 to Michigan State on Tuesday.
His first collegiate goal eluded Murador through 34 appearances over three college seasons. He joked with his teammates every day that “today’s the day” he’d reach that milestone.
Friday was that day.
Murador noted the situation was nearly similar, albeit a cross rather than a corner, to his attempt in East Lansing. Junior defender Alex Barger’s delivery was cleared out by a UCLA header, but the ball didn’t make it past Murador at the top of the box. His control with his chest took the ball away from goal but onto his trusty left foot. Then, with the confidence of a player with 20 goals in his career, Murador launched a rocket that sailed into the net.
Barger and sophomore forward Easton Bogard held their hands on their heads in shock and amazement. Murador ran to the corner flag, flanked by redshirt junior defender Breckin Minzey.
A jump, a punch of the air and a slap of the corner flag was Murador's chosen celebration, accompanied by a smile stretching across his face. It was the second of four goals for No. 3 Indiana men’s soccer in its 4-2 win over UCLA at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
But for Murador, it was more than just a tally in a game — it was a career moment.
Murador failed to register a single contribution through 30 appearances in his first two seasons with the Hoosiers, but not for a lack of trying. His efforts on goal ended with shots off the posts, crossbars or saves by the keeper.
Against Penn State last season, Murador finished off one of these chances, but the assistant referee waved it off for an offside. Head coach Todd Yeagley labeled it Murador’s “unofficial first goal” after the game against the Nittany Lions, and his stance on the matter hasn’t changed almost a year later.
“That was not offside,” Yeagley said postgame. “That was like three yards onside last year. It was such a frustrating moment.”
Murador’s strong preseason gave even more reason for excitement. Yeagley frequently touted his winger as one of his best attackers based on the two exhibition matches, and his teammates felt the same.
“We knew what he had to offer in preseason,” senior forward Palmer Ault said. “He was absolutely flying.”
But an injury forced Murador out, leaving him on the bench for the first five matches of the season. Indiana’s 1-0 win over the University of Notre Dame on Sept. 7 featured his first action of the year, and the progression to his top form has been slow but steady.
The outburst finally came against the Bruins.
“We knew it wasn’t going to take long once he got back in the lineup that he was going to get his first one,” Ault said. “So, you know, he was player of the match tonight, no doubt.”
Murador kicked off the party with Indiana's first goal, providing a delicate pass to Barger on the overlapping run. The Hoosier left back then found Ault in the box for the first goal of the game only five minutes and 16 seconds into the match.
Next came Murador’s finish, only 10 minutes and 20 seconds after the first goal. The Aledo, Texas, native never has trouble striking the ball with power, as he was a kicker on his high school football team, but Yeagley analogized his scoring issues with golf.
“He’s picked and chose the wrong times in the past to hit the heavy club, the driver,” Yeagley said. “So, he chose the right club and got all of it. When it leaves your foot, you know it. I’m sure he was like, ‘Oh boy, that felt good.’”
The festivities continued as graduate student Ben Do’s cross found Murador in the box, and his header reached UCLA freshman goalkeeper Ryan Tiltack in net. Unlike most of his 10 saves in the match, Tiltack left the ball in front of him. Bogard pounced on it for Indiana’s third goal in under 20 minutes and Murador’s second assist.
Halftime marked the end to Murador’s night, finishing with four shots, three on net, a goal and two assists. It was the standout performance in the front line, although Ault tacked on another goal to his Big Ten-leading tally.
But Murador’s arrival to the squad and the scoresheet reflected a new attacking piece of Indiana’s puzzle, one Yeagley hopes to figure out and stabilize as the end of the season nears.
“He’s another game-changing player for us,” Yeagley said. “I think him finding that tonight will only give us another weapon as we look to put out the group that we think can help us win matches.”
Once the dust settled, Indiana secured the three points and the Hoosier faithful left Bill Armstrong Stadium happy, Murador could finally declare one thing truthfully.
Sept. 26, 2025, was the day.
Follow reporters Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) and Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer and matfuent@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men's soccer season.
