The opportunities were plentiful for Indiana women’s soccer in its match against Bellarmine University on Sunday.
The Hoosiers had nine corner kicks which could have been used as chances to take control of the game, compared to just two for Bellarmine all game. Time and again, Indiana built pressure that led to the ball being spotted at the corner flag, but they were not able to take advantage of those opportunities.
Despite controlling much of the match, Indiana couldn’t turn its dominance into goals, falling 2-1 to Bellarmine on Sunday evening in Louisville, Kentucky. The Hoosiers finished with 22 shots and nine corners but only one score, while the Knights struck twice on limited chances to claim the win.
Early on, the pattern was clear. Indiana pressed high and forced Bellarmine into mistakes, and the Hoosiers’ first corner came in the 12th minute. More followed in the 24th and 25th minutes, as wave after wave of pressure pushed Bellarmine back into its own box. Each one carried promise, with crimson jerseys crowding the six-yard area.
But every time, the ball was either cleared away, smothered by redshirt freshman goalkeeper Anna Jenkins or sent off target — until the 38th-minute corner that finally turned into Indiana’s only goal of the day.
Corner kicks are supposed to be the payoff for a team’s attacking pressure — a chance to throw bodies in the box, make the keeper uncomfortable and find a scrappy finish. This time, the sequence broke Indiana’s way. Senior forward Sarah Sirdah swung in the delivery, senior midfielder Olivia Rush met it with a header on frame, and Jenkins’ save spilled loose in front of goal. Waiting in the right spot, senior defender Abbey Iler buried the rebound to bring the Hoosiers level at 1–1, coming shortly after sophomore forward McKenzie Carle gave Bellarmine the lead in the 29th minute.
It was exactly the kind of goal corner kicks are drawn up to create, and it began to look as if Indiana’s offensive breakthrough might unlock more scores later in the match.
But the second half told a different story.
The Hoosiers continued to find themselves taking corner kicks, with four more between the 46th and 69th minutes. Each one had a chance to tilt the game back in the Hoosiers’ favor.
Indiana maintained pressure on Bellarmine, cycling the ball around the attacking third and looking for openings in the box. Yet time and again, its deliveries were met with firm clearances or went just wide, leaving the Hoosiers’ efforts unproductive.
Even with continued possession and multiple chances, the Hoosiers were unable to convert pressure into goals, leaving the door open for Bellarmine to strike on the counter — which it did.
Bellarmine’s second goal of the game came in the 80th minute, when substitute freshman forward Katie Paulakonis broke through the defense and finished with a clean shot to give Bellarmine a 2-1 lead, the eventual score of the game.
Following the goal, the Knights made defensive adjustments, bringing on an additional defender in place of an attacker to slow down any attempts the Hoosiers could mount.
The clock ticked down as Indiana pushed for their final chances. With its home crowd behind it, Bellarmine continued to control the ball with seeming ease, just as it had done since its first goal.
The Hoosiers had their final chance of the match in the 88th minute. Junior midfielder Kennedy Neighbors fired a shot that went wide, drawing sighs from Indiana players as the miss marked what would be the Hoosiers’ last opportunity of the night.
Indiana dominated possession and generated numerous scoring opportunities, firing 22 shots, seven on goal, compared with Bellarmine’s eight, five on goal. Despite the offensive pressure, Indiana struggled to convert chances into goals, with Bellarmine’s defense and goalkeeper Jenkins repeatedly making key stops.
The Hoosiers now sit at 2-2 on the season following a tough non-conference road trip. Indiana will return to Bloomington to host Xavier University at 8 p.m. Thursday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The matchup will provide an opportunity for Indiana to regroup and continue building on the strong defensive foundation that has anchored the team through the early part of the season.
Follow reporters Noah Gerkey (@Noah_Gerk and ngerkey@iu.edu) and Will Kwiatkowski (@WKwiatkowski_15 and wdkwiatk@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana women's soccer season.
