Seven years have passed since No. 14 Indiana men’s soccer started a season with a perfect 3-0-0 record. The dry spell finally ended Thursday as the Hoosiers survived a 1-0 scraping over Butler University, a game in which Indiana outshot the Bulldogs by 31.
Despite the Hoosiers’ three goals-per-game, a No. 14 national ranking and home field advantage at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington, the Hoosiers scored a lone goal against Butler redshirt junior goalkeeper Brooks Boersma, who had only made one save in his debut season entering Thursday.
Boersma handled everything the Hoosiers threw at him in the first half, making 10 saves in as many chances. Boersma allowed two goals on three on-target shots through Butler’s first two games.
Indiana’s offense retained possession for most of the first half but the defense showed up when needed, weathering pressure inside the box in the 12th minute, blocking Butler’s only shot of the first half.
The Hoosiers’ offense was headlined by forwards senior Collins Oduro and junior Stephane Njike, who both made their season debuts. The game was Njike’s first for Indiana.
“We have a deep group,” head coach Todd Yeagley said postgame. “I thought both had good first outings. Collins has been out for a while and Njike is trying to integrate back so it feels good. (Njike) had a big smile on his face.”
It took just 43 minutes for the Hoosiers to surpass their season high for shots in a game, shooting the ball 19 times in the match’s first half. This mark eclipsed the 18 total shots Indiana took against the University of Notre Dame on Aug. 20.
Indiana took 22 shots — with 12 on target — before junior defender Nick McHenry finally broke the offensive ice 62 minutes into the game with a right-footed goal for his first points of the season, giving the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead against the Bulldogs.
Despite scoring the lone Hoosier goal, McHenry credited the defensive line as the true backbone of the win. Indiana’s defense has still yet to allow a non-penalty goal, earning its second shutout of the season against Butler.
“Do our job and the rest will come,” McHenry said postgame. “We have some of the best forwards in the country, so if we keep a clean sheet, we know we’re going to get one or two goals. That’s how we win games.”
Hoosier offensive shortcomings continued after the opening goal, with Indiana taking 10 more shots before the end of the game , though none of them resulting in goals. A potential brace from junior Charlie Heuer was taken away after the referee called the Hoosier midfielder offsides.
Butler’s defense outplayed its season standards, facing more than double the shots on Thursday than in its first two games combined. Nine different Hoosiers shot the ball, including the returning Oduro and Njike, who tallied five shots in 103 total minutes.
“We knew that we would get chances,” McHenry said. “We have Stephane Njike, Collins Oduro, Clay Murador — some of the best wingers in the country. The game plan, going into it, was the same as always: go out there and play our style.”
Two days after being named National Player of the Week, senior forward Oliver Moller-Jensen had a loud but empty night on Thursday. The former Denmark resident took 11 shots, four of which on goal, setting a season high in both.
Junior goalkeeper Michal Mroz could have taken the night off for the Hoosiers, facing zero shots on goal against Butler and keeping his season total at six, saving all but a penalty kick against Notre Dame.
Mroz will prepare for his first challenge of the season on Monday, when a matchup with the undefeated University of Louisville awaits. The Cardinals put nine shots on goal against Lipscomb University on Thursday.
“It was a more mature night for Michal,” Yeagley said. “He’ll get reps. He'll get some shots against him. It’s rare to go the night and not have your keeper make a save. I love that, but it’s not necessarily what you’d expect.”
Indiana men’s soccer will look to continue its perfect start and attempt to start 4-0-0 for the first time since 2017 in its first road game against Louisville at 7 p.m. on Monday. Coverage will be on the ACC Network.
Follow reporters Noah Boudouris (@noahboudouris and nboudour@iu.edu) and Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s soccer season.
