Fifth-year goalkeeper Dani Jacobson entered Indiana women’s soccer’s Big Ten opener against Nebraska on Thursday night looking to bounce back from a rough start to the season.
She did just that.
Jacobson made three saves in the team’s 90 minute match against the Cornhuskers. Junior forward Maggie Ledwith scored a game-winning goal in the 88th minute as Indiana defeated Nebraska 1-0 at Hibner Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Hoosiers earned their first shutout — which head coach Josh Rife had been waiting for — and a win to open Big Ten play.
The performance came after Jacobson struggled through Indiana’s 3-2-1 nonconference slate. She entered Thursday with just three saves while allowing nine goals across six starts — posting a .250 save percentage.
Jacobson’s starting position appeared less certain after Indiana’s 3-2 victory over Ohio University on Sept. 6. Jacobson started against the Bobcats but was replaced by senior goalkeeper Emma Payton at halftime. Payton played the final 45 minutes and made two saves to ensure Indiana’s first road victory under the second-year Rife.
Despite the previous exchange, Rife enlisted Jacobson for the entirety of the Hoosiers’ conference opener.
Nebraska tested her early with spurts of offense.
The Cornhuskers attempted three corner kicks within the opening 11 minutes before sophomore forward Sadie Sant put their first shot on target in the 12th. Sant sent the ball toward the bottom-right corner, but Jacobson made the save.
Nebraska entered Thursday’s match averaging 17.5 shots per game and continued creating opportunities against Indiana. Junior forward Ava Makovicka forced Jacobson to make another save in the 20th minute, directing her attempt toward the bottom-left corner.
Indiana’s offense struggled to respond early. Sophomore forward Grace Hamm attempted two of the Hoosiers’ first three shots, but both missed the target.
Nebraska tested Jacobson for a third time in the 31st minute. Freshman forward Carson Bohonek put a shot toward the bottom center of the net, but Jacobson once again made the save.
Jacobson entered halftime with three saves — matching her total from Indiana’s first six matches combined.
Indiana began creating more offensive pressure late in the opening half. Ledwith and freshman Emma Ehret each put shots on target within a minute, but Nebraska senior goalkeeper Avery Gillahan stopped both attempts.
Unlike Indiana’s match against Ohio, Jacobson remained in goal for the second half.
The Hoosiers nearly found a breakthrough immediately. Hamm forced Gillahan into another save in the 47th minute before Ledwith sent an attempt wide less than 30 seconds later.
The match remained scoreless as the second half progressed.
Nebraska continued pushing forward, but Indiana prevented the Cornhuskers from putting another shot on target, allowing Jacobson and the Hoosiers to keep their first clean sheet of the season within reach.
Then, in the 89th minute, Ledwith finally broke the deadlock.
With just over two minutes remaining, Ledwith found the back of the net to give Indiana a 1-0 advantage. After spending nearly the entire match searching for a breakthrough, the Hoosiers only needed to protect the lead for the final minutes.
Indiana held on, securing its second consecutive road victory and opening Big Ten play with three points.
The victory also ended Indiana’s struggles in Lincoln. Nebraska entered the night 10-1-1 all-time against Indiana and had won all six previous meetings between the programs at Hibner Stadium, outscoring the Hoosiers 16-6 across those contests.
Jacobson and the Hoosiers finally secured their first clean sheet for an Indiana defense that had yet to keep an opponent scoreless entering Thursday.
After being replaced at halftime just four days earlier, Jacobson responded with her best statistical performance of the season, while Ledwith’s late goal ensured Indiana’s first Big Ten victory of the season.
Indiana will return to Bloomington to face Ohio State at 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Bill Armstrong Stadium, looking to build on its Big Ten-opening victory.
Follow reporters Will Kwiatkowski (@WKwiatkowski_15 and wdkwiatk@iu.edu) and Leonardo Vesperini (@leovmedia and lvesperi@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana women’s soccer season.
