Indiana women’s soccer continued its offensive struggles in Big Ten play Sunday. The Hoosiers were shut out for the second consecutive match in a 2-0 loss to Wisconsin at the McClimon Soccer Complex in Madison, Wisconsin.
Indiana managed six shots against the Badgers, continuing a stretch of limited offensive opportunities since the start of conference play.
The Hoosiers averaged 13.8 shots per game across their six nonconference matches. Through three Big Ten matches, Indiana is averaging just 7.67 shots per game with only one scored goal.
The Hoosiers opened their Big Ten schedule with a 1-0 road victory over Nebraska but have been held scoreless in consecutive matches against Ohio State and Wisconsin.
Indiana attempted five shots in its 3-0 loss to Ohio State before recording six against Wisconsin. Only the Hoosiers’ four-shot performance against Saint Louis featured fewer attempts this season.
One goal was enough against Nebraska. Fifth-year goalkeeper Dani Jacobson and Indiana’s defense recorded their first shutout of the season, helping the Hoosiers leave Lincoln with three points despite a quiet offensive performance.
The last two matches have required more from the attack.
Ohio State scored twice before the match reached the 10-minute mark, putting Indiana in an early deficit. The Hoosiers finished the afternoon with five shots before traveling to Wisconsin one week later looking to find more opportunities.
Wisconsin presented another difficult offensive test for Indiana, putting the Hoosiers behind just 33 seconds into the match.
Indiana responded with one of its best opportunities less than four minutes later. Senior midfielder Paige Droner put a shot on goal in the fifth minute, but Wisconsin fifth-year goalkeeper Drew Stover made the save.
The Badgers doubled their lead in the 20th minute. Indiana again responded quickly, as senior defender Piper Coffield forced another save just over a minute later.
Indiana entered halftime with four shots, but its opportunities became even more limited in the second half.
The Hoosiers earned four consecutive corner kicks between the 65th and 67th minutes, their most sustained stretch of pressure after halftime. However, Indiana was unable to turn any of the four opportunities into a shot.
Indiana did not record its first shot of the second half until the 83rd minute, when sophomore defender Grace Hamm sent an attempt off target. Freshman midfielder Emma Ehret recorded Indiana’s final shot in the 89th minute, forcing Stover to make her third save of the match.
The Hoosiers finished with three shots on goal and just two total attempts in the second half despite playing the final 70 minutes down two goals.
Sunday’s loss dropped Indiana to 1-2 in Big Ten play and extended its scoreless stretch to two consecutive matches.
Indiana showed it could create moments of pressure against Wisconsin, particularly through its four consecutive second-half corner kicks and Droners' early game strike. Turning those stretches into more scoring opportunities will be the next challenge as the Hoosiers continue through Big Ten play.
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.
