Sophomore back Lilly Freeman typically anchors the Indiana field hockey defense. But against Michigan State on Friday, she was the difference-maker on the scoreboard.
Freeman scored her first goal of the season in the fourth quarter, giving Indiana a 1-0 win over Michigan State and a 3-0 start in conference play for the first time in 20 years.
Indiana applied offensive pressure early, but Michigan State's defense held firm through the first quarter to keep the Hoosiers off the board. The Spartans also had a few chances in the opening quarter, but Indiana junior goalkeeper Sadie Canelli made a pair of saves to keep the game scoreless.
Michigan State came out strong in the second quarter, controlling much of the possession and slowing down the Hoosier attack. Indiana earned four straight penalty corners late in the quarter but couldn't convert any of them. The teams remained tied 0-0 at halftime, with Michigan State holding a slight 3-2 advantage in shots on goal.
At halftime, Indiana head coach Kayla Bashore said Indiana's press was lacking, hurting the Hoosiers' ability to create opportunities in attack.
The Hoosiers responded to that advice in the third quarter as Indiana immediately came out with more pressure and began to turn the momentum in its favor by creating more chances inside the circle.
Junior goalkeeper Lola Muñoz de Verger kept the Spartans in the game with several key saves, including a diving stop on a shot from Freeman that nearly slipped through her equipment. She also stopped a shot from Indiana sophomore forward/midfielder Molly Stutte later in the quarter.
But the pressure finally paid off in the fourth quarter.
The Hoosiers earned a penalty corner with 14:18 remaining in the match, and Freeman found the back of the net to give Indiana its first lead of the game.
“It was just adrenaline,” Freeman said postgame. “I was like, ‘Let me just get the ball in.’ I didn’t think the ball would go in straight away.”
And from that point forward, it was a familiar game for Indiana.
The Hoosiers had to defend their one-goal lead as Michigan State pushed for an equalizer. Like Michigan did last Saturday, the Spartans pulled their goalkeeper with four minutes remaining, putting even more pressure on Indiana's defense.
Indiana's defense was up to the challenge, keeping Michigan State on its own end of the field for nearly the remainder of the game.
“I have so much faith in this team. We’re all just really good friends,” Freeman said. “I think we can go far, and I think we’re going to do really well.”
Indiana finished with a 12-5 advantage in shots and a 6-3 lead in shots on goal, earning nine penalty corners to Michigan State’s two. More importantly, the Hoosiers found the goal they needed and held onto it, moving to 7-3 overall and 3-0 in Big Ten play. The shutout was also Canelli’s fourth of the season, as she finished with three saves.
The Hoosiers’ next game will be against Ohio State at noon on Sunday, in Columbus, Ohio. The game will be streamed on Big Ten+.
Follow reporter Jack Davis (@JackDavis0006 and jjd5@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana field hockey season.
