Entering Friday night’s matchup with No. 6 Maryland, No. 2 Indiana men’s soccer needed to find its footing in the offensive end.
In the Hoosiers’ four previous Big Ten matches, they scored more than one goal in only a singular matchup: Penn State. Indiana’s backline held clean sheets against Michigan and Washington in 1-0 victories before a 1-1 scoreline against then-No. 12 Wisconsin.
If not for senior forward Oliver Moller-Jensen's second half brace against the Nittany Lions, the Hoosiers might’ve had another draw against a conference opponent.
Yet the scoreboard inside Bill Armstrong Stadium didn’t read 1-0 or 2-0 after 63 minutes. Indiana was leading 3-0 against the sixth-best team in the country.
The Cream and Crimson’s three-goal advantage was their first in Big Ten play and helped them maintain a 3-1 victory over Maryland when the final whistle blew.
“We had some great attacks,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said postgame. “Most important, we get one more than them. But I was pleased with the chances we created against a good team, and that gives me a lot of confidence.”
Indiana junior midfielder Charlie Heuer started the scoring in the 17th minute. Or so he thought.
A pass from junior forward Easton Bogard found the feet of senior forward Oliver Moller-Jensen, who made minimal contact in front of the net. A charging Heuer tried to push the ball into the back of the goal.
However, Maryland senior midfielder Kenny Quist-Therson was first, trying to clear the ball away. Instead, Heuer’s clearance attempt ricocheted off senior midfielder Leon Koehl to hit the right post and into the back of the net.
If not for a 16th-minute goal against Washington, the goal, courtesy of Maryland errors, would’ve been the Hoosiers’ fastest during their Big Ten slate. But there was one difference Friday night compared to Indiana’s one-goal victory on Sept. 18: Indiana kept scoring.
Only three minutes later, junior forward Stephane Njike crossed the ball to the back post and into the awaiting head of Bogard. His header floated above the outstretched arms of Maryland junior goalkeeper Laurin Mack. A sprinting Heuer followed the ball, sticking his leg out and pushing it into the back of the net.
Two to nothing, Indiana.
“It's nice to get rewarded,” Yeagley said. “I think that just pushed us through the half. If we don't get a goal, maybe they get a little confidence and make their way back into it. We just never let off.”
The Hoosiers continued their control of the tempo in the midfield, leading to high-quality chances when entering the final third. By the end of the first 45 minutes, Indiana produced nine shots to Maryland’s three. The Hoosiers also created four corner opportunities, including a chance in the first minute of the game.
Though Indiana couldn’t tack on an even earlier goal, the Cream and Crimson found another high-quality scoring opportunity in the 63rd minute.
After a corner kick gave Njike and senior forward Collins Oduro shots in front of the net — both of which were blocked — Indiana regrouped on Maryland’s side of the field. Oduro then tried another attempt on target, which ricocheted to Bogard. Indiana’s forward flicked the ball towards Njike, who slotted the ball into the bottom left corner of the net.
“He (Njike) was dangerous all night,” Yeagley said. “I loved his defending tonight. I think that's the thing I'm most proud of is how far he's come in a short period of time with his team defending, his accountability defensively.”
Indiana shut down Maryland’s attack throughout the 90 minute match. The Terrapins’ 144 shots this season ranked fourth in the conference, but the Hoosiers held them to just 12 Friday night.
Maryland applied pressure in the final 20 minutes, but Indiana’s backline remained resilient for much of the time. The Terrapins finally broke through with a 71st-minute header by freshman forward Rodrigo Neri.
But any Maryland momentum was stifled for the rest of the match, including an 87th-minute penalty kick. Neri produced a low shot to the left side of the goal, but Indiana junior goalkeeper Michal Mroz chose correctly and saved the shot, giving the Hoosiers a two-goal victory.
“I love the three goals,” Yeagley said. “Goal diff (differential) is going to come into play at some point, whether it's whatever line of the Big 10 you're in. I think goal diff is important. So, any time you can get a few more, that's great”
Now sitting first with a 4-0-1 record and 13 points in Big Ten play, the Hoosiers control a conference of five ranked teams. Michigan State, Rutgers and Washington follow closely behind with nine points each.
The Hoosiers now have two chances to build confidence heading into their five-game final stretch, starting with the University of Kentucky on Oct. 6 at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
“That was like punching through the top gear,” Yeagley said. “That was good to see. So, most importantly, got three more points against a good team, and of course we can move forward in the process.”
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.
