Following an encouraging 3-2 loss to Michigan, and amid a five-game losing streak, Indiana women’s soccer searches for more answers as it travels to Los Angeles to play UCLA on Thursday.
Last time the Hoosiers took the field, they executed on both sides of the ball in a way they haven’t in recent matches. Despite giving up three goals, Indiana found the back of the net twice — the most offensive success they’ve had in the last month.
Beyond attacking improvements, Indiana’s backline also saw enhanced play against Michigan. Fifth-year goalkeeper Dani Jacobson faced a season-high 16 shots against the Wolverines. Of the six shots on goal, Jacobson blocked three, marking another season high for the Hoosiers’ starting keeper.
Head coach Josh Rife praised the newfound success of his team while still acknowledging the squad has room to grow.
“For the ladies to see the ball hit the back of net twice, I think it’s got to be a level of confidence and a little bit of boost for them,” Rife said postgame Sunday. “We just have not found the winning recipe yet.”
Indiana currently stands 16th in the Big Ten with a 1-5 conference record and a 4-7-1 overall record. If the Hoosiers hope to make the Big Ten tournament in November, they need to finish top 10 in the conference.
A road trip to California presents the Hoosiers with an opportunity to defeat UCLA, which is third in the conference with a 5-1 Big Ten record.
“The Big Ten’s a monster from top to bottom,” Rife said about the upcoming matchup with UCLA. “There’s no easy games.”
UCLA enters Thursday on a four-game win streak with an 8-3-1 overall record. In their last four matches, the Bruins have shut out their opponents while scoring five goals.
In nine of their 12 games, the Bruins have started sophomore Daphne Nakfoor in goal. She has recorded 31 saves this season with a 0.816 save percentage. With senior Lynette Bryant and junior Mariangela Medina, the three UCLA goalkeepers have a combined save percentage of 0.815, recording 44 saves and allowing just 10 goals.
Offensively, junior forward Kara Croone and senior forward Oruha Hayashi lead the Bruins in goals scored, both recording four goals through twelve games. Croone has taken just 11 shots this season, but with a shot on goal percentage of 0.636, the Hoosiers will have to keep an eye on her when she’s near the net.
UCLA is led by first-year head coach Gof Boyoko, who has been with the team since 2022. From 2022-25, Bokoyo served as an assistant head coach with the Bruins, helping the team achieve success on the national stage with a national championship victory in 2022.
Thursday marks just the second time Indiana and UCLA have ever met on the pitch. In their first outing, the Bruins traveled to Bloomington and defeated the Hoosiers 1-0.
Indiana hopes to get its first win against UCLA at Wallis Annenberg Stadium on Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. EDT with coverage available on B1G+.
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
