The Hoosiers picked up their third Big Ten win on Saturday night in a 2-0 victory against Wisconsin.
Eriq Zavaleta scored both of the goals, with both coming off assists from junior A.J. Corrado. Zavaleta's first goal matched his season total of ten goals last season and his second surpassed that career high for the sophomore.
The first goal came in the eleventh minute of play following a Badger defensive clearance out of their own goal line. Corrado placed the corner kick right at the foot of the inside post where junior Nikita Kotlov flicked the ball across the six-yard box to the chest of Zavaleta.
Zavaleta, receiving the ball with his back towards the goal, chested the ball to his right side where he turned his left foot around for a volley into the back of the net.
The next goal came just after the halftime break in minute 48.
Corrado dribbled the ball down the right hand side of the field until he crossed the halfway marker. The two former-Chivas U.S.A. summer teammates then connected via a through-ball to Zavaleta inside the box just off the right post.
Just as Zavaleta reached the ball, a Badger defender attempted a slide tackle and the Badger goalkeeper attempted a dive tackle.
Zavaleta, reaching the ball first, bypassed both Wisconsin players by playing a smooth sailing chip over both players into the goal. The sophomore-leading scorer then showed the Hoosier Army a few of his new dance moves in a celebration following the goal.
The Hoosier defensive unit came looking to keep their clean sheet in the conference in tact.
Following Luis Soffner's two saves, Harrison Petts' clearance at the line, and countless blocks from the Hoosier defenders; that sheet indeed remained clean.
IU Coach Todd Yeagley attributes the defensive success to the leadership and cohesiveness among his senior co-captains in Soffner and Caleb Konstanski.
"Caleb and Luis have been great all year," Yeagley said. "That's what you need from your seniors. The toughness in their games has been consistent all year and I'm so happy for them. Their consistency takes pressure off our team and allows us to play more directly. That is what this team has fed off of and I'm really happy with our senior leadership in general and from Caleb and Luis in particular"
