Brown’s Equalizer Leads to 1-1 Draw with Nebraska on Senior Day

Sunday, October 15

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Indiana University

6-7-4, 2-4-3B1G

Nebraska

9-3-4, 3-1-4B1G

OT 3

OT 4

Nebraska

Indiana

Brown’s Equalizer Leads to 1-1 Draw with Nebraska on Senior Day

10/15/2017 4:53:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – A 72^nd minute equalizer by redshirt junior Mykayla Brown led Indiana Women's Soccer to a 1-1 draw with Nebraska on Sunday's Senior Day at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

Prior to the game, IU seniors Kylie Kirk and Kayla Smith were honored for their contributions to the program.

The point was a valuable one as the Hoosiers (6-7-4, 2-4-3 Big Ten) look to stay in the hunt for a Big Ten Tournament bid. Indiana is coming off a 2-1 victory against Iowa on Thursday night.

"We've really come into our own," said head coach Amy Berbary. "The confidence that we've been building over the last three or four games has been fantastic. We sorted out a few things at halftime and came out and physically battled with them and matched their energy to get it done."

Nebraska (9-3-4, 3-1-4 Big Ten) jumped to a 1-0 lead in the 17^th minute as Haley Hanson curled the ball from the left, knocking it off the bottom of the crossbar and past the goal line.

Junior Maya Piper put up a trio of shots early, but Nebraska goalkeeper Aubrei Corder was there to keep the lead intact.

Coming off a 12-save effort against Iowa, Indiana goalkeeper Bethany Kopel had another impressive outing, including a fantastic save on a shot from Hanson as she turned the field on a counter. Kopel finished the day with five saves.

Brown found the equalizer in 72^nd minute off an assist from Kilgore. After Nebraska was whistled for offsides, Kirk sent the free kick to midfield. After it was headed on by sophomore Chandra Davidson, it found the feet of sophomore Syndey Kilgore, who slotted it down the middle to a charging Brown. Brown then beat three defenders to the ball, including a perfectly timed hesitation to make the final defender miss and take the goalkeeper on one on one. Brown fired it in from 10 yards out to the left for her third goal of the year.

"There was a point in the game where we got down a bit," said Smith. "But a couple big tackles and plays brought us back, Mykayla took advantage of an opportunity and really lifted us to keep fighting."

IU continued to push, firing off a pair of back-to-back shots in the 79^th minute off looks from Kilgore and junior Abby Allen. Indiana outshot Nebraska in the final 15 minutes of regulation, 5-2.

Kopel was tested early in the first overtime, as Hanson and Elyse Huber sent back-to-back looks in on target less than 30 seconds in. However, the Novi, Mich. was there both times on Nebraska's lone shots on goal of the first overtime.

IU's only shot of the first 10-minute period came on a wide look by senior Kayla Smith.

The final overtime featured a trio of Husker shots, including a pair of looks by Sami Reinhard and Meg Brandt after the Hoosiers were whistled for a foul 22 yards out.

On the other end of the field, Davidson sent in a good look in the 106^th minute, but Corder made her fourth save to keep the draw intact.

Indiana returns to action Saturday as the Hoosiers play host to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the final home game of the season.

"We keep talking about each individual performance, which I think is key to this group," said Berbary. "We aren't looking at the big picture, we're focusing on the moment and get done what we need to get done. Today we had to come out of here with some points. One is better than zero and I'm really happy with the fight of this group. We aren't going away."