Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
#25 Rutgers
Women's Soccer Falls At No. 25 Rutgers, 1-0
10/2/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind.. -- The Indiana Women’s Soccer (5-8, 1-6 Big Ten) The Indiana Women’s Soccer (5-8, 1-6 Big Ten) team was not able to overcome an early goal by No. 25 Rutgers on the way to a 1-0 loss at Yurcak Field on Thursday night. Indiana had 11 shots in the game, and nine of those were on goal.
“I’m proud of our team for the way we responded after giving up that early goal,” Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said. “We are so close and it is tough to keep getting this close and coming up just a little bit short. But this is a process and I know this team has bought into that process, so we will keep pushing forward and get ready for Sunday’s game at Maryland.”
Rutgers (8-1-1, 4-1-1 Big Ten) took advantage of a turnover by the Hoosiers in the midfield and was able to get into the box and score, what would turn out to be, the only goal of the game in the third minute.
After the Scarlet Knights took the lead, it was Indiana that started to put pressure on and gain possession of the ball. In a span of eight minutes, the Hoosiers drew their first corner kick while registering four shots on goal. But Rutgers goalkeeper Casey Murphy was up to the task each time.
Perhaps the Hoosiers best look at goal came off a corner kick late in the first half. The ball was served into the box and Mykayla Brown was able to get her head on it and put it on frame, but a Rutgers defender was standing on the goal line and was able to head it away.
The start of the second half saw the Hoosiers increase the pressure on the Scarlet Knights, registering three shots and a corner kick within the first five minutes of the half. One of the shots was a blast by Tori Keller that Murphy had to punch over the crossbar at the last second. But, just like the first half, Murphy was able to turn away all of the shots and keep the Hoosiers off the board.
“This is a tough loss for us, because we went toe-to-toe with another one of the best teams in the country,” senior Tori Keller said. “But at the same time, I think we will take a lot of confidence out of this game because we put a lot of pressure on them tonight. We know we are close to breaking through and getting a win in these close games. We just have to finish the games the way we know how to.”
Rutgers finished with a 12-11 edge in shots for the game while Indian had a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Sarah Stone made five saves in goal for the Hoosiers while Murphy finished with eight for the Scarlet Knights.
Indiana will be back in action on Sunday, as they travel to Maryland for a 1 p.m. matchup. It will be the second meeting all-time between the two schools, with the other coming in 1994.
Media Contact: Nathan Wiechers, nwiecher@indiana.edu
