Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Michigan State
Indiana Closes Season With 2-0 Win Over MSU
10/31/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Box Score
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University women's soccer team (7-11-1, 3-9-1 Big Ten) closed the 2014 season with a 2-0 win over Michigan State at Bill Armstrong Stadium on a cold, windy and rainy night. The Hoosiers' goals were scored by Kayla Smith and Abby Smith while Sarah Stone logged her fifth shutout of the season and second consecutive clean sheet.
"I'm so proud of this team for continuing to get better," Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said. "I think they did such a good job of buying into what we are trying to do to build this young program and to have a winning culture. And I think these last two games we started to come into our own, Unfortunately, it's a little bit too late but I think this is something that will stick in our minds as we approach the spring."
The last time that Indiana closed the regular season with consecutive shutouts was 2008, when the Hoosiers posted three straight shutouts to close the season.
Indiana also finishes the 2014 season having allowed 25 goals, the fewest since surrendering 22 during the 2009 season.
The game began with Michigan State recording the first shot of the game in the fourth minute. But from there, Indiana took control of possession and the run of play. They rattled off three shots in a three minute span but were unable to find the back of the goal.
But in the 27th minute, senior Jordan Woolums was able to get by her defender on the left side and sent a cross towards the near post, where Kayla Smith was making her run. The freshman from Green Lane, Pa., continued her run and was able to deflect the ball up and over the shoulder of the MSU keeper to put Indiana ahead, 1-0.
For Smith, it was her third goal of the season while Woolums logged her fourth assist of the season.
Later in the first half, senior Kristin Leist came on for Kayla Smith and tried to make an impact immediately. Less than a minute after entering the came, Leist made a move on the right side of the box and got a look on goal but her shot was saved. Then in the 44th minute, Leist was able to get her head on a corner kick but the ball skipped wide left of the goal so the Hoosiers took a 1-0 lead into the locker room.
"Unlike last year when we made the postseason, we knew that tonight was going to be our last game," Leist said. "So in practice this week, I kept telling myself that this is my last practice and last lift in the weight room so give everything I had because it's the last time I will get to do it with this great group of teammates."
That hard-nosed attitude continued in the second half, and another senior, Rebecca Dreher, was in the middle of it to start. Less than a minute into the half, Michigan State's Megan Marsack found herself with the ball wide open in the middle of the box. She turned and took a shot on, what appeared to be, an open goal. But Dreher stood her ground and the shot hit her body and bounced away.
Indiana used that strong defensive play to continue their offensive attack in the final third. Three more shots by the Hoosiers in the ensuing minutes were all turned away by Michigan State. But as the clock showed less than five minutes left in regulation, Leist returned to the spotlight.
She was able to gain possession on the right side and beat her defender into the box. As she got around the defender, they made a desperate attempted to poke the ball away from behind, but ended up taking Leist down and the Hoosiers were awarded a penalty kick.
Abby Smith stepped up to the spot and drilled a shot by the MSU keeper for her third goal of the season and the 14th of her career.
"Tonight was definitely a good ending, not only for our team but for the six of us that are seniors," Leist said. "I think we all really pulled together at the end of the season and were able to come out with a couple wins."
The six seniors on the team - Tori Keller, Kristin Leist, Abby Smith, Bekah White, Jordan Woolums and Rebecca Dreher - were key parts of the record-setting season last year and have been top student-athletes off the field. Prior to the game, they were recognized on the field with their parents for their outstanding achievements.
Media Contact: Nathan Wiechers, nwiecher@indiana.edu
