Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
#13 Wisconsin
Hoosiers Outplay No. 13 Wisconsin But Fall, 1-0
9/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Sept. 26, 2014
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind.. -- The Indiana Women's Soccer (5-6, 1-4 Big Ten) controlled the run of play for a majority of the game against No. 13 Wisconsin on Friday night, but allowed a goal in the 11th minute and suffered a 1-0 loss to the Badgers in Big Ten play.
"We talked with the team after the game and I told them that I think we found a little bit of our identity tonight," Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said. "We went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country and one of the best players in the country in Rose Lavelle, but we just came up short today."
The Hoosiers were on the attack for a majority of the game, playing combinations to try to get behind the Wisconsin defenders. And when they would get behind the defenders, IU was able to draw corner kicks and continue to be dangerous.
In the game, Indiana drew eight corner kicks to just one for Wisconsin. Entering the game, Wisconsin was allowing roughly three corner kicks per game.
Sarah Stone made five saves in goal for Indiana, but most of those came on shots from over 20 yards out. The Badgers goal came in the 11th minute when Kodee Williams sent a cross into the box that sailed over the six-yard box and found Molly Laufenberg. She took a touch while everyone reacted to her and then finished inside the far post for her first goal of the season.
That goal would prove to be the difference in the game. But it was not for a lack of effort on the part of the Hoosiers.
In the 35th minute, the Wisconsin goalkeeper stumbled trying to come off her line to deflect a centering pass. As the ball bounced towards the back post, Abby Smith pounced on it but her right-footed shot was blocked away at the last second by the UW defender.
The second half saw Indiana continue to draw corner kicks and Tori Keller's service into the box kept getting turned away by the Badgers. A couple times the Badgers were not able to clear it away immediately but IU could not get enough on their shots to get it into the back of the net.
The final flurry of action in front of the Wisconsin goal came in the 79th minute, as Abby Smith's shot from the left side of the box about 16-yards out was blocked by a defender. Bekah White followed it up with a shot that went over the crossbar.
"We kept the energy up the whole game, knowing how strong of a team Wisconsin is," Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said. "We drew eight corner kicks against them and if Abby's shot in the first half isn't saved at the last second by one of their defenders, this is a totally different game. So we just have to refocus on Sunday's game and do all that we can to come away with a win in that one."
The Hoosiers will host Minnesota on Sunday, with the first kick slated for 12:00 p.m. ET on BTN Plus. Admission is free until halftime since the IU men's soccer team will play Northwestern on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
Media Contact: Nathan Wiechers, nwiecher@indiana.edu
