IU Wins Fourth-Straight, Beats Michigan State, 4-1

Wednesday, November 4

East Lansing, Mich.

3:00 PM

Indiana University

11-4-2, 4-3-1B1G

Michigan State

8-8-2, 2-4-2B1G

Indiana

Michigan State

IU Wins Fourth-Straight, Beats Michigan State, 4-1

11/4/2015 5:15:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Indiana University men's soccer team ended the 2015 regular season on a high-note, beating Michigan State, 4-1, at the DeMartin Soccer Complex in East Lansing, Mich.

With the team's fourth-straight win, Indiana improves to 11-4-2 on the season overall and to 4-3-1 in Big Ten conference play. Michigan State falls to 8-8-2 and to 2-4-2 in league action.

Indiana will head in to the Big Ten Tournament playing some of the team's best soccer of the season, posting a record of 8-1-1 in the team's last 10 matches. With the win, IU can finish no worse than fifth in the Big Ten. The top-four seeds will host the tournament quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 8.

Tanner Thompson and Femi Hollinger-Janzen led the way for the Hoosiers on Wednesday afternoon, with each tallying a goal and an assist in the victory. Derek Creviston and Richard Ballard also had scores for the Hoosiers, while Rece Buckmaster and Jeremiah Gutjahr had assists in the win.

The Hoosiers wasted little time jumping on the scoreboard on a beautiful afternoon in East Lansing. Off a corner kick in the eighth minute, Thompson's great ball found Creviston at the back corner, who headed the ball past the MSU goalkeeper from five yards out. Creviston's first goal of the season off Thompson's Big Ten-leading ninth assist gave IU a 1-0 lead.

Just three minutes later, the Hoosiers pushed their lead over the Spartans to 2-0. After a MSU foul, IU was awarded a free kick from 22 yards out, left of center. Thompson stepped up and struck a perfect, curling shot for the near left post. The Michigan State keeper had no chance on the wonderfully-struck shot, as Thompson's third goal of the year doubled the Hoosier lead.

After withstanding a MSU push, Indiana struck again in the 36^th minute. Working at the top of the 18-yard box, Buckmaster one-touched a pass back to Gutjahr, who chipped a fantastic pass from 25 yards out back in to the middle of the box, finding Hollinger-Janzen. The senior struck the pass on the volley, finishing well with his right foot, beating the Spartan goalie to the right post from eight yards out. Hollinger-Janzen's team-leading seventh goal of the season gave IU a 3-0 lead headed in to the half time break.

At the half, Indiana had an 11-9 shot advantage over the Spartans. IU had five corner kicks in the first 45 minutes to three for Michigan State.

After Michigan State closed the gap to 3-1 with a goal in the 53^rd minute, the Hoosiers answered right back in the 69^th minute.

Working on the left side, Hollinger-Janzen flicked a pass in towards Ballard, who struck off the volley, hitting a rocket to the top-right corner from 20 yards out. Ballard's first career goal pushed the Indiana advantage to 4-1.

Over the last 20 minutes, the Spartans continued to throw players forward, but the Hoosier defense, led by Colin Webb, was able to hold the Hoosier lead. In the victory, Webb had four saves for IU.

The Indiana men's soccer team will await results from Wednesday afternoon to see what the team's fate for the Big Ten Tournament. Depending on results, the Hoosiers will either host or travel for the quarterfinals on Sunday, Nov. 8.

For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.