Indiana Blanks Northwestern, 1-0

Sunday, September 27

Bridgeview, Ill. (Toyota Park)

4 PM

Indiana University

5-3-1, 1-2-0Big Ten

Northwestern

3-4-1, 1-2-0Big Ten

Indiana

Northwestern

9/27/2015 6:39:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Indiana University men's soccer team posted its second-straight shutout on Sunday afternoon, beating Northwestern, 1-0, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

With the victory, Indiana improves to 5-3-1 on the season overall and to 1-2-0 in Big Ten conference play. With the loss, Northwestern falls to 3-4-1 on the year and to 1-2-0 in league action.

"Overall, I was pleased," Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said following the match. "We were in control of the match the entire time, even in the moments they had some attacks. It's a good way to get the week going with a difficult opponent in Saint Louis on Wednesday."

Andrew Gutman scored his first collegiate goal to lead the way for the Hoosiers, while Tanner Thompson recorded his Big Ten-leading sixth assist of the season. In goal, Colin Webb made two saves to record his fourth shutout of the year, pushing his career total to 14.

After allowing the Wildcats to get a pair of shots off in the first eight minutes of the match, the Hoosiers dominated, not allowing another NU shot for the remainder of the half.

IU had three good looks at goal after 18 minutes of action, but weren't able to cash in. In the 18^th minute, Gutman made a nice run down the right side of the box, but his shot from four-yards out was saved.

One minute later off a corner, Billy McConnell's header was cleared off the line by Northwestern after the Wildcats' goalie missed clearing the corner. On the ensuing throw in, Femi Hollinger-Janzen nearly scored on a bicycle kick from 10 yards out, but his athletic attempt sailed just high of the bar.

In the 42^nd minute, the Hoosiers got the breakthrough they were looking for all half. Working in the middle of the pitch, Thompson found Gutman at the top-left corner of the 18-yard box. The freshman didn't hesitate, cracking a laser shot to the far post to the upper 90, beating the Northwestern goalie.

"That was a great strike," Yeagley said of Gutman's goal. "It was an absolute, big-time shot. That was a highlight-reel goal for Andrew."

After 45 minutes, the Hoosiers took a 1-0 lead in to halftime at Toyota Park. In the first half, IU out-shot the Wildcats, 6-2, getting four shots on goal. The Indiana defense was stout, not allowing NU to get any shots on goal.

The Hoosiers nearly doubled their lead in the 71^st minute when Jeremiah Gutjahr cracked a shot from 23-yards out from the left side, hitting the far post. The rebound fell to Ben Maurey, but his diving header was saved by the Northwestern goalie.

NU continued to push players forward in the final 10 minutes looking for the equalizer, but Webb and the Hoosier defense were up to the task.

The Wildcats had their first shot on goal in the 86^th minute off a free kick, but the shot from 25-yards out was saved easily by Webb. The shot on goal was the first allowed by the Hoosier defense in 178:21 minutes of play dating back to the team's match against Rutgers on Sept. 20.

Northwestern was only able to muster one more look at goal, but that shot in the 89^th minute was easily corralled by Webb, sealing the 1-0, road win for the Hoosiers.

The Indiana Hoosiers will continue on the road as the team will play at Saint Louis on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

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