Thompson’s Late Goal Pushes No. 5 IU Past No. 13 Michigan State, 2-1

Sunday, October 30

Bloomington, Ind.

1:00 PM

Indiana University

10-1-6, 3-0-5B1G

Michigan State

12-4-1, 4-3-1B1G

Michigan State

Indiana

Thompson’s Late Goal Pushes No. 5 IU Past No. 13 Michigan State, 2-1

10/30/2016 5:19:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 5-ranked Indiana University men's soccer team defeated the No. 13 Michigan State Spartans, 2-1, on Senior Day at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Senior Tanner Thompson scored the game-winner for the Hoosiers with just under five minutes remaining to propel IU to the victory. Trevor Swartz also scored a goal for Indiana in the team's regular-season finale.

With the win, Indiana improves to 10-1-6 on the season overall and earns the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament with a conference mark of 3-0-5. The Spartans fall to 12-4-1 on the year and will be the No. 4 seed in the league tournament with a mark of 4-3-1.

IU will host the No. 7-seeded Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday, Nov. 6 at Armstrong Stadium at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Also with the victory, IU finished the regular season undefeated (6-0-3) at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium for the first time since 2003. That IU team went on to post a record of 9-0-4 at home en route to winning the NCAA Championship.

In the 23^rd minute, the Hoosiers were on the attack, looking to take an early lead over MSU. With the ball on the right end line, Richard Ballard passed back to Phil Fives, but a Spartan defender was able to get his foot to the ball, deflecting it across the box and off the right post.

Swartz was there for the rebound and chested it down, firing with his left foot to the near post to beat the diving Michigan State goalkeeper for the goal. Swartz's fourth score of the season gave IU a 1-0 lead.

The Spartans answered, however, in the 33^rd minute, as Ryan Sierakowski was able to net his team-leading ninth goal of the year to send the match to halftime all knotted up at 1-1.

For the most of the second half, the Hoosiers controlled possession, but were unable to get a great look at goal. That changed in the 86^th minute.

In what can only be described as a moment of individual excellence, Thompson beat his defender on the left end line to find space. The senior then beat a second MSU player and fired a shot from six yards out, hitting the crossbar and finding the back of the net. Thompson's team-leading eighth goal of the year – and fourth this week – was the difference, as IU beat the Spartans, 2-1.

For the match, Indiana out-shot Michigan State, 11-9, with each team getting three shots on goal. IU also had the advantage in corner kicks, 7-5.

Before the match, Indiana honored the team's seven seniors – Richard Ballard, Derek Creviston, Phil Fives, Christian Lomeli, Billy McConnell, Tanner Thompson and Colin Webb – who played their final regular-season match at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

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