IU Overcomes 2-0 Deficit to Draw with No. 24 Rutgers, 2-2

Sunday, October 9

Bloomington, Ind.

1:00 PM

Indiana University

Rutgers

IU Overcomes 2-0 Deficit to Draw with No. 24 Rutgers, 2-2

10/9/2016 5:50:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana Women's Soccer bounced back from an early 2-0 deficit to draw with No. 24 Rutgers on Sunday afternoon, 2-2.

Sunday's draw comes on the heels of a 1-1 stalemate with No. 13 Penn State on Thursday night, giving the Hoosiers a total of two points against Top 25 opposition this week and marking the first time since 2005 Indiana has earned points against two ranked conference opponents in a single season.

"We've turned the corner," said head coach Amy Berbary. "As a team, we've grown tremendously and I think this weekend as a program, we have grown."

Indiana (5-7-3, 2-3-2 B1G) had to battle early as the Scarlet Knights (9-2-3, 4-1-2 B1G) scored both goals in the first 14 minutes of actions to put the Hoosiers in an early hole.

After a pair of on-target looks for Rutgers, Madison Tiernan connected in the 10^th minute for the first score after picking up a deflection and putting into the right corner of the goal.

Four minutes later, Rutgers struck again off the foot of Tori Prager to push the advantage to 2-0.

"We boost each other up, said freshman Macy Miller. "We were like 'okay we can get back in this.' We believe in ourselves and we're confident."

Miller proved to be the catalyst for the comeback as the Carmel, Ind. native took the ball down the left flank on a breakaway and was tackled inside the 18-yard box by a chasing Rutgers defender to earn a penalty kick. Redshirt senior Marissa Borschke buried the opportunity on her first goal of the year to pull the Hoosiers within 2-1 in the 32^nd minute.

"I was thinking 'do whatever I can to help my team,' said Miller. "You leave it all on the field and hope one of your captains can step up and finish that. I'm so happy for Marissa."

The penalty kick conversion was Indiana's first of the year and spurred the IU offense as just nine minutes later, the Hoosiers once again found the back of the net to tie the game at 2-2.

After senior Veronica Ellis crossed the ball into the box, sophomore Cassidy Blacha sent in an on-target look from 15 yards out. Scarlet Knight goalkeeper Alana Jimenez made the save, but was unable to control it as the rebound slipped out to freshman Syndey Kilgore who sent it in on her first career score.

"I think after Macy got that penalty we started to realize we're still in this and we still had a chance," said Kilgore. "Cass had a great shot on goal and I was just there with the rebound to put it in goal when I needed to."

Compared to the flurry of offense in the first half, the second half was quiet to start as neither team registered a shot until 21 minutes in. The first on-target look for either team of the half came in the 70^th minute from Blacha, who put up a team-high four shots.

Rutgers looked to end the stalemate as the Scarlet Knights drew a penalty kick after a yellow card on Indiana freshman goalkeeper Sarah L'Hommedieu in the 75^th minute. However, the keeper read Jennifer Andresen's shot perfectly to make the save.

L'Hommedieu finished the game with eight saves, tying her career high, and picked up a key stop in each of the two overtime periods to keep the game tied.

Indiana's best chance of overtime came from sophomore Maya Piper in the 105^th minute as her shot rattled off the crossbar and came back down, but short of the goal line.

"We saved a penalty, they smacked the crossbar twice, but we were resilient and we certainly had our chances," said Berbary. "I'm proud to come out of this weekend with two points."

Up next, the Hoosiers hit the road for three straight games. Indiana first visits Ohio State (9-4-2, 3-2-2 B1G) on Thursday night before traveling to Maryland (3-11-1, 1-6-0 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon. Both games will be streamed live on BTN Plus.