Indiana Holds off Rutgers for First Big Ten Win

Friday, September 23

Bloomington, IN

3:30 PM

Indiana University

(5-4)

Rutgers

(5-3)

Rutgers

Indiana

Indiana Holds off Rutgers for First Big Ten Win

9/23/2016 8:52:00 PM | Field Hockey

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Pearson collects her third multi-goal game; Barber extends her goal streak to eight

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana field hockey team secured their first Big Ten conference victory on Friday afternoon with a 3-2 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Indiana (5-4, 1-1) sparked their momentum with a go-ahead goal late in the first half and warded off Rutgers' (5-3, 0-1) comeback attempt in the closing minutes of the contest.

"Being up 1-0 going into halftime is huge for the team," said Indiana head coach Amanda Janney. "We got a lot of good breakaway attacks and good attacking today, so we'll have to find ways to put those away. With how talented our team is, we know we can get more production there. Our defense played well today. I think all three backs and Noëlle Rother had a great game, and the team stepped up to shut down a talented Rutgers team."

For the third time this season, Taylor Pearson netted two goals to lead the Indiana offense. The junior forward paced the Hoosier attack with the 34^th-minute goal, and again with the game-winning counterpunch in the 48^th minute.

NCAA scoring leader Kate Barber converted a penalty stroke to seal the win, stretching her scoring streak to eight games. Freshman Kelsey Geise earned her first career assist, delivering an opportune pass on Pearson's second goal.

"We had a couple players give us that individual spark," Janney said. "Kelsey Giese, our freshman, got the game ball today because of her ability to create down the middle and get the ball to T.P. (Taylor Pearson). We know that if the ball is with T.P. in the circle, we know that we can score. Kate Barber had another great game today in the midfield. She really helped get the ball up the field, and that led to some great counter goals."

Both teams tied the overall shot count at 15 apiece, but the Hoosiers placed nine shots on frame to Rutgers' five. Rutgers blanked Indiana in penalty corners, earning eight. It's the first time in Indiana history that the Hoosiers earned zero penalty corners in a victory.

A hard-fought first half in the high September sun saw both teams get looks on goal, but the back lines prevented the chances from finding the frame. The game looked to be a stalemate through the first half until Pearson seized the opportunity with two minutes remaining. A swift save denied Pearson's first attempt, but the junior made a tenacious effort to send the rebound into the boards.

Indiana and Rutgers came back to put on a thrilling second half. The Scarlet Knights knotted the game at 1-1 in the 46^th minute when their shot ricocheted off of Rother's pads high into the net.

Pearson made short work of the level score line with a counter attack two minutes later. Giese lofted a pass towards Pearson, and the junior cradled it to the turf. Pearson cut left and wound up a backhand finish past the goalkeeper's right side.

Barber made good on her shot from the spot in the 60^th minute, sending her 13^th goal of the season into the top right corner. Rutgers pulled within one score with four minutes remaining, and the Hoosiers held the line for a 3-2 win.

"We really came out hard in the first half," Pearson said. "The last couple of games, we've started slow in the first half and picked it up in the second. Today we had a steady start and carried it into the second half, which kept the momentum going in our favor."

Up Next: Indiana (5-4, 1-1 Big Ten) at Central Michigan (1-7, 0-1 MAC)
Sunday, September 25 • 12:00 p.m. ET • Watch: CSN • Live Stats
CMU Field Hockey Complex • Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Indiana heads north to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas in their second away game this season against the Mid-American Conference. This is the first meeting between the two teams in four years, and Indiana holds the all-time series lead 6-1.

"We want to maintain the speed of play we've developed over these last few games. Today's game had a fast pace as well," Janney said. "We also need to make sure we continue our growth in the things that are working well for us."

The Chippewas are 1-6 this season, their win coming in overtime at home versus Quinnipiac. They fell, 6-0, to the Miami Redhawks on Friday afternoon in their conference opener.