Kopel’s Career Night Leads Indiana to 2-1 Victory Against Iowa

Thursday, October 12

Bloomington, Ind.

7:30 PM

Indiana University

6-7-3, 2-4-2B1G

Iowa

7-6-1, 2-4-1B1G

IOWA

Indiana

Kopel’s Career Night Leads Indiana to 2-1 Victory Against Iowa

10/12/2017 11:26:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Behind a career outing from freshman goalkeeper Bethany Kopel, Indiana Women's Soccer defeated Iowa on Thursday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium, 2-1. Kopel registered 12 saves in the victory, besting her previous career high of nine.

"She was just absolutely fantastic," said head coach Amy Berbary. "She continues to get better and better every game. We look at her as one of our true leaders of the backline and of this team as a whole. She basically stood on her head today and I'm so proud of her as she continues to progress as a player."

On offense, the Hoosiers (6-7-3, 2-4-2 Big Ten) put up just three shots on goal compared to Iowa's 13. The Hawkeyes (7-6-1, 2-4-1 Big Ten) outshot Indiana overall, 22-9.

Junior Maya Piper put the Hoosiers up early as she netted her team-leading seventh goal of the year in the eighth minute. After redshirt junior Mykayla Brown battled to earn a corner kick, the attempted clearance was collected by senior Kayla Smith. Smith delivered a fantastic service right back down the middle of the field to the top of the 18-yard box to Piper, who beat a pair of defenders to the ball and buried it from 15 yards out.

The Hawkeyes looked to answer as they earned six corner kicks over the next 16 minutes, but were able to show just one shot on goal as a result. For the half, Iowa out-cornered Indiana, 9-2, including three in the final two minutes. One of the corners was the result of a leaping save by Kopel, who pushed a shot by Karly Stuenkel over the crossbar.

Perhaps Kopel's most impressive sequence came as the Hawkeyes pressed for an equalizer in the 74^th minute by firing up a trio of shots towards the Novi, Mich. native. However, Kopel was there each time to make the stop and keep the game at 1-0 in favor of the Hoosiers.

"Being able to support my team and do what I can to make sure we give ourselves a fighting chance is what my focus was tonight," said Kopel. "We need to play off this and say 'we've gotten this far, why not keep going? Why not us?'"

Indiana extended the lead in the 82^nd minute courtesy of senior Kylie Kirk. After a Hawkeye foul on Piper 30 yards out, sophomore Meghan Scott sent the ensuing free kick to Kirk. Kirk then beat one defender before turning around, collecting the ball and finding the back of the net. It was the second goal of Kirk's career.

The Hawkeyes would not go quietly as Stunekel picked up a rebound on a saved shot by Devin Burns and buried it to cut the Indiana lead to 2-1 in the 86^th minute. However, the Hoosiers held on for the victory.

The win gives Indiana three important points in the race to make the Big Ten Tournament, which has a qualifying field of eight teams.

"This win says a lot about our team," said Berbary. "The game was sloppy but, at the end of the day, we gutted it out and found a way to get the result and get three points. That's what I'm most proud of today – these kids doing what it takes to get it done."

The Hoosiers return to action on Sunday as they play host to Nebraska at Noon. The game will mark Senior Day for Smith and Kirk, who will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.