Indiana University
Michigan State
Indiana Starts B1G Play at Michigan State, Michigan
9/13/2017 2:57:00 PM | Women's Soccer
LAST TIME OUT
The Hoosiers traveled to Texas last weekend, defeating No. 23 SMU, 1-0, before drawing with (RV) North Texas on Sunday, 3-3. The victory against the Mustangs was Indiana's first win over a ranked opponent since 2010. Junior Maya Piper scored the game-winner for Indiana in the 80th minute. Against North Texas, the Hoosiers came back twice to earn the draw. Junior Abby Allen scored her first career goal, while sophomore Meghan Scott and redshirt junior Mykayla Brown also found the back of the net. Brown scored with just 52 seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.
HOOSIER NOTABLES
• Junior Maya Piper currently leads the Hoosiers with nine points after netting the gamewinner at SMU and assisting on the late equalizer at North Texas. Piper, who entered the year with three career goals, is tied for fourth in the conference with her four goals.
• Sophomore Chandra Davidson is close behind Piper with seven points. Two of Davidson's three goals have been gamewinners for Indiana
• Nine different Hoosiers have recorded an assist this season.
• Indiana has netted nine of its 12 goals in the second half this year, out-scoring its opponents in the final 45 minutes, 9-4.
• Following the 1-0 win at SMU, freshman Bethany Kopel has now recorded three shutouts this season, which is tied for 36th nationally, with a 1.09 goals against average. The Novi, Mich. native has 38 saves, which is good for second in the Big Ten and tied for 39 nationally, In addition, she is tied for the fifth-most saves amongst freshmen in the country.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
• Michigan State enters Big Ten play winners of three of the last four games. The Spartans picked up wins against Samford, Bowling Green and Oakland before falling to No. 17 Wake Forest last Thursday, 4-1. Jamie Cheslik leads the way in scoring with three goals and a pair of assists. Danielle Stephan is second in points for the Spartans with four assists and a goal. In between the pipes, Reilley Ott has carried most of the minutes and has started every game, collecting 35 saves with a 1.31 goals against average.
• The 2017 season marks the first year Michigan State has hosted night games as the Spartans recently installed lights at DeMartin Stadium. Indiana leads the all-time series against Michigan State, 15-7-2. The last meeting resulted in a 3-1 Spartan win in 2015 in East Lansing. That game featured a combined three first-half penalty kicks between the teams.
MATCHING UP WITH MICHIGAN
• The Wolverines' lone loss this season came at the hands of No. 11 South Carolina. Michigan, who is coming off a scoreless draw with No. 17 Wake Forest, have picked up wins against Washington, Idaho State and Toledo. The Wolverines are 3-0 at home this season and have yet to surrender a goal at U-M Soccer Stadium in 2017. Taylor Timko leads the team with three goals and a pair of assists. Brooke Cilley has created plenty of offense this season as she is tied for the conference lead with five assists. Michigan has used three goalkeepers this season with Sarah Jackson seeing the most time in goal. Jackson has a 0.55 goals against average with 20 saves in four games. Hillary Beall has made three starts in the net, with a 0.67 goals against average and 13 saves.
• Michigan leads the series against Indiana, 16-4-3. Last season, the teams closed out the regular season in Bloomington. Maya Piper and Mykayla Brown scored for Indiana but the Wolverines netted a pair of goals in the final six minutes to come away with a 3-2 win.
WHAT'S AHEAD IN 2017?
• The 2017 schedule features 10 total games against participants in the 2016 NCAA Tournament and 11 opponents who finished last season ranked in the top 60 of the RPI. The non-conference portion of the slate included eight games, with three opponents advancing to the tournament last year and four finishing in the RPI Top 60. Big Ten play for Indiana includes 2016 Big Ten Co-Champions Northwestern and Minnesota, as well as seven meetings with 2016 NCAA Tournament teams.
• In this week's United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll, three of Indiana's 2017 opponents are ranked - No. 9 Wisconsin, No. 11 Clemson and No. 13 Rutgers. In addition, another five opponents received votes.
