No. 2 Indiana Beats Northwestern, 2-1, in Overtime to Advance in Big Ten Tournament

Sunday, November 4

Bloomington, Ind.

2:00 PM

Indiana University

16-2

Northwestern

6-9-5

OT 2

Northwestern

Indiana

No. 2 Indiana Beats Northwestern, 2-1, in Overtime to Advance in Big Ten Tournament

11/4/2018 5:58:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Light rain fell, a chilling wind continued, and Todd Yeagley wasn't about to let his Indiana Hoosiers see him sweat.

Worried? You bet. The veteran coach had seen the Hoosiers (16-2) dominate on Sunday as few college soccer teams could, and yet they faced Big Ten tourney overtime drama and -- worst of all -- potential penalty kick heartbreak.

And then Spencer Glass and Frankie Moore came to the rescue, Indiana again displayed a refuse-to-lose mentality that has left it unbeaten in 37 conference matches, and underdog Northwestern was out, 2-1.

"One of our goals was to play for the (conference tourney) title," Yeagley said.

That's still in play, and if took more drama than the Hoosiers (16-2) wanted, they're well equipped to handle it.

"We've seen a lot," Yeagley said. "We've given up some tough goals and found a way.

"I didn't think they were worried. I just didn't want them to be tight. I might have been more anxious than they were because I didn't want to see this group not advance. With the way the game was played, that would have been tough."

He paused.

"The next time we get in this situation, they'll have even more confidence. It's another positive reinforcement."

So it's off to Westfield's Grand Park on Friday and a rematch with Maryland, a 1-0 overtime winner over Michigan State.

"It's a matter of focus," Glass said. "We've been here before. It's not like we're a bunch of young kids not sure what to do. Everyone has the same mindset. We've bought in to what we have to do."

This is a team that has seen unprecedented success in the last 12 months, but not total victory. It didn't win a championship last season despite just one loss and a national runner-up finish, and that burned. This season IU already has a Big Ten regular season title on its resume, and wants more.

"Our mindset from the beginning of the season," defender Rece Buckmaster said, "was we want to take it to the next level."

IU was in total control for all but five seconds on Sunday, and that was without standouts Griffin Dorsey and Justin Rennicks, who are in Florida as members of the U-20 National Team competing in the Concacaf U-20 championships.

"It shows the depth we have," Glass said. "With our team and scouting, a lot of guys can come off the bench. We're confident they can do the role."

It helps to have Big Ten defensive player of the year Andrew Gutman and conference goalkeeper of the year Trey Muse. The Hoosiers have allowed just four goals in nine conference games.

Northwestern (6-9-5), having beaten Ohio State in Saturday's opening round, went into pack-it-in mode. It would play for overtime surprise.

IU countered with patience and relentless offense.

It took 24 shots and 80 minutes before IU, thanks to Buckmaster, got a goal. Glass had the assist.

IU's Big Ten-best defense was well positioned to make it stand up.

And then, shockingly, it wasn't.

Northwestern's Matt Moderwell scored on a spectacular goal (Yeagley called it a "world-class finish") with 1:26 in regulation. At that point, IU had a 25-2 edge in shots.

"Northwestern always gives us a tough time," Glass said. "Having that happen, it shows you have to play a full 90 minutes. It was a great shot."

Glass countered with his own great shot in overtime off of Moore's assist.

"It shows our confidence," Glass said "No one panicked or freaked out. Our thinking was, we just have more time. It wasn't like the game was going downhill.

"No one was flustered. Nobody wants to go that extra time, but we just got in the (team) circle, talked and calmed down. We know what we have to do."

IU dominated the first half with a 13-0 edge in shots. Austin Panchot had three of the shots. Jeremiah Gutjahr had two, both on goal.

Midway through the second half the Hoosier had a series of near misses from point-blank range, but if frustration was building, it didn't show. The onslaught continued until Buckmaster scored and then Glass.

"We had good chances," Buckmaster said. "We knew something would come eventually, and it finally did. We had to keep going and going. We had to keep grinding."

And so the Hoosiers did.

As far as Maryland preparation, Monday's recovery day includes weight lifting and massages. Soccer training resumes on Tuesday. IU heads to Westfield on Thursday.

Hoosier coaches already have begun game planning for Maryland, which lost to Indiana 2-1 on Oct. 12. Yeagley said coaches won't provide game specifics to the team until Thursday.

"This is an older group," Yeagley said. "They have ownership of the team. We put them in position, but they are making it happen."

NOTABLES
• The Hoosiers are unbeaten in the team's last 37 matches against Big Ten opponents, posting a record of 24-0-13. Indiana's last loss to a league foe was at Ohio State on Oct. 10, 2015.
• With the victory over Michigan State, the Hoosiers improve to 21-0-2 in the team's last 23 matches at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
• IU has won seven-straight matches. In that streak, IU has posted five shutouts and has out-scored the team's opponents, 11-2.
• Indiana qualified for the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament for the sixth-straight season. IU has won 12 Big Ten Tournament titles in program history, with the last one coming in 2013.

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