Celentano, Maher Heroics Push IU to Big Ten Title Match

Wednesday, November 10

2:00 PM

Indiana University

14-4-1, 5-3-0

Northwestern

6-9-3, 3-5-0

Northwestern

Indiana

Celentano, Maher Heroics Push IU to Big Ten Title Match

11/10/2021 6:57:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Overtime heroics allowed Indiana men's soccer (14-4-1, 5-3-0 B1G) to pull out a 1-0 victory over Northwestern (6-9-3, 3-5-0 B1G) in the Big Ten Tournament semifinal Wednesday (Nov. 10) afternoon on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

In the 95th minute, junior goalkeeper Roman Celentano made three spectacular saves in the span of about six seconds to keep IU in the match. Three minutes later, Joey Maher netted home the golden goal on the opposite end of the pitch.

With the win, No. 3 seed Indiana advances to the Big Ten Tournament Championship match to be played at Jeffrey Field, the home pitch of host and No. 1 seed Penn State, Sunday (Nov. 14) at noon ET. Indiana will play for its 16th tournament title and fourth in as many seasons.

KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana had its first dangerous opportunity in the eighth minute as a Tommy Mihalic cross found Herbert Endeley in front of goal. Endeley took first time, but his shot went wide of the post.
• Victor Bezerra took a trio of free kick chances in the 54th, 68th and 82nd minutes. All three shots forced a save from Northwestern keeper Miha Miskovic.
• Patrick McDonald nearly put IU ahead in the 72nd minutes as his low shot from distance asked Miskovic to dive to his left to keep it out of the side netting.
• Nate Ward came close to ending the match with a dazzling display in the 92nd minute, flicking a cross behind him and towards goal. Guarding the near post, Miskovic reacted quickly to put his hands up and save the attempt.
• Within about six seconds during the 95th minute, Celentano made three crucial saves deep in the box to keep the Hoosiers alive in the match. First, Celentano dove to push a cross out, then leapt from his sitting position to deflect a first-time attempt. The next shot was aimed at the far post, but Celentano recovered, dove right and saved again. After a header, another shot came in, but the IU keeper was right in front of it for another deflection, and the ball ended up out of play.
• Coming into the 98th minute, Spencer Glass and Mihalic played a one-two combination down the left flank that allowed Glass to release a pass to Ryan Wittenbrink deep in the box. Wittenbrink drew three defenders off their marks, which left Maher alone in the final six to take a touch and finish for the golden goal.

NOTABLES
• Indiana earned its eighth straight victory at Bill Armstrong Stadium, improving its home record to 10-3-0 on the season.
• The Hoosiers have won 11 consecutive matches, including ties broken by penalty kicks, in the Big Ten Tournament going back to 2018. IU has reached the tournament title match in each of the last five seasons.
• IU collected its 12th clean sheet of the season and No. 9 in its last 10 matches. After opening Big Ten Conference play with a 2-1 defeat to Rutgers, the Hoosiers have conceded just five goals in 13 matches.
• Maher's golden goal was his second score of the season. The defender's earlier goal was also the match-winner in IU's 1-0 victory over Butler on August 31.
• Celentano earned his 27th career shutout, putting him in a tie for No. 10 in program history. The clean sheet was also his 10th this campaign, setting a single-season career high.

UP NEXT
Indiana will head to Happy Valley to take on Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament Championship match Sunday (Nov. 14) at noon ET in a rematch of the 2020-21 title contest. The match will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

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