Bezerra Scores First Half Brace to Lead Hoosiers over Badgers

Friday, February 19

Westfield, Ind. (Grand Park)

1:00 PM

Indiana University

1-0-0, 1-0-0

University of Wisconsin

0-1-0, 0-1-0

Wisconsin

Indiana

Bezerra Scores First Half Brace to Lead Hoosiers over Badgers

2/19/2021 3:50:00 PM | Men's Soccer

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WESTFIELD, Ind. – No. 7 Indiana (1-0-0) opened the 2020-21 men's soccer season with a 3-0 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers (0-0-1) at Grand Park on Friday afternoon.

KEY MOMENTS
• Early in the first frame, sophomore forward Victor Bezerra ripped a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that was stuffed by the Wisconsin keeper.
• Bezerra would later capitalize on two opportunities, scoring the first two goals of the season for the Hoosiers. His first tally came off a redirected cross from redshirt sophomore forward Ryan Wittenbrink in the 39th minute of action.
• Four minutes later, the Chicago native sent a rocket into the upper right corner of the net to beat the Badger keep for the brace.
• Just after the halftime break, senior forward Thomas Warr found the back of the net following a beautiful display of passing from the Hoosier attack. Sophomore defender Brett Bebej sent in a cross that was redirected by sophomore forward Herbert Endeley. The striker sent the ball into Warr who cashed in the opportunity for his first tally of the season.
• Sophomore keeper Roman Celentano did not face danger often as the defensive backline stood stout most of the afternoon. Wisconsin's best chance came in the 75th minute when a cross found the foot of Badger Michael Wampler in the goal box. Celentano was up to the task, making a body save to preserve the shutout.

NOTABLES
• In the program's last 37 Big Ten Conference regular-season matches, Indiana has compiled a record of 27-1-9.
• The Hoosiers are undefeated in the last 10 matches (6-0-4) against Wisconsin dating back to Oct. 13, 2013. IU is 23-1-2 in home matches all-time against the Badgers
• Indiana is 5-1 in season-opening matches since the start of the 2015 season and holds a record of 3-0-2 in the last five Big Ten season-opening matches. All three victories have come against the Badgers.
• Indiana improves to 3-0-3 all-time at Grand Park. This match was the first regular-season game played at the venue.
• Bezerra has secured three multi-goal games in his career at Indiana. He also recorded two goals against Ohio State on Oct. 29, 2019. He netted a hat trick against Kentucky in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament on Nov. 24.
• Junior defender Nyk Sessock and freshman defender Joey Maher each made their Indiana debuts in starting roles. Freshman defender Lawson Redmon, freshman midfielder Emerson Nieto, and redshirt freshman midfielder Quentin Helmer all made their collegiate debuts off the IU bench.

HOOSIER POINTS
GOALS: Victor Bezerra (2), Thomas Warr
ASSISTS: Brett Bebej, Herbert Endeley, Spencer Glass

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers are scheduled to play next at 2 p.m. ET on Feb. 23 against Ohio State. The match is scheduled to be contested at Grand Park. All times, dates, and locations are subject to change.

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