IU Falls to Rutgers in Big Ten Final

Sunday, November 13

Piscataway, NJ

Noon

Indiana University

10-4-6, 3-1-4

Rutgers

10-4-6, 4-2-2

Indiana

Rutgers

11/13/2022 3:47:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score iums20_box.pdf

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Indiana men's soccer was denied its 16th Big Ten Tournament title on Sunday (Nov. 13).

The Hoosiers (10-4-6, 3-1-4 B1G) fell to No. 2-seed Rutgers (10-4-6, 4-2-2 B1G), 3-1, in the tournament final on Yurcak Field, as the Scarlet Knights claimed their program's first Big Ten Tournament title.

Following the result, Indiana ranks No. 19 in the NCAA RPI as they seek a 36th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance as well as its 47th berth overall in 50 seasons. Should the Hoosiers receive a national seed, it will extend the longest active streak to nine seasons.

KEY MOMENTS
• 4' – An errant pass led to a transition goal for the Scarlet Knights as sophomore midfielder Matthew Acosta gave Rutgers the early lead.
• 11' – Senior Nyk Sessock sent a great cross from the right wing that found Sarver free at the back post. Sarver put his head on it but pushed it just wide.
• 28' – Rutgers had a couple of chances to double their lead in the 33rd minute, including a header that was pushed into the crossbar by IU junior goalkeeper JT Harms.
• 33' – Redshirt senior Wittenbrink cut in from the left wing and curled a shot from distance that caught the post and deflected out.
• 38' – Sophomore midfielder leveled in the closing minutes of the first half, heading home a corner kick that the wind carried to the back post from the boot of Wittenbrink.
• 54' – As the teams switched sides at the half, Indiana fell victim to the windy conditions. Nine minutes into the second period, Rutgers took the lead directly from a corner as junior Ola Maeland scored an Olimpico with the aid of the wind.
• 62' – IU had two shots blocked or saved off the line in quick succession as they searched for an equalizer.
• 82' – The Hoosiers kept pushing for late leveler, and in the 82nd minute a cross fell in the box to Wittenbrink, who dribbled and blasted a shot that had to be headed off the line by a defender.
• 84' – Rutgers essentially shut the door with its third goal as freshman forward Ian Abbey scored in transition.

NOTABLES
• Indiana appeared in its sixth consecutive Big Ten Tournament final.
• IU fell to 11-3-4 against the Scarlet Knights all-time.
• Wittenbrink and Sessock were both named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
• McDonald scored his first goal of the season and second of his career.
• Assisting the goal, Wittenbrink has tallied a goal contribution in each of his last five starts with two goals and three assists in that span. He now has eight goals, eight assists and 24 points on the season.

BIG TEN TOURNAMENT AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Tournament: MD Myers, Rutgers
Defensive Player of the Tournament: Hugo Le Guennec, Rutgers

Big Ten All-Tournament Team
Ryan Wittenbrink, Indiana
Nyk Sessock, Indiana
Malcolm Johnston, Maryland
Owen Finnerty, Michigan State
Jason Gajadahr, Northwestern
Xavier Green, Ohio State
Jalen Watson, Penn State
Ciaran Dalton, Rutgers
Jackson Temple, Rutgers
Chris Tiao, Rutgers
Aron Saevarsson, Wisconsin

UP NEXT
Indiana will learn its place in the 2022 NCAA Tournament field on Monday (Nov. 14) during the NCAA Selection Show. The announcement is set for 1 p.m. ET and will be streamed on NCAA.com.

#GoIU