Sarver’s Late Score Steadies Hoosier Streak

Friday, October 20

College Park, Md.

8:30 p.m.

Indiana University

Maryland

10/21/2023 12:12:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Sunday, the winning goal came in the 82nd minute. Friday it was the 83rd. Either way, the Indiana men's soccer team keeps stacking wins and surging up the Big Ten table.

The flaming hot Samuel Sarver scored the match-winner to give the Hoosiers (7-3-4, 3-1-2 B1G) their fourth straight victory, a 2-1 result over Maryland (3-7-3, 0-5-2 B1G) Friday (Oct. 20) night on Ludwig Field. With the win, Indiana jumped into second place in the conference standings with two chances to make up two points on current leader Michigan State.

Freshman defender Alex Barger scored his first-career goal from a set piece to give the Hoosiers a lead in the 54th minute. Maryland equalized against the run of play in the 69th minute before senior Karsen Henderlong found Sarver wide open down the right in transition, and the junior scored his third goal in four games.

With the win, Indiana clinched a Big Ten Tournament berth.

KEY MOMENTS
• 21' – A Maryland shot from distance that went just high was the closest chance in the first half as the teams combined for three shots in the opening 45 minutes.
• 46' – The Terps had a chance 30 seconds after the break, but the shot trickled just wide.
• 54' – Indiana took the lead via its third straight goal scored from a set piece. The Hoosiers won a throw-in down the left side of their attacking third, and junior midfielder Patrick McDonald launched the ball toward the edge of the six-yard box. It found the head of senior defender Jansen Miller, who flicked it across. Barger jumped in front of his mark and headed it past the keeper.
• 69' – IU got caught on a counter in conceding the equalizer. UM freshman forward Luke Van Heukelum dribbled box-to-box before passing to sophomore defender Brian St. Martin on the right wing. St. Martin crossed, and senior forward Stefan Copetti got just enough to nudge it past IU senior keeper JT Harms.
• 78' – Maryland nearly took the lead from another transition moment, dispossessing IU in the final third. However, a shot from the top of the 18 ran inches wide to keep the tie intact.
• 80' – A McDonald shot from distance pinged off the top of the crossbar.
• 83' – A pass came to Henderlong as the furthest man up the field. A Terrapin challenged him and put the ball in the air. Henderlong stayed with it and volleyed it to Sarver running free down the right wing. Sarver controlled, put it on his left and pushed it around the keeper.

NOTABLES
• Indiana improved to 8-5-8 against Maryland all-time.
• Sarver tallied his fifth goal contribution during IU's four-match win streak and his third goal in that span. The junior leads IU with six goals, four assists and 12 points.
• Barger opened his IU account. He is the lone member of the IU back-line to start all 14 matches.
• Henderlong has tallied four goal contributions in IU's last five matches with his first assist of the season Friday.
• Miller earned his first-career assist and first point of the season.

UP NEXT
Another three points are up for grabs Tuesday (Oct. 24) when IU travels to Evanston to face No. 12-ranked Northwestern. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.

@IndianaMSOC
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