Indiana University
9-4-4, 4-2-2
Rutgers
5-7-3, 3-4-1
Hoosiers Clinch Share of Regular Season Title, No. 1 Seed in Big Ten Tournament
10/29/2023 5:22:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON — Indiana men's soccer (9-4-4, 4-2-2 B1G) won a share of the Big Ten regular season championship and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament after a 4-1 rout of Rutgers (5-7-3, 3-4-1 B1G) Sunday (Oct. 29) on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
The conference title is IU's 33rd overall and its 18th regular season championship. It's also Indiana's fifth regular season title under head coach Todd Yeagley and ninth overall league title in his 14 seasons.
The Hoosiers will play No. 8-seeded Wisconsin in the quarterfinal round of the Big Ten Tournament on Friday (Nov. 3) at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
One of the top defenses and chance-creating teams in the country, perhaps Indiana was unlucky to start their Big Ten slate 0-1-2. Never daunted though, the Hoosiers rallied to go 4-1-0 down the stretch. And, on Sunday, chances were finished in a 4-1 rout of Rutgers, and IU got a couple breaks from out-of-town matches.
Five teams came into the day within reach of the trophy. IU had 13 points behind co-leaders Penn State, Northwestern and Michigan State, each having 13. Penn State tied Wisconsin, Northwestern lost to Michigan, and Michigan State had played its eighth conference game on Tuesday. IU's 2-1 win over Penn State in October - that kickstarted a 6-1-0 run this month - was the head-to-head tiebreaker that gave IU the No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Indiana capped its regular season with a dominant performance in the finale, firing 19 shots and 15 on goal. Senior Hugo Bacharach, freshman Collins Oduro and juniors Patrick McDonald and Samuel Sarver all splattered the scoresheet.
KEY MOMENTS
• 5' – A throw in led to a flurry of IU shots on goal, eventually finished off by Bacharach, who rebounded an effort from senior Joey Maher.
• 23' – Indiana doubled its advantage on another rebound, this time Oduro cleaning up an effort from senior Maouloune Goumballe.
• 45' – Rutgers got one back right before the break as a left-footed strike from junior midfielder Curt Calov ran away from IU senior goalkeeper JT Harms and inside the far post.
• 83' – A cross was cleared by a Rutgers defender but to the feet of McDonald 22 yards out. The junior took a touch onto his left and fired it into the bottom corner.
• 90' – Bacharach dispossessed Rutgers in midfield to start a counter, dribbled and played an incisive through ball to Sarver, who finished coolly around the keeper.
NOTABLES
• Indiana has won 18 Big Ten regular season titles in the 33 seasons it has been contested.
• The Hoosiers earned their sixth win in seven games and had a 6-1-1 record in October.
• Sarver scored his seventh goal of the season, bringing his point total to 18. Both lead the team.
• Bacharach scored his first goal as a Hoosier and No. 8 of his career. He also earned his third assist of the season, all contributing to Sarver goals.
UP NEXT
Indiana is the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will host No. 8-seeded Wisconsin on Friday night. Kickoff time will be announced at a later time.
@IndianaMSOC
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#GoIU
Team Stats
Hugo Bacharach (1)
Assisted By: Joey Maher
GOAL by IU Bacharach, Hugo Assist by Maher, Joey.
04:57
Collins Oduro (3)
Assisted By: Maouloune Goumballe
GOAL by IU Oduro, Collins Assist by Goumballe, Maouloune.
22:20
Curt Calov (3)
Assisted By: Jason Bouregy
GOAL by RUT Calov, Curt Assist by Bouregy, Jason.
44:21
Patrick McDonald (2)
GOAL by IU McDonald, Patrick.
82:29
Samuel Sarver (7)
Assisted By: Hugo Bacharach
GOAL by IU Sarver, Samuel Assist by Bacharach, Hugo.
89:46
