Seven-Goal Shootout Sends Hoosiers to Seventh-Straight Big Ten Final

Wednesday, November 8

Bloomington, Ind.

8 p.m.

Indiana University

11-4-4, 4-2-2

Michigan

5-6-7, 2-1-5

Michigan

Indiana

Seven-Goal Shootout Sends Hoosiers to Seventh-Straight Big Ten Final

11/9/2023 1:20:00 AM | Men's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON — 2,800 plus watched seven goals hit the back of the net in Indiana men's soccer program's 4-3 win Wednesday (Nov. 9) night on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

The Hoosiers (11-4-4, 4-2-2 B1G) gave up 1-0 and 3-1 leads, but senior forward Maouloune Goumballe had the last say in the 87th minute to finish off the No. 5-seeded Michigan Wolverines (5-6-7, 2-1-5 B1G). With the win, Indiana advanced to its seventh-straight Big Ten Tournament Championship match, where it will face familiar foe and No. 2-seeded Penn State.

IU will host the final Sunday (Nov. 12) at noon ET at Armstrong Stadium. Tickets are on sale now, and admission is free for Indiana University students, faculty and staff that present a valid Crimson Card.

The Hoosiers went into the half with a 3-1 lead thanks to goals from Goumballe, senior midfielder Hugo Bacharach and junior forward Tommy Mihalic. Michigan answered with scores in the 54th and 72nd minutes before a second yellow to junior defender Jason Bucknor in the 75th minute put them down a man. Goumballe and the Hoosiers took advantage 11 minutes later, scoring the winner with just under four minutes to play.

KEY MOMENTS
• 21' – Goumballe cut inside from the left wing and fired low from 19 yards, sneaking it past the diving keeper and into the near post.
• 22' – A minute later, Michigan was back level. A long pass across the field from senior midfielder Simon Vasquez found Bucknor past him mark on the right wing and in front of goal. The junior finished around IU senior goalkeeper JT Harms.
• 36' – Junior Samuel Sarver's free kick fell to Mihalic at the top of the box. His shot was blocked, and, after some confusion, the ball came to Bacharach in the box. Bacharach's left-footed effort had no trouble getting through the crowd, and IU retook the lead.
• 45' – Indiana was awarded a free-kick with 10 seconds before halftime. Sarver blasted a low shot that the keeper saved but couldn't corral. A crowd of Hoosiers swarmed the ball, but Mihalic got to it first and put in the rebound.
• 48' – Harms made a pair of great saves to delay the comeback. Freshman forward Alex Waggoner was through on goal, but Harms made himself big and pushed away his attempt with an outstretched left hand. Bucknor was on the end of the rebound, but Harms got across the six to send the second attempt away as well.
• 54' – Michigan was awarded a penalty after a foul by freshman Alex Barger around the top of the 18-yard box. The call was reviewed and couldn't be overturned. Senior midfielder Quin Rogers buried it from the spot and cut U-M's deficit in half.
• 57' – Mihalic was inches from his second when a cross trickled into his feet in front of an open goal. The ball hopped on him, and his first-time effort sailed into the crossbar.
• 72' – A cross from Michigan freshman defender Matthew Fisher found the head of graduate midfielder Riley Ferch, who finished into the far corner.
• 75' – Bucknor, who received a caution in the 13th minute, earned his second yellow card for a challenge on Mihalic. Michigan would play with 10 men for the final 15 minutes.
• 83' – IU thought it had its winner in the 83rd minute as senior forward Karsen Henderlong's free header sailed towards goal. However, review showed that a Wolverine defender cleared it off the line just in time to keep the match tied.
• 87' – A give-and-go between Bacharach and senior defender Brett Bebej set up Bacharach for a shot on goal. He forced a save, and Goumballe was in the right place to poke in the rebound, scoring the match-winner.

NOTABLES
• Indiana seventh consecutive Big Ten Tournament final appearance marks a conference record. IU previously advanced to, and won, six consecutive championship matches from 1994-1999.
• IU earned its eighth win in nine matches. The Hoosiers have scored 20 goals in that span.
• Indiana is 9-1-2 when playing at Bill Armstrong Stadium this season.
• The Hoosiers have advanced from all six Big Ten Tournament matches against Michigan and lead the all-time series with a 24-4-5 record.
• Indiana tied a program record for goals scored in a Big Ten Tournament match, recording four goals for the fifth time in its tourney history. The Hoosiers last scored four goals in 2017 during a 4-0 victory over Ohio State to advance to the first final of the current seven-year streak.
• Sunday will mark the ninth meeting between IU and Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament final. Indiana has won six of those eight previous meetings.
• Goumballe doubled his season scoring mark with his first-career brace. The senior has recorded five goal contributions over IU's last four matches (four goals, one assist).
• With his assist to Mihalic's goal, Sarver tallied his eighth goal contribution (four goals, four assists) over his last eight matches played. He leads IU in goals (7) assists (6) and points (20).
• For the second time in three matches, Bacharach tallied a goal and an assist in the same match.

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will play for their 16th Big Ten Tournament title and 34th conference title overall, hosting No. 2-seeded Penn State at Bill Armstrong Stadium Sunday at noon ET.

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