Hoosiers Score Three Goals in Win Over Illinois State on Opening Night

Thursday, August 17

Bloomington, Ind.

8:00 P.M.

Indiana University

1-0-0, 0-0-0

Illinois State

0-1-0, 0-0-0

Illinois St.

Indiana

Hoosiers Score Three Goals in Win Over Illinois State on Opening Night

8/17/2023 11:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana women's soccer team (1-0) defeated Illinois State (0-1), 3-1, behind goals from senior midfielder Anna Bennett, graduate forward Paige Webber and junior defender Lauren Costello in the season opener at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Thursday night.

KEY MOMENTS
• A cross from Costello found its way inside the box near the 12-yard line before Webber would head it over to Bennett before she made a diving play to head it into the back right of the net to take the lead in the 20^th minute.
• Webber netted the Hoosiers second goal in the 54^th minute on a crosser from Costello. The striker received the ball just above the goalie box before taking a slow, high-kick strike that flips it past the Redbirds' keeper to extend the lead.
• Illinois State scored in the 60^th minute after a cross inside the six-yard box would give the Redbird's an opportunity as it slipped past the goalie and the far-right goal post.
• In the 74^th minute, the Hoosiers earned a corner and another chance as Bennett sent a cross inside the 18-yard box that found the foot of freshman defender Piper Coffield before finding the open leg of teammate and fellow defender Costello gave the Hoosiers a, 3-1, lead as she sent it into the back of the net.

HOOSIER POINTS
GOALS: Anna Bennett (20'), Paige Webber (60'), Lauren Costello (74')
ASSISTS: Anna Bennett, Lauren Costello (2), Piper Coffield, Paige Webber

NOTABLES
• The Hoosiers outshot the Redbirds 18-10 with 10 shots on goal.
• Indiana holds a mark of 18-9-4 in season openers.
• Coffield earned her first career start, playing a full 90 minutes on the pitch and added her first career assist.
• Freshmen Elle Britt, Kennedy Neighbors, Mary Kate Sullivan and Paige Droner also made their first collegiate debuts. Alongside the freshman, junior transfer Hope Paredes and Costello also saw their first minutes on the pitch for the Hoosiers.
• Bennett scored her eighth career goal and her sixth assist and set a single-game high of seven shots while Webber netted her seventh of her career as a Hoosier.
• Costello scored her first career goal on the Hoosier squad and tallied two assists in the season opener.

QUOTABLES
Indiana head coach Erwin van Bennekom
"First of all, I am happy with the win. I am happy with the goals that we scored and the chances we created. Obviously not happy with the goal we gave away to get them a little back in the game, but first full credit to them. They definitely caused us some problems with their positioning, and how they played. I think our group handled it well and that we were controlled for the most part. We scored the goals at the right times, and I think a really good win. After a season like last year and scoring those goals and creating those chances is what we needed. I am very happy with the result."

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers will conclude the first week of the regular season with a match against the Virginia Tech Hokies on Sunday. First kick is slated for noon on the B1G+.

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