Webber’s Brace, Late Goal Lifts Hoosiers Over Rutgers in Big Ten Opener

Sunday, September 17

Bloomington, Ind.

1:00 P.M.

Indiana University

7-0-2, 1-0-0

Rutgers

4-3-2, 0-1-0

Rutgers

Indiana

Webber’s Brace, Late Goal Lifts Hoosiers Over Rutgers in Big Ten Opener

9/17/2023 4:25:00 PM | Women's Soccer

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Graduate forward Paige Webber scored her second brace this season including a late goal in the 85^th minute to lead the Hoosiers (7-0-2) past Rutgers (4-3-2), 3-2, in their Big Ten opener on Sunday day at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

KEY MOMENTS
• Indiana gets on the board early as senior midfielder Anna Bennet scored off a cross from graduate forward Paige Webber. Webber sent a cross inside the middle of the 18-yard box finding Bennett as she fired one straight down the middle. Rutgers keeper made a dive for the save, but it would sail into the far-left corner.
• In the fifth minute, Webber put the Hoosiers up, 2-0, with a chip shot goal on the assist from junior goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg. She launched the ball to the frontline where she found Webber before it went over the head of the keeper for her 10^th goal of the season.
• Rutgers forward Gia Girman found the back of the net in the 38^th minute as she the lead to one to end the first half, 2-1.
• In the second half, Rutgers forward Gia Vicari scored the equalizer in the 52^nd minute.
• The teams continued to battle it out, but Webber would find the back of the net for her second goal of the game.
• In the 85^th minute, freshman defender Piper Coffield cleared the ball out of the backfield as Webber ran the ball down, dribbling past the diving goalkeeper for the game-winning goal.

HOOSIER POINTS
GOALS: Anna Bennett (1'), Paige Webber (4', 85')
ASSISTS: Webber, Jamie Gertsenberg, Piper Coffield

NOTABLES
• Indiana is now 2-7-1 all-time against Rutgers.
• Bennett gets her second goal of the season, the ninth of her career. She is the fourth Hoosier to have 12 career assists and is tied 12^th with three others.
• Webber nets two goals for her 11^th on the season and the 17^th of her career. She earns her third multi-goal game this season and her fifth career game winner.
• Coffield and Webber assisted on their second goal this season while Gerstenberg earned her first.
• Gerstenberg has seven victories on the season, bringing her career total to 17. She is tied in seventh alongside Lindsay Campbell (2008-11). She is two wins away from tying her season record of nine, which ranks sixth most in a season.
• The Birkenwerder, Germany, native tallied five saves with 18 on the season, and 106 on her career.

QUOTABLES
Indiana head coach Erwin van Bennekom
"This was a big win for us after the conference season we had last year, to score three goals against Rutgers. We went up two-nil and they came back, but we had the right mentality to fight to get the win at the end. When they scored the second goal, I thought they had all the momentum, and they were probably the better team. But we found a way to change the narrative of the game. And obviously, what a great goal at the end from Paige so. I am so proud of this team. I think we needed a game like this where we were maybe behind or tied up where we find a way to win. Overall, a really good performance and a great three points. Now, onto the next one."

UP NEXT
The Hoosiers travel to Illinois on Thursday, Sept. 21. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on BTN.

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