Indiana Overcomes Cats with Second Half Comeback

Tuesday, October 8

Bloomington, Ind.

7 p.m.

Indiana University

4-3-5, 2-1-2

Kentucky

2-3-4, 1-0-2

Kentucky

Indiana

Indiana Overcomes Cats with Second Half Comeback

10/8/2024 11:06:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In ordinary early-season fashion, Indiana couldn't catch a break. The Hoosiers went into the locker room after 45 minutes with a 14-3 shots advantage but a 2-0 deficit to Kentucky.

But in ordinary October fashion, the Hoosiers didn't need a break. Indiana (4-3-5, 2-1-2 B1G) seized a 3-2 comeback victory against Kentucky (2-2-4 Sun Belt) Tuesday (Oct. 8) night on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium thanks to senior Tommy Mihalic's second half brace and freshman Michael Nesci's 85th-minute winner.

The Hoosiers crushed the Cats with a 22-4 shot advantage, the two concessions coming against the run of play. IU trusted its performance, allowed one shot in the final 45 minutes, kept putting together chances and got the goals it needed.

KEY MOMENTS
• 23' – Kentucky senior forward Logan Dorsey, brother of Indiana alum Griffin Dorsey (2017-18), opened the scoring with a goal from outside the box on a counterattack.
• 36' – The Wildcats doubled their lead 13 minutes later from a corner kick, as the ball leaked to freshman midfielder Bertil Alban at the edge of the box. Alban's shot deflected off freshman defender Mateo Franzotti into goal.
• 52' – Sophomore forward Collins Oduro stole possession at the edge of IU's attacking third, junior midfielder captured the loose ball and slipped a through ball to Mihalic, whose left-footed finish perfectly ran past the keeper's outstretched leg, found the bar and angled into goal.
• 57' – Senior defender Jansen Miller found senior forward down the right wing. Sarver flashed a pass across the six-yard box, where Mihalic was waiting to punch it in.
• 85' – Oduro held up play at the edge of the box as Nesci overlapped. Nesci took the pass and finished with his left foot as his shot deflected off a Kentucky defender and past the keeper.

NOTABLES
• Indiana is undefeated in its last four, scoring 10 goals (2.5 goals per game). Mihalic has scored four of those goals, Oduro has 5 G/A and Sarver has 4 G/A in that stretch.
• Tuesday's comeback marks IU's best since its 2019 season opener against Pittsburgh (Aug. 30, 2019), also a 3-2 victory with goals from Josh Penn, Ian Black and Herbert Endeley.
• In its last four seasons, Indiana is 19-4-6 (.759) in the month of October.
• IU earned its first win over Kentucky since 2019 and improved to 27-3-5 against the Wildcats all-time.
• With Mihalic's two-goal performance, an Indiana player has bagged a brace in three consecutive matches (Oduro, Elliot). The Hoosiers have not done this since at least 2015.
• Mihalic leads Indiana with career-highs in goals (8) and points (17). Among Big Ten players, only Wisconsin freshman Dean Boltz (9) has more goals than Mihalic this season.
• Mihalic's second of the night was also No. 22 of his career, making him IU's active career leader in goals – passing Sarver's 21. With 48 career points, Mihalic is a goal (or two assists, etc.) away from joining Sarver as Indiana's active 50-point scorers.

UP NEXT
Indiana three-match homestand wraps with a rematch of the 2023 Big Ten Tournament final as the Hoosiers host Penn State Friday (Oct. 11) night. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET, and fans can purchase tickets here.

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#NeverDaunted