Mihalic’s Late Winner Snags All Three Points in Piscataway

Friday, September 13

Piscataway, N.J.

7 p.m.

Indiana University

2-2-2, 1-0-0

Rutgers

3-4-0, 0-1-0

Indiana

Rutgers

Mihalic’s Late Winner Snags All Three Points in Piscataway

9/13/2024 10:55:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Indiana men's soccer saw its patience rewarded Friday (Sept. 13) night on Yurcak Field as senior forward Tommy Mihalic's 87th-minute strike made the difference in its 1-0 win over Rutgers in the opening match of Big Ten Conference play.

IU (2-2-2, 1-0-0 B1G) outshot the Scarlet Knights (3-4-0, 0-1-0) 13-7 but had to wait until the dying moments for its breakthrough. The Hoosiers hit the woodwork twice in the first half and found the gloves of Rutgers junior goalkeeper Ciaran Dalton four times before Mihalic's winner.

"Great road win to start the Big Ten season," IU head coach Todd Yeagley said. "Doing it late was fantastic. I thought our team performed well, and it's important to get a win to start conference play."

KEY MOMENTS
• 22' – Senior forward Justin Weiss slipped a one-touch through ball into the path of Mihalic, who fired a first-time shot that Dalton's fingertips pushed into the far post and out.
• 35' – Senior forward Samuel Sarver cut in from the left and fired a shot that dipped but not in time to miss the crossbar.
• 55' – Indiana saw a pair of chances saved by Dalton within moments of each other. Sarver raced past his marker in transition and squared to Weiss, but his attempt was right to Dalton. Sophomore forward Collins Oduro was on the follow-up, but Dalton leaped to push his attempt away.
• 87' – Senior midfielder Patrick McDonald played a cross-field ball to Sarver on the right wing, who rocketed past his defender into the box and towards the end line before playing behind to Mihalic. Mihalic's first-time effort snuck under Dalton for the score.

NOTABLES
• Indiana earned its first win in Piscataway and first win in a Big Ten opener since the 2020-21 season.
• Mihalic scored his fourth goal of the season, bringing his total to five goal contributions (four goals, one assist) in six matches. The senior reached 40 points in his career with 18 goals and four assists.
• Sarver earned his second assist of the season, while McDonald tallied his first assist and second goal contribution.
• McDonald and Mihalic appeared in their 75th match Friday night. Sarver reached the same milestone in Monday's match versus Dayton.

UP NEXT
Indiana returns home for a two-match homestand. The Hoosiers will host Evansville Tuesday (Sept. 17) before they resume Big Ten play Friday (Sept. 20) against Maryland. Tickets are on sale here.

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