No. 2 Indiana Suffers First Defeat

Friday, October 16

Piscataway, N.J.

8 p.m.

Indiana University

11-1-2, 4-1-1

Rutgers

6-6-1, 4-3-0

Team	1	2	Final F
Indiana	0	0	0
Rutgers	0	1	1

10/16/2026 11:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — No. 2-ranked Indiana men's soccer (11-1-2, 4-1-1 B1G) suffered its first defeat of the season Friday (Oct. 16) night, a 1-0 result at Rutgers on a rain-soaked Yurcak Field.

Francesco Di Ponzio's 73rd-minute goal gave the hosts their fourth ranked victory of the season. Despite the defeat, Indiana's 4-1-1 mark (13 points) in Big Ten play is tied for the best through six matches played.

KEY MOMENTS
• 32' – From a free kick in its own half, Indiana quickly moved through the Rutgers defense with one-touch passing, and the ball found its way to Oliver Moller-Jensen on the right wing. Moller-Jensen took a shot first time but couldn't curve it around the on-rushing keeper.
• 40' – With missed chances on both sides, Mroz kept it level with a save in a one-on-one situation.
• 59' – A Nolan Kinsella service from the right side just missed a crashing Stephane Njike, crashing at the back post.
• 73' – GOAL! Di Ponzio needed a pair of shots to score his winner. His first took a lucky deflection off IU defender Josh Maher, right to the right foot of Di Ponzio, who had a clear shot at the back post and took it. Indiana 1, Rutgers 0

NOTABLES
• Friday's result snapped Indiana's 13-match unbeaten streak, the program's longest unbeaten streak since 2017. Those Hoosiers went 23 matches undefeated (18-0-5) into the NCAA Championship match, where they suffered their lone loss of the year.
• The result also marked the first time an opponent has shut out Indiana this season. The Hoosiers had scored eight goals in their last three Big Ten matches coming into Friday's match.
• Mroz made seven saves, his second-highest tally of the season.

UP NEXT
Indiana will play a second consecutive Big Ten road match when it visits Ohio State on Tuesday (Oct. 20). Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

#NeverDaunted