Indiana Soccer Has 15 Shots Blocked in 1-0 Loss At Northwestern

Indiana's path was clear. Two wins in the Big Ten and the conference title would go outright to the Hoosiers. But Indiana's three-match conference win streak was snapped Tuesday, as signs of the old, unable-to-convert Hoosiers returned at Northwestern.

EVANSTON, Ill. — Freshman Clay Murador returned from injury and logged a career-high four shots, but none found the back of the net. That was a constant theme duing Indiana's 1-0 loss at Northwestern Tuesday night.

The Hoosiers outshot the Wildcats 21-4, but only three were on target. Northwestern's backline blocked an unbelievable 15 shots to snap Indiana's four-match, multi-goal win streak in October and shut out the Hoosiers for the first time since Sept. 26.

"That looked like the first half of the season," Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said postmatch. "Where balls are sitting around the box, and if one of those goes through the legs and it's a deflection, maybe a foul, we're back in the game. But we had way too many opportunities not to get one today." 

In the 25th minute, Northwestern's third consecutive throw-in within 60 seconds connected. With the wind advantage, Wildcats' center back Reese Mayer's heave went directly toward his teammate Nigel Prince in the six-yard box, who flicked the ball just over Indiana goalkeeper JT Harms for his first goal this season. Prince was busy and effective on the backline Tuesday night.  

Around the 55th minute and beyond, Indiana's pressure was satisfactory. On one play, Murador quickly reached the box's perimeter and crossed to the open Tommy Mihalic, who just under it at the back post. In the 65th, the Hoosiers' leading scorer Samuel Sarver beat his defender down the sideline and passed to freshman Collins Oduro in the center of the box, but the rookie's initial touch was too strong. 

In the 80th minute, Murador used his excellent pace once more to beat his defender down the wing. He cut inside and looked to see the goal clearly, though one of Northwestern's defenders threw themselves at the shot to block it. That was the motto for the Wildcats: maintain the blockade at all costs with 10 minutes left. Don't take any chances. 

Murador hasn't started this season and didn't again Tuesday, but he has appeared in 11 of the team's 15 matches. The freshman played a career-high 57 minutes at Northwestern, and perhaps wasn't supposed to originally. 

"I thought [Murador] played really well," Yeagley said. "We thought he could give us a scoring threat coming down on his left, second half. He did have a couple just a couple were blocked. Yeah, he's been dangerous. It was nice to have him back. We didn't think we'd give him that many minutes tonight, but just kind of what we were feeling at the time ... He looked good and he didn't seem to be fatiguing and he was dangerous."

In Yeagley's straightforward words, Tuesday wasn't Indiana's night. In the team's past two matches, the Hoosiers have scored from restart goals, such as throw-ins and corner kicks. It was what Yeagley sought for the whole season. But now that the coaching staff obtained it, the players ran out of it for one evening — in untimely fashion. 

With Northwestern's shutout victory, the Wildcats are tied with Michigan State and Penn State atop the Big Ten standings with 13 points. Indiana remains at 11. The Spartans don't have any conference matches remaining, so they're done. Teams at the top like Northwestern, Indiana, and Penn State each have one match left, setting up an eventful Sunday. 

Including Northwestern, the Hoosiers needed two wins to claim the Big Ten regular season. They'll now need help in the form of each Northwestern and Penn State losing or tying. And regardless, Indiana must defeat Rutgers.

If that happens, Indiana will at least share the conference regular season title. As teams wait for Sunday's finale, the Hoosiers will face Division III foe Trine at home Friday night. The match starts at 6:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Big Ten-plus. 

Related Stories on Indiana Soccer: 

• OCTOBER NOTEBOOK: The Big Ten sprint is on. Indiana is in second with 11 points, two shy of co-leaders Michigan State and Penn State. Here's an October Notebook about the team's win streak and key contributors. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA BEATS MARYLAND 2-1: Indiana has won four straight. In back-to-back games, the Hoosiers have gotten the game-winning goal in the final 10 minutes. The Sam Sarver and Karsen Henderlong duo account for both. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA BEATS OHIO STATE 2-1: Captain Joey Maher scored the Hoosiers' first goal, but blamed himself for allowing Ohio State's equalizer. Karsen Henderlong picked him up. CLICK HERE
• SEASON OUTLOOK: BACHARACH'S PLACEMENT IN THE MIDFIELD: Defender Hugo Bacharach, starting in the midfield for the first time this season, had two assists Saturday. Bacharach commanded the space; this could be the answer. CLICK HERE
• INDIANA BEATS NO. 19 PENN STATE 2-1 ON THE ROAD: Indiana faced Penn State on the road Saturday at Noon ET, winning 2-1 to leap in the RPI and gain points for the Big Ten title hunt. A recap from Happy Valley: CLICK HERE