Henderlong’s Goal, Barger’s Assist Hold in Indiana’s 1-0 Preseason-Opening Shutout

Indiana's preseason began Friday night, as the Hoosiers won 1-0 over Wright State at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Freshman Alex Barger and fifth-year senior Karsen Henderlong teamed up for the lone goal of the match, in which plenty of Hoosiers had solid individual performances.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Freshman Alex Barger's confidence, comfortableness — likely both, and any other similar traits — grew by the minute. It's perhaps impressive to say that about someone just days into their freshman season. 

But it was evident with each new possession in Friday night's preseason opener at Bill Armstrong Stadium, which the Hoosiers won 1-0 in 120 regulation minutes.

"This was only our third day," Kevin Robson, Indiana's associate head coach and recruiting coordinator, said post-exhibition Friday. "It's pretty early to be tested, but Alex has played really well the first two days, and he earned the opportunity tonight. He grew right into the game and got better, more confident as the game went. He's got a really nice left foot and a great engine."

Barger started at left-back in the four 30-minute period exhibition, one of two freshmen to start out of Indiana's pool of 10. Barger held his own in the first 30 minutes, but as the match transitioned into the next period, the left-back began to creep down the sideline, seemingly wanting to test it. That later turned into dribbling into the box and shooting, though he missed.

Barger would be rewarded, though. It took a perfect low-cross into the box, right at the flying fifth-year senior forward Karsen Henderlong, who scored. The goal stood as the only of the scrimmage, as keepers on both sides reeled in promising chances from attackers. Indiana's JT Harms blocked two of Wright State's in the same segment that his own team scored.

"I thought we did a really nice job of maintaining our balance," Robson said. "And then, of course, finding the goal, which I thought was a fantastic kind one where you draw up on the training ground. Two-v-one wide and then a nice service across the six and a really strong run by Karsen to get on the end of that."

Barger and Henderlong's combined goal, as well as Harms stopping two dangerous chances, was part of the network of solid individual performances from the Hoosiers Friday. Redshirt senior forward Maouloune Goumballe, who acted as one of the two strikers in the team's 4-4-2 formation, twice took on two defenders at the corner flag — fooling both on one occasion.

These slippery moments by Goumballe begged the question of whether he should drop down from striker to one of the outside wingers within the four midfielders. The other striker Friday was freshman Collins Oduro, who peskily flew all over the field, which resembled junior forward, Samuel Sarver. Sarver played at the wing Friday, though, in the past, he has been one of the two up top with junior Tommy Mihalic, who simultaneously played the other wing.

"I think those guys are pretty interchangeable," Robson said. "There's a lot of athletic pieces out there that that could cause teams a lot of problems. It's a pretty fluid front four we can move a lot of pieces around and see different combinations as the year gets going."

One player that was hard to miss is 6-foot-4-inch Fairleigh Dickinson transfer Hugo Bacharach, the USL League Two Defender of the Year this summer. Bacharach started Friday, can move quickly with his long legs, and likely will start in the regular season. Robson even assured that he'd have many goals that result from free and corner kicks.

Within the first three 30-minute segments, Bacharach and returners Jansen Miller and Joey Maher played at the two center back spots, so that'll likely be the three-player rotation in those positions. 

None of Indiana's players were in the exhibition for longer than 60 minutes, even Harms. Freshman keeper Alex Kara subbed in, and though he wasn't tested much, helped hold the clean sheet. So did Barger, fifth-year senior defender Brett Bebej and plenty of other Hoosiers, which is the main purpose of these exhibition matches.

"I thought that first 30 minutes was pretty energetic, Robson said. "I thought our press was sharp. I thought our passing overall was sharp against a team that sat a little bit deeper. A lot of new faces a lot of new combinations, but overall, I was really happy with the way the group played."

Now 1-0 in the preseason, Indiana's next exhibition is at 7:30 p.m. ET Tuesday against Bowling Green at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield, Indiana. It'll mark the same preseason matchup at the same location as last year. 

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• EXHIBITION SCHEDULE: After losing in the national championship match last year, the Indiana men's soccer team enters the 2023 season ranked No. 2 in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. Prior to the regular season, Indiana will play three exhibition matches. The first is on Friday night in Bloomington, and the final two will be against recurring foes from last year's exhibitions. CLICK HERE