Press release: IU Takes Down No. 5 Maryland, Advances to Sixth Straight Big Ten Final

The following press release was sent to the Bloomingtonian this morning: 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 9, 2022

Indiana Men’s Soccer

IU Takes Down No. 5 Maryland, Advances to Sixth Straight Big Ten Final

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana men’s soccer (10-3-6, 3-1-4 B1G) has advanced to the Big Ten Tournament championship match for a sixth straight season.

With a  2-1 semifinal victory on the road against No. 1-seeded and No. 5-ranked  Maryland (10-3-5, 4-0-4 B1G) on Wednesday (Nov. 9) night, IU will play  for its 16th Big Ten Tournament title on Sunday  at Rutgers.

Two  first-half goals and a stubborn second-half defensive effort pushed the  Hoosiers past the Terrapins after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw 10  days ago in a result that helped UM win the regular  season.

Indiana  will meet Rutgers in the tournament final on Sunday (Nov. 13) at noon ET  on Yurcak Field. The match will be televised on Big Ten Network.

KEY MOMENTS

• 8’ –  Maryland had the first quality chance when a headed clearance came to UM  junior forward Stefan Copetti outside the box. Copetti took a touch and  fired just wide of goal.

• 24’ –  Sophomore forward Tommy Mihalic earned a free kick about 20 yards out as  the Hoosiers built attacking momentum. Wittenbrink fired it with pace  to the far corner, but it sailed wide.

• 29’ – Copetti had another good chance that he pushed wide.

• 35’ –  Wittenbrink made space for himself out wide before firing in a cross.  The ball came to sophomore forward Samuel Sarver at the back post, and  he punched it home for the opening goal.

• 39’ – A scramble in the box led to two shots on goal for Sarver, but both were somehow saved.

• 40’ –  Moments later, Indiana had its second. After a cross from Wittenbrink, a  shot by freshman midfielder Jack Wagoner was deflected into the path of  junior defender Joey Maher. Maher put it  away and doubled IU’s lead.

• 61’ – Freshman forward Collin Griffith equalized for Maryland with a shot from about 19 yards out.

• 65’ –  The Terps nearly had their equalizer when a header from senior defender  Chris Rindov banged off the crossbar and down. A review revealed that  the ball came in front of the goal line, and  no goal was given.

• 75’ –  Sophomore midfielder Collin Griffin was shown a second yellow card after  bringing down freshman forward Luka Bezerra in IU’s attacking half. The  Terps would play with 10 men for the remainder  of the match.

• 80’ – A  scramble in the box ended in a save by junior goalkeeper JT Harms, his  lone save of the match. The Terrapins tallied nine shots but just two on  goal.

NOTABLES

•  Indiana punched its ticket to a sixth straight Big Ten final. IU is 3-2  in the previous five, winning three straight as part of three  consecutive Big Ten Championship doubles from 2018-20.

• The Hoosiers are undefeated in their last five matches.

• Indiana is 4-3-1 against ranked opponents this season.

• IU’s  all-time record versus Maryland improved to 7-5-8 and 4-2 in Big Ten  Tournament matches, including games decided by penalties.

• Indiana clinched its 48th 10-win season in program history. In 50 seasons, IU has failed to reach 10 wins twice.

• With  the assist to Sarver, Wittenbrink tallied his fourth goal contribution  (two goals, two assists) in his last four matches. The first-team  All-Big Ten honoree has tallied eight goals, seven  assists and 23 points, tying his total output in all three categories  between two seasons in the 2021 calendar year.

• Sarver  scored his first goal since September 9 versus Akron and his third of  the season. All three of Sarver’s goals have come against ranked  opponents.

• Maher recorded his second goal of the season and No. 4 of his career.

• Wagoner, in his sixth start in seven matches, tallied the second assist of his Big Ten All-Freshman Team season.

UP NEXT

Indiana  will travel to Piscataway, New Jersey, to face Rutgers in the Big Ten  Tournament championship match on Sunday (Nov. 13) at noon ET.

#GoIU

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