IU Women's Soccer

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

 

Called up to the German U20 national team.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

Called up to the New Zealand U20 national team.

[Aaron 4,147]

Good for her.

I am not sure what that says about New Zealand from a soccer perspective that a backup player for IU is among the best players in their country. That is not a knock on her or the Hoosiers and this is a great honor, but a back-up college player being called up, says a lot for the state of soccer in that country and it cannot be to good. 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

Final week of the regular season.  Tonight's match available on BTN + at 7:00

Live Stats

The Indiana women's soccer team (9-3-4) (3-2-3) will host No. 9 Rutgers (13-2) (8-0) on Thursday Oct. 21 at 7pm and travel to No. 18 Purdue for the regular season finale on Sunday Oct. 24 at 1pm.  
 
SCOUTING THE SCARLET KNIGHTS
With their win over Michigan State on Sunday Rutgers clinched a share of the Big Ten Conference title. Rutgers can clinch the outright title with a win or tie in the match on Thursday night. Rutgers holds a 48-13 advantage in goals over their opponents this season. They are led in goal by senior forward Frankie Tagliaferri, who has scored 11 goals on the season.
 
SCOUTING THE BOILERMAKERS
Purdue comes into the final week of the regular season with a 11-3-2 overall record and 6-2 in the Big Ten. Purdue is second in the Big Ten standings only behind Rutgers. Purdue has won three of their last four matches and they face Northwestern on Thursday before welcoming Indiana. Purdue has scored 30 goals on the season and given up 16. Their top goal scorer is Sarah Griffith with 13.  
 
PINK MATCH
The women's soccer program is encouraging all fans to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness month for the Thursday match against Rutgers.
 
KEEPING OPPONENTS OFF THE BOARD
The Hoosiers have only allowed eight goals in 16 matches this season. Indiana ranks sixth in the country in goals against average. The Hoosiers have a 23-8 advantage in goals over opponents this season.
 
WEBBER, GERSTENBERG EARN BIG TEN HONORS
Paige Webber earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and Jamie Gerstenberg earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 14. Webber got a hat trick against Murray State and added an assist in the Hoosiers win at Kansas State. Gerstenberg has three straight shutouts and six shutouts on the season.
 
GERSTENBERG SHUTING OUT THE COMPETITION 
Indiana goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg is tied for first in the NCAA in shutouts with nine this season. Gerstenberg has tied the Hoosiers single season record for shutouts with her nine so far this season.

 

[Aaron 4,147]

IU does not have Gerstenberg tonight as she was called up to German National Team camp. The only health goalie right now is Caitlin Arbuckle who is a senior and has appeared in one game. Defense has been stellar all year, but playing top teams with a new person between the pipes is not ideal.

That tie against Maryland has dropped IU's RPI in the 40's and on the bubble with only good team lefts. That tie against the Terps is probably going to be so damaging it keeps them out of NCAA Tournament unless they beat the odds and upset someone.

Given the lack of offense, I would not be surprised if we lose last three (last two regular season games and Big Ten Tournament) and what was a great season ends on down note.

Still believe in Coach Erwin and he has been dealt a really bad hand at end here, but he does need to fine some scorers in the offseason to continue the turnaround. He certainly has made team better since he has been here but still more work to do.     

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

22' Rutgers took a 1-0 lead and that's how the first half ended.

                               IU             Rutgers

Shots                     2                   6

SOG                       2                   5

Corners                 1                   1

Fouls                     2                   1

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

51' Rutgers makes it a 2-0 lead and we're now midway thru the second half.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

If you're into moral victories maybe this was one.  Rutgers who has outscored their opponents 48-13 this season and with Gerstenberg called up we have Caitlin Arbuckle in the net.  Rutgers had 8 SOG and she stopped 6 of them but our offense came up empty and Rutgers takes a 2-0 win.

                                   IU       Rutgers

Shots                         6            14 

SOG                           4              8

Corners                     3              2

Fouls                         9              3

[Aaron 4,147]

This team has turned into IU Football 2.0. Terrific defense but can't score. One goal in five games is bad. Year started with so much promise but lack of offense is now the undoing. Still believe in what Coach Erwin is doing long term but end of season has been a thud and went from safely in to out of NCAA Tournament.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

IUWS (9-4-4) (3-3-3) on the road at West Lafayette to face #18 PUke (12-3-2) (7-2-0) in the last match of the regular season and the Golden Boot up for grabs.  Scheduled start  of 1:00 and televised on BTN+.  We've already had one match disrupted by Mother Nature this fall could we have a second one today?  Already raining in West Lafayette with a much heavier band of rain starting around 10 am and extending into the afternoon with thunderstorms also in the forecast.

Live Stats

 

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

Scoreless at halftime as the women are more than holding their own against the 18th ranked PUkettes.   Megan Wampler put one in the net at 32' but it was called offsides.  And, we're again playing with back-up goalkeeper Caitlin Arbuckle.  Long way to go, but the women have turned in a fine first half performance.

                             IU              PU

Shots                   3                 4

SOG                     1                 3

Corners               3                 1

Fouls                   6                 9

[Hoosierfan1901 5,789]

Purdue’s Skylurr Patrick picked up a yellow card a little while ago

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

Still 0-0 midway thru the second half.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

And then just like that at 73' PUke gets on the board.  15 min. remaining.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

80' and it's a 2-0 game.  Blitchok given a yellow card shortly thereafter.

[Hoosierfan1901 5,789]

Yea..looks like the Golden Boot will be staying in WL

[Aaron 4,147]

Collapse complete. Ask IU football about trying to win with defense only and unable to generate a lick of offense. This team has exact same issue.

[Class of '66 Old Fart 80,841]

2-0 is the final score and the season is over.

                                      IU              PU

Shots                           14              13

SOG                               3                7

Corners                         4               6

Fouls                             7              12

 

[mamasa 14,815]

Heck of a season!

[Aaron 4,147]

I want to be clear. This season is absolutely a step in right direction, but still the collapse down the stretch and inability to score were disappointing.