Butler @ #1 IUMS - 8/31/21 @ 8:00

[Aaron 4,293]

Good to see our defense continuing to look like swiss cheese.

Luckily Celantano is not an issue and made two unbelievable saves to stop goals and rightfully yelling at his defense. No Schmidt, Bezerra or Wittenbrink for injury.

However, none of those guys play defense so that does not explain anything and now we have depth to cover any loss including Bezerra with Mihalic and Sarver. Still this early season defensive collapse is an unexplainable problem that needs to be corrected. 

[Aaron 4,293]

Sarver and Mihalic are good. Their speed nearly created a goal out running behind entire Butler D but booted out for corner at last min.

Never had so many speedy offensive threats with Bezerra, Mihalic, Sarver and Endeley. Now just need D to play like capable. 

[Hoosierfan1901 6,301]

1 minute ago, Aaron said:

Sarver and Mihalic are good. Their speed nearly created a goal out running behind entire Butler D but booted out for corner at last min.

Never had so many speedy offensive threats with Bezerra, Mihalic, Sarver and Endeley. Now just need D to play like capable. 

How do we look?

[Brass Cannon 24,814]

1-0. Maher goal. If D plays to its potential we win. 

[Aaron 4,293]

As I said our offense is not stoppable. Endeley fouled on a breakaway. Glass took free kick and Maher headed it off post but slotted in the rebound after.

Our D still looks shaky but we have been better since first few min. With this offense though we can strike at any time. May not dominate possession like in past but chances we do get much more likely to connect given weapons we have.

[Aaron 4,293]

2 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

1-0. Maher goal. If D plays to its potential we win. 

Yup. With this many offensive weapons we are far and away best team in country like 2017 and 2018 if our D can do what it is capable of. 

[Aaron 4,293]

IU leads 1-0 at half. Looked much better in second part but D still makes me nervous.

[Aaron 4,293]

We almost conceded a goal and it would not of been d's fault. Goumballe committed a foul just outside box and the ball that was sent in on the free kick had to be cleared off line by Redmon at last second. 1-0 IU 21 min left.

[Aaron 4,293]

Mihalic just took out entire Butler team but shot hit post. 1-0 12 min left.

[Aaron 4,293]

5 min left. 1-0 IU.

[Aaron 4,293]

OK finally our backline looked like itself in second half. For first time they were organized and did a good job stopping Butler before things got dangerous. At no point was I worried Butler would equalize. 

If we can get that D we played in second half along with the offensive threats we have, this team will stay no. 1 most of year. 

There was the one dangerous clearance by Redmon off line but that was not because of bad back line play but unfortunate foul which happens. 

[Hoosierfan1901 6,301]

I wish the score was bigger, but it sounds like we weren’t too bad tonight 

[Brass Cannon 24,814]

4 minutes ago, Hooserfan1901 said:

I wish the score was bigger, but it sounds like we weren’t too bad tonight 

Very true also sounds like we rested two key pieces of our offense. 

[Brass Cannon 24,814]

I wanna go to game on Friday but it would be a big lift since I have to get up super early on Saturday 

[Hoosierfan1901 6,301]

3 minutes ago, Brass Cannon said:

I wanna go to game on Friday but it would be a big lift since I have to get up super early on Saturday 

I would too, but My tigers are playing Central Friday night which should be a good one

[Aaron 4,293]

34 minutes ago, Hooserfan1901 said:

I wish the score was bigger, but it sounds like we weren’t too bad tonight 

Offense struggled a bit without Bezerra as expected but we have a chance with Mihalic and Sarver up top now. Biggest thing to me is after a disastrous first 10 min defensively, team finally looked solid on backline which is most important. We know offense can strike at any time with 4 elite goal scorers.  

[Class of '66 Old Fart 84,775]

Post-game story.    https://iuhoosiers.com/news/2021/9/1/mens-soccer-soccer-strong-locked-in-hoosiers-building-for-more.aspx?fbclid=IwAR15am1mbEbWoegqp7lP7L3gMTdPC8Ga1X4pH0bY2Owjnaxr3nkUKeb0fHE