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Friday, March 29, 2024
Despite Pac'd Mac, UW drops conference opener to Hoosiers

msoccer: Aaron Nichols had a good opportunity to score in the 26th minute of the Badgers? match against Indiana, but his shot sailed just high.

Despite Pac'd Mac, UW drops conference opener to Hoosiers

The Wisconsin men's soccer team took a tough loss at home Friday, dropping its Big Ten opener to No. 13 Indiana 1-0 in front of a large crowd.

The match featured high-quality play from both sides for the majority of the night, with the lone goal coming from Hoosiers sophomore Will Bruin on a breakaway in the 57th minute. The game-winning score only temporarily quieted the 1,703 fans who filled the McClimon Complex stands, marking the sixth-largest attendance in stadium history. 

The Badgers came close to scoring in the 26th minute when junior Aaron Nichols beat his man from the left wing and ripped a shot that went just high. The Hoosiers had chances in the first half as well, but the Badgers' defense repeatedly turned away Indiana runs. 

In the second half, Wisconsin's defense had more trouble fending off Indiana's offensive attack. The Badgers' senior goalkeeper, Alex Horwath, made spectacular stops on two shots that would have put the Hoosiers on top.

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Indiana kept the pressure up, however, and eventually capitalized in the 57th minute.

A scrum for the ball in the midfield ended with sophomore Hoosier Tommy Meyer clearing a long volley down the middle of the field. Senior UW defender Eric Conklin went up to control the ball over Bruin, the reigning Freshman-of the Year in the Big Ten, but was knocked off balance by the forward and could not recover.

Bruin broke away from the defense and snuck a shot by Horwath for the game-winner. 

The contact was enough to incite some controversy, as Horwath immediately came out to plead his case with the official. He was issued a yellow card, and a UW assistant received a red card and was sent off.

Wisconsin head coach Todd Yeagley pointed to the high stakes and the competitive nature of the moment when asked about the reaction from Horwath and others.

""You just know that when you give up [a goal] against Indiana it's going to be a tough one to get back, and that's where that emotion came from,"" he said. 

From that point on, Indiana packed in the defense and controlled the ball, making it difficult for the Badgers to muster momentum and snuffing out any opportunity that came Wisconsin's way. For the night, the Badgers had just two shots on goal and did not get one from their top offensive threat, senior Scott Lorenz. 

""They're a good passing team; they spread the field and make it hard to chase,"" Lorenz said. ""They make us chase the game, which is tiring and takes away from our ability to counterattack."" 

The Badgers did get some help from the crowd in their offensive attempts, however.

Sets of bleachers were placed on both ends of the field so students could watch the game up close. The Wisconsin students switched ends at the half to stay directly behind the Hoosiers' freshman goalkeeper, Luis Soffner. It was an effort that had the players raving, even after a tough loss.

""They were awesome,"" Horwath said. ""This is the best environment I've played in since I came here. I hope tonight some people became fans of Wisconsin soccer and will come out in the future because it really does help.""

The Badgers continue a tough stretch this week, traveling to the Windy City for a match with Illinois-Chicago Wednesday.

 

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