BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana women’s soccer team (9-2-1, 2-2 B1G) evened its Big Ten record thanks to Rebecca Candler’s goal in the 108^th minute, giving the Hoosiers a 2-1 win over Northwestern (2-8-2, 0-4 Big Ten) at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

 

“We had been in an overtime situation earlier this year and were not able to get the winning goal,” Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said. “I am really proud of this team for fighting through the fatigue and finding a way to get the win tonight.”

 

The Hoosiers posted a 22-12 edge in shots for the game and a 8-4 advantage in corner kicks, but it the game still came down to the final couple minutes of overtime before the game was decided.

 

Indiana took the lead in the 37^th minute when Jordan Woolums found Lisa Nouanesengsy in front of the near post. From there Nouanesengsy took a touch and then beat the keeper inside the near post for her team-leading seventh goal of the year. For Woolums, it was her first assist of the season and it gave the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead going into halftime.

 

In the second half, Indiana continued to attack the Northwestern goal but were not able to get the final touch into the box and get a goal. The Wildcats, however, were able to put together possession and in the 78^th minute they scored a header goal to tie the score at 1-1.

 

The first overtime session saw IU spend a majority of the 10 minutes in the Northwestern half of the field, registering three shots but the game remained tied going to the second overtime period.

 

Once again, it was Indiana that was the aggressor and the hard work finally paid off in the 108^th minute. Nouanesengsy sent a long pass into the box from the left sideline to Abby Smith at the back post. Smith was able to possess the ball with Northwestern defenders around her and fire a shot that hit the underside of the crossbar, but somehow stayed out of the goal. The ball bounced back into play where Candler was waiting to drill the game-winner into the back of the net from directly in front of the goal. It was the third goal of the year for Candler while Smith and Nouanesengsy both picked up their third assists of the season.

 

“We knew it was going to be a fight out here tonight because Northwestern is a very good team,” Berbary said. “Their record right now does not do them justice because they are a much better team than what their record indicates. We did a nice job of matching their intensity and the physicality that they brought to the game.”

 

The overtime win is the first for the Hoosiers since Oct. 14, 2012, at Michigan State. Indiana played to a 0-0 draw at Loyola-Chicago earlier this year in its only other overtime game this season.

 

Indiana returns to Bill Armstrong Stadium on Sunday, playing host to Illinois. It is will be the team’s annual “Think Pink” game to help raise awareness for breast cancer. The first 150 fans will receive a free pink t-shirt.