Photo Credit: @IndianaWSOC/X
BILL ARMSTRONG STADIUM — The Indiana University Women’s Soccer team returned to Bill Armstrong Stadium to take on Wright State, where the weather was not in their favor. Weather delays pushed the start time to 5:45 PM.
The game started with heavy defensive plays from both teams. Finishing off the 10th minute, Freshman Forward Layla Sirdah scored in the top center of the goal, with an assist from Senior Midfielder, Sydney Masur. Scoring the first goal of the game. This being Sirdah’s first collegiate goal.
Shortly after, the game went to another weather delay, pushing it to continue at the 79th minute at 6:34 PM, discouraging both teams.
However, both teams came back strong, ready to finish out the match. When they returned to the field in the 13th minute, The Raiders put up excellent defensive and offensive plays, blocking potential Indiana goals, and getting close to scoring.
With Wright State goalkeeper Kiera Sakra putting up a fight against Indiana’s offense, multiple scoring opportunities were blocked. However, Sophomore Defender, Piper Coffield, took a penalty kick straight into the bottom left of the goal, advancing the Hoosiers to 2-0.
Shortly after, Graduate Transfer from Rhode Island, Defender, Avery Sneed scored from 30 yards away into the top right corner of the goal, advancing the Hoosiers to 3-0. Sneed's first Hoosier goal.
Coming off of halftime, fouls on Indiana allowed The Raiders a free kick, allowing their offense to make moves. A missed goal from Indiana also proves how much of a fight Wright State put up.
However, it was not enough to block the Hoosier's momentum, with a goal from senior midfielder, Hope Paredes, the score improved to 4-0. Following that junior forward, Marisa Grzesiak, scored after being in the game for 20 seconds, strengthening the lead to 5-0.
Credit must be given to the defense of Wright State, as they continued to fight and make about 10 saves throughout the game.
Indiana continued their lead, with a goal off the header, by sophomore midfielder Krista Murphy, improving the score to 6-0.
With a final score of 6-0, their series against Wright State now stands at 4-0.
Even with a rocky start to the game, the combination of an impressive number of returners, and promising new players, led to an Indiana win, improving their record to 3-0 for the season.
The Hoosiers will return to the road on Sunday, taking on Brown, in Providence, Rhode Island.
