We hear Santa Barbara is nice this time of year. Okay, it’s nice there all year, but it will be an especially nice time for the IU men’s soccer team to visit with the 2018 College Cup on the California coast next weekend.
Pushed on by 5,159 fans, the 8th largest crowd in Bill Armstrong Stadium history, the Hoosiers found their edge in the second half after a sluggish start.
The No. 1 Hoosiers advance to their NCAA record 20th College Cup with a 1-0 win over No. 13 Notre Dame in Bloomington.
We're going to Cali! 🌴😎 pic.twitter.com/o2TYVwZA2i
— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IndianaMSOC) December 1, 2018
Indiana will face Maryland next Friday night in Santa Barbara at 10:45 p.m. Eastern. The game will be broadcast on ESPNU. You can see the official NCAA bracket here.
The match was scoreless midway into the second half when the Hoosiers found the back of the Irish net. Austin Panchot buried a header from two-yards out in the 64th minute to give the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead over Notre Dame. The goal was assisted by Andrew Gutman and Trevor Swartz.
WATCH ➡️ Austin Panchot gives the Hoosiers the lead! pic.twitter.com/Z4fyzEaael
— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IndianaMSOC) December 1, 2018
Indiana outshot Notre Dame 12 to 5, and had four shots on goal to Notre Dame’s two.
The match started with the teams feeling each other out. Indiana’s first shot of the match was a header from Justin Rennicks, that went wide left in the 19th minute. Things heated up from there, and this sequence had Hoosier fans holding their collective breath:
27' HUGE save from Trey Muse to keep the match scoreless. pic.twitter.com/C7sekCKr6K
— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IndianaMSOC) December 1, 2018
The shots were even at the half at four apiece, but the Hoosier attack picked up steam in the second period. With Indiana building momentum, a goal began to feel imminent, and then Gutman, Swartz and Panchot struck.
Notre Dame was never able to put together a serious threat the rest of the way and the celebration began in Bloomington.
GREATEST FANS IN THE COUNTRY! pic.twitter.com/QmLatYaw4n
— IU Hoosier Army (@HoosierArmy) December 1, 2018
Note: Midfielder Frankie Moore received his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will miss the first game of the College Cup.
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