For the 10th straight season, IU men’s soccer is in the Sweet 16.
Jansen Miller scored on a header in overtime to push the Hoosiers past Akron in Bloomington.
Collins Oduro found Miller for the game-winner on a right cross with less than a minute remaining in the extra session.
JANSEN MILLER WITH THE HEADER TO WIN IT!! 🤩@jansenmiller_ | #IUMS | 📺 ESPN+ x @NCAASoccer pic.twitter.com/4XTRHax2Np
— Indiana Men’s Soccer (@IndianaMSOC) November 24, 2024
Akron took a 1-0 lead into halftime. The Hoosiers tied things up in the second half when Justin Weiss scored. He was assisted by Patrick McDonald.
Indiana will face Denver in the round of 16. For the full 2024 NCAA bracket, GO HERE.
Here’s the full release from Indiana on the match:
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In recent years, NCAA Tournament golden goals poisoned Indiana men’s soccer. The Hoosiers faced “sudden death” in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020-21 and 2021 – twice in national championship matches.
Maybe 2024 is different.
The No. 14 national seed Hoosiers believe it can be, and Sunday (Nov. 24) on Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium, brought that belief to life, as senior defender Jansen Miller’s 100th-minute header sent IU to its 10th straight Sweet 16, extending the nation’s longest active streak.
Miller’s match-winner came as IU’s first favorable golden goal in the tournament since 2012, Indiana’s most recent championship season.
Indiana (11-4-5, 7-1-2 B1G) overcame a 1-0 deficit to defeat No. 13-ranked Akron (12-5-4, 7-0-1 BIG EAST) 2-1 in overtime in the NCAA Tournament Second Round. IU will travel to face No. 3 Denver on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET, Indiana’s NCAA-record 43rd appearance in the round of 16.
KEY MOMENTS
- 27’ –Senior goalkeeper JT Harms made a highlight-reel save to keep Akron off the board early. A shot to his right took a deflection to his left from eight yards out. Harms reacted quickly to dive to his left and push it away.
- 31’ –Akron kept the pressure on and converted from a corner as redshirt senior midfielder Victor Gaulmin’s cross found the head of classmate Dyson Clapier.
- 62’ –A header from freshman defender Josh Maher hit the crossbar early in the second half. The ball fell awkwardly to junior midfielder Jack Wagoner, and the keeper smothered his attempt trickling towards goal.
- 71’ –Moments after coming on as a sub, sophomore forward Collins Oduro won a header at midfield that found senior midfielder Patrick McDonald. McDonald quickly played it up to Justin Weiss ahead of the final defender, and the senior forward chipped the onrushing goalkeeper to tie the match.
- 100’ –After nine minutes of scoreless overtime, an Oduro curled cross floated above a crowd in the box. Miller leaped highest and headed it past the leaping keeper.
NOTABLES
- IU improved to 4-1-2 against ranked opponents this season. The Zips boasted national rankings from United Soccer Coaches (13) and Top Drawer Soccer (20). Head coach Todd Yeagley is 58-36-19 against ranked opponents since 2010.
- Sunday’s result marks Indiana’s second come-from-behind win of the season. On October 8, the Hoosiers recovered from a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat Kentucky 3-2.
- Miller’s winner was the second goal of his career and first since another game-winning header at Butler on September 14, 2022.
- Weiss seventh goal in his last six appearances came as his 25th-career goal, tying senior forward Samuel Sarver. Indiana is one of two programs with multiple active 25-career goal scorers on its roster (West Virginia; Marcus Caldeira and Sergio Ors Navarro). The score also came as Weiss’ first-career postseason goal in his first-career NCAA Tournament appearance.
- Indiana improved to 27-7-3 in the all-time series with Akron and has advanced or won six of eight tournament meetings against the Zips. The Hoosiers have never lost to the Zips at home, boasting a 16-0-2 record as the host.
UP NEXT
No. 3 national seed Denver will host the Hoosiers in the NCAA Tournament Third Round on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 4 p.m. ET.
