No. 5 Indiana stays unbeaten with 1-0 Big Ten road win over Michigan

Written from press release and box score

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Stephane Njike scored his first goal for Indiana in the 65th minute Friday night as the No. 5 Hoosiers opened Big Ten Conference play with a 1-0 victory over Michigan at U-M Soccer Stadium.

Indiana improved to 6-0-1 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten play while earning its first road victory of the season. Michigan fell to 2-2-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference. 

Njike, a transfer from Maryland, created the game’s only goal himself. He took the ball from a Michigan player, carried it toward the penalty area and beat another defender before driving a low shot from about 25 yards into the side netting at 64:48. He followed the goal with a handspring and five backflips before joining his teammates in the corner. 

The goal was Njike’s sixth of his college career and his fifth game-winner in Big Ten play. He finished with three shots, including two on goal. 

Michigan nearly answered three minutes later after Indiana conceded a free kick about 30 yards from goal. Joao Paulo Ramos curled a shot toward the upper corner, but Indiana goalkeeper Michal Mroz leaped to his left and pushed the ball over the crossbar. 

Mroz finished with one save as Indiana recorded its fourth shutout in seven matches. The Hoosiers have allowed just three goals this season, an average of 0.43 per match. 

Indiana controlled much of the match statistically, outshooting Michigan 11-6 and putting three shots on goal compared with one for the Wolverines. Oliver Moller-Jensen led Indiana with four shots, while Njike had three. Both teams finished with two corner kicks. 

Njike also had one of Indiana’s better chances in the first half, cutting inside from the left in the 26th minute before Michigan goalkeeper Alen Bean made a diving save. Moller-Jensen nearly broke through in the 63rd minute, but two Michigan defenders recovered in time to deflect his attempt before Njike scored less than two minutes later. 

The victory improved Indiana to 26-6-5 all-time against Michigan and snapped a two-match losing streak to the Wolverines. 

A crowd of 2,382 attended the match in Ann Arbor. 

Indiana returns home Friday, Sept. 18, for its Big Ten home opener against defending national champion Washington at Bill Armstrong Stadium. 

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