It happened again for Indiana.
For the third time in three games, the No. 7 Hoosiers conceded the opening goal of the game. Only this time, it came quickly.
In the match’s second minute, Green Bay striker Jack Album’s header was beautifully struck at the back post. Indiana goalkeeper Holden Brown had no chance.
Head coach Todd Yeagley called it “a gut punch.” The early deficit forced a change of plans to be more attacking minded, a difference noticeable in their uninspiring first 20 minutes. His squad came out slow. Again.
“When you go back and watch (the first 20 minutes),” Yeagley said, “no one had a poor first 20…but no one made the guy next to him better.”
Down a goal, needing to claw back. The Hoosiers had been here before.
The chances came in the first half. Three minutes after the goal, transfer forward Palmer Ault hit the post with a headed attempt. Collins Oduro struck the woodwork in the 23rd minute. The momentum was building — the Hoosiers were knocking on the door. But none of their 12 first-half shots would find the back of the net. The Phoenix led 1-0 at the break.
Still, Yeagley’s side wasn’t frustrated.
“No matter the scoreline, we’re always going to be in the game,” transfer forward Palmer Ault said.
It wouldn’t take long for Indiana to finally break the dam. Ault had his shot blocked at the top of the 18-yard box, only to get the ball right back. He took a heavy touch to his left — a touch too heavy for him, but perfectly weighted for Michael Nesci to curl his attempt around Green Bay goalkeeper Philip Oesterbaek, kissing off the far post and into the back of the net.
Indiana wasn’t satisfied with springing a leak, though. They wanted to open the floodgates, and 31 seconds later, Ault did just that.
“Once we got the first one, we knew we were going to get the second one,” he said.
The Butler transfer received the ball on the left flank. He squared up to take Phoenix defender Giovanni Cruz on 1-on-1 in the box, smoothly driving past him towards the end line, pushing an effort towards goal. His shot took a deflection — a big one — into the back of the net.
Just like that, the Hoosiers had the lead, one they wouldn’t surrender, walking away with the 2-1 victory.
It’s the third time in three games Yeagley’s side has needed to overcome a sluggish start to get a result. But the head coach doesn’t see an issue.
“I don’t see a problem or a trend,” he said of his team getting down early in games. “It’s three games we’ve trailed, I get that, but I don’t see this as a problem for this team.”
Indiana is 2-0-1 on the young season. The results have been positive despite the poor first half performances. As the Hoosiers know all too well, how you finish matters more. Their program’s history is evidence of that. Keeping in mind the importance of peaking late on will be paramount if the Hoosiers are to make a serious run for their ninth star.
But it’s still too early for the eye test to be a determining factor. Indiana’s still trying to figure out its identity. That quest to find out exactly who they are continues when Oregon State visits Bill Armstrong Stadium on Sunday for a 8 p.m. kickoff.
