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 The last time the University of Wisconsin men's soccer team beat Indiana, most of the current Badger players were toddlers.
But they're all grown up now and helping the UW program continue to develop. They made their biggest statement yet Sunday afternoon.
Tomislav Zadro and Nick Janus scored and Max Jentsch (Hartland Arrowhead) saved a penalty kick as the Badgers knocked off the sixth-ranked Hoosiers 2-0 in a Big Ten Conference match watched by 1,194 fans at the McClimon Complex, their first win in the series since 1995.
UW (5-3-2 overall, 1-0-0 Big Ten) extended its unbeaten streak to five games and ended a run of 19 consecutive matches without a win against Indiana (0-17-2). The Hoosiers lead the all-time series 34-4-5, but the Badgers have earned a win and two draws in the past five years.
"Any time you beat Indiana, it's big," UW coach John Trask said in a postgame interview. (Video below)
Trask, a former Indiana player, was an assistant for the Hoosiers back on Oct. 13, 1995, when the Badgers also posted a 2-0 victory at McClimon for their most recent previous victory in the series. That UW team went on to win the program's only national championship, but the Badgers haven't qualified for the NCAA tournament since.
"It's nice to see Wisconsin after all these years beat Indiana again up here at McClimon," said Trask, whose team tied the Hoosiers 1-1 last fall in Bloomington.
Zadro's goal in the 54th minute not only ended Indiana's 393-minute scoreless streak, but it also marked the first time the Hoosiers (6-1-2, 1-1-0) – led by former UW coach Todd Yeagley – have trailed this season.
The sequence started with Zadro serving in a corner kick that Janus headed off the crossbar. The ball bounced back out to Zadro on the left side and the junior midfielder slotted a shot past Indiana goalkeeper Luis Soffner for his third goal of the season – Zadro has recorded a goal or an assist in eight straight matches.
Indiana had a prime opportunity to pull even in the 61st when Jacob Bushue was taken down in the box, but Jentsch went down to his right to deny Harrison Petts on the ensuing penalty kick. The Badgers haven't lost this season with Jentsch in goal, as he's played each of the past five matches (3-0-2).
UW added an insurance goal in the 79th as freshman center back A.J. Cochran headed a ball to Janus, who finished on the right side for his second goal of the season. It's the third straight match in which Cochran has registered a goal or an assist.
"We defended well, I thought we attacked well in moments and in the critical moments – which we talk about all the time – the guys stepped up to the plate," Trask said. "Nick Janus' goal and Tomislav's goal were two very well-taken opportunities. It's a players' game and the guys showed it today. They played with a lot of heart, a lot of desire."
Asked what the win meant for the program, Trask said: "That we're maturing. I told the guys on the bench, 'We're not going celebrate this, this isn't a win-one-for the-Gipper mentality.' We expect to be successful. We've got five wins now, three losses, two ties. I think that's not as flattering of a record as it could be, but we're trying to set new norms."
Another test lies ahead Wednesday night, as second-ranked Creighton visits McClimon for a non-conference match. The Bluejays (8-1-0) suffered their first loss of the season Friday, falling 1-0 to No. 3 Maryland – the goal by the Terrapins was the first allowed by Creighton, who have outscored foes 17-1.
Senior forward Ethan Finlay (Marshfield) and junior midfielder Andrew Ribeiro (Green Bay Notre Dame) have started every match for the Bluejays. Finlay leads the team with six goals and four assists, while Ribeiro has added two goals.
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