Indiana's Mihalic, Oduro Overwhelm Bowling Green in 3-1 Exhibition Victory
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Sam Sarver came so close.
But the junior’s point-blank shot was blocked in the first of four periods in Indiana’s exhibition Tuesday versus Bowling Green State at Grand Park. Then, in the second period, Sarver’s header at the far post didn’t have the required speed, and thus was booted out.
Indiana controlled the first two segments. The midfield-to-final third passing was solid, and the Hoosiers created chances, like the ones involving Sarver, which were each served up with passes by freshmen Collins Oduro and Alex Barger.
Indiana played with urgency, unlike last year.
Last August, Bowling Green blanked Indiana 1-0 in an exhibition also at Grand Park. On Tuesday against the same foe at the same venue, the Hoosiers poured on three goals in 60 minutes to beat Bowling Green 3-1 and improve to 2-0 in the preseason. Three reasons why: juniors Tommy Mihalic, Patrick McDonald, and Oduro.
Sure, the trio was active in Indiana’s preseason opener, a 1-0 victory last Friday at home against Wright State. In fact, Oduro was pesky and ran all over the place. But Mihalic and Oduro weren’t in that many scoring chances. Mihalic even lost his footing on one semi-open shot near the penalty marker in the 25th minute, missing wide.
On Tuesday, though, Mihalic and Oduro were lethal in the box, and they confidently dribbled like they knew they were invincible. Serving them up from the midfield was McDonald.
McDonald’s pass to Mihalic in the second period was flawless, truly splitting Bowling Green’s backline to where only the keeper was left. Rather than take it himself, Mihalic unselfishly found Sarver, again, lurking near the back post in the two-versus-one to begin the scoring right before halftime.
“We've asked (McDonald) to be more assertive going forward,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley, who missed Friday’s opener due to sickness, said after Tuesday's victory. “The ball to Tommy, two passes tonight, were fantastic. We need him to get some assisting goals. That was the challenge for him. I think if he he does that, I mean, we know Patty can be one of the top midfielders in the country.”
Exiting halftime, McDonald once more found Mihalic with an excellent, long through-ball. Mihalic won the footrace against an opposing defender whilst dribbling, then slotted his shot bottom right, making it look easy. Not long after, Mihalic snatched the ball away at midfield and found Oduro on the far side of the box, who cut with great control and fired on target for the freshman's first-collegiate goal.
Oduro blends in almost too well with the posse of experienced attackers like Mihalic, Sarver, Maouloune Goumballe and Karsen Henderlong, for it being only one week into his first college season. Likewise, the battle for the left-back spot is between freshmen Joel Demian and Barger, who both have held their own. Demian got his first minutes Tuesday night following an injury.
“Collins [Oduro] has been has been obviously a home run for us,” Yeagley said. “His athleticism as you can see, is special. His defensive work rate is what we look for. And obviously, when we looked and scouted, we saw those qualities and he is even farther ahead, obviously, with his defensive principles and his ability to kind of blend into what we're trying to do with our press. He's gonna be a big part of our attack this year."
To continue with the offensive theme of goal outbursts, the Hoosiers will play their final preseason exhibition against Louisville — which they shutout 4-0 in a spring exhibition — at Bill Armstrong Stadium at 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 18.
The Cardinals were among 12 teams receiving votes in the United Soccer Coaches Preseason Poll. Last year in the preseason, Indiana lost at Louisville 3-1. Before that, the Hoosiers lost 1-0 to Bowling Green, but they returned the favor Tuesday.