Indiana University Football Hosts Western Illinois for Friday Night Lights at Memorial Stadium
For the third straight Season the Indiana Hoosiers are playing a Friday Night Football game at Home as the Western Illinois Leathernecks come to Memorial Stadium for a 7 PM kickoff with the game televised on the Big Ten Network. This will be the 7th time that the Hoosiers have played in a Friday Night. Indiana is 17-1 all time against Football Championship Subdivision teams since 1978 and looking for their 15th consecutive victory against an FCS Team. The Hoosiers beat Indiana State 41-7 on September 8, 2023, and Illinois 23-20 on September 2, 2022, in the last two Friday Night games at Memorial Stadium.
Indiana is 1-0 on the season after a 31-7 win over Florida International last Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Head Coach Curt Cignetti became the 15th Head Coach in program history to win his first game. This was the first time since 2015 that the Hoosiers have opened the season with a non-conference home game and improved to 26-3 since 1953. Indiana had 234 rushing yards which was most since November 19, 2022, at Michigan State. Ty Son Lawton rushed for 2 touchdowns giving him his sixth multi-touchdown game of his career and at least one multi-touchdown game at all three schools he has attended. Lawton started at Stony Brook and played there from 2019-22 before joining Cignetti at James Madison for the 2023 season and then following him to Indiana in 2024.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke had a solid debut for the Hoosiers completing 15 of his 24 passes for 180 Yards and a touchdown pass and did not throw an interception. Rourke was sacked twice and had couple fumbles that he recovered but the Hoosiers Offense did not have turnover in the game. Tight End Zach Horton caught the first touchdown pass of the season. Elijah Green had a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter and Kicker Nicolas Radicic had a Field Goal and four extra points as the Hoosiers racked up 414 yards of offense. The Hoosiers defense held Florida International 182 Yards total offense. Indiana had 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and 1 interception and shutout FIU in the second half as they scored their only touchdown of the game with 4:05 left in the second quarter.
Western Illinois lost at Northern Illinois 54-15 last Saturday afternoon as Huskies led 34-3 at halftime after scoring 28 second quarter points. Quarterback Nathan Lamb was 17-29 passing for 204 yards and 1 touchdown pass. Lamb is 6-3 230 Pound Senior from Tulare, California and did not throw an interception and was sacked one time. The Leathernecks ran the ball 29 times for 104 yards against the Huskies. Eight receivers caught a pass from Lamb led by Tristan Duncan with 5 catches for 68 yards. Senior Torrance Farmer Jr. Caught Lamb’s 27-yard touchdown pass with 2:59 left in the game. Antonio Chadha hit two field goals from 44 and 46 yards out and Fredrick Greenhoward returned an NIU point after attempt for 2 points after it was blocked. Western Illinois defense gave up 706 yards total Northern Illinois and had 298 yards of total offense with 17 first downs. This will be the first ever meeting between Western Illinois and Indiana. The Leathernecks have just one Indiana Native on the roster with Freshman Running Back Ethan Bryce from Mishawaka. Head Coach Joe Davis is in his first season as Head Coach after spending the last two seasons as the Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach at Eastern Illinois. Davis is a native of Brighton, Michigan and played at Adrian College in Michigan graduating in 2002 and a master’s degree from Wayne State in 2005.
All Three Monroe County Teams Home for Week 3 of High School Football
Week 3 of the High School Football will see all three Monroe County Teams home for the first time in the same week as Bloomington South welcomes in Terre Haute North, Bloomington North faces Terre Haute South and Edgewood battles Cascade. The Edgewood game will kickoff at 7 PM while both Bloomington Schools will kickoff at 7:30 PM this evening. Both Bloomington Schools open Conference Indiana Play while Edgewood faces it’s third and final Non-Conference opponent of the season.
Bloomington South is 1-1 on the season after losing at Martinsville 41-35 last Friday and Saturday in a game that was delayed by weather. The Panthers mounted a comeback Saturday Morning after trailing Friday Night only to fall in the final seconds to the Artesians. The Panthers are averaging 31.5 points on offense and giving up 23.5 points on defense. Terre Haute North is 1-1 after a 36-32 home win to Mooresville last week after dropping a 34-20 road contest at Northview in week 1. The win was the first for second year head coach Michael Ghant who went 0-10 a season ago. Terre Haute North has not beaten Bloomington South since October 4, 2013, 51-47 at Bloomington South as the Panthers have won 12 in a row including 2 postseason matchups.
Bloomington North is 1-1 after a 45-0 win at Bedford North Lawrence Last Friday Night as the weather missed Bedford, and the game was able to be completed without delay. First Year Head Coach Anthony Lindsey makes his home debut as the Cougars are averaging 36 points per game on offense and giving up 15 points on defense. Terre Haute South lost at Plainfield 31-27 in Week 1 and were to play Floyd Central last week and it was canceled on Saturday due to Transportation Issues for Terre Haute South. Head Coach Tim Herrin is in his 12th year with a 40-76 record. Bloomington North won this game last year 38-28 in Terre Haute and the Braves won the 2022 matchup 34-20 at Bloomington North.
Edgewood is home for the second week in a row after a 22-3 loss to Washington last Friday and Saturday Night. The Mustangs were ahead 3-0 at halftime when weather delayed the game to Saturday Evening and the Hatches scored 22 points to send Edgewood to a 1-1 record. The Mustangs are averaging 22 points on offense and giving up 14 points on defense. Cascade comes into the Mustang Corral with a 2-0 record after a 42-22 home win over North Montgomery last week and 21-18 win at Indian Creek in Week 1. The Cadets average 31.5 points on offense and give up 20 points on defense. Connor Simmons is in his fifth year at Cascade with a 20-25 record. Cascade dominated Edgewood 63-2 last year at home in the first regular season meeting since 2018.
Indiana University Women’s Soccer Dominates Evansville 5-0
The Indiana Hoosiers dominated the Evansville Purple Aces 5-0 Thursday Night in a instate Women’s Soccer battle at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers are 4-0-1 on the season and will host Division III Lawrence University from Appleton, Wisconsin Sunday afternoon at 1pm. The Purple Aces are 1-3-1 on the season and will host Tennessee-Martin Next Thursday Night. The Hoosiers have scored 15 goals this season and have given up just 2 goals this season. Evansville has scored 3 goals on the season and have given up 13 goals through 5 games. Indiana leads the all-time series 7-1-1 and the Hoosiers have not lost to the Purple Aces since a 2-1 overtime in Evansville on October 30, 1994, which was the very first meeting between these two teams as the Hoosiers are 4-0-1 against Evansville in Bloomington with the teams battling to a 2-2 draw on August 29, 2011.
The Hoosiers attacked early and often getting their first shot on goal 46 seconds into the match on a shot by Layla Sirdah. 14 seconds later Elle Britt had shot that was off target. The Hoosiers had 3 shots 3 minutes and 32 seconds into the match. Sirdah scored her second goal of the season when a miscue by the Evansville Defense left the Freshman all alone up the left side with a good run and was able to dance around the Purple Aces getting in front of the goal going bottom right of the goal off her right foot at the 4:31 mark. Indiana got the second goal at the 7:16 mark when Elle Britt got control of the ball and launched a floater that Evansville Goalkeeper Myia Danek had no chance of saving sneaking in top right corner of the goal at the 7:16 mark to make it 2-0 Hoosiers which is what Indiana Head Coach Erwin van Bennekom wants to see in each and every match. “I felt their energy and saw it in warmups and knew that the goals would come” Erwin van Bennekom said after the match. Britt got her second goal of the match at the 26:19 mark outside the box going bottom center of goal and off her right foot as Layla Sirdah gets her 4th assist of the season. “I saw an open net on the first goal, and I had to take the chance” Elle Britt said after the match “you don’t score goals if you don’t take the change” Britt added. The Hoosiers sat on the lead for the rest of the half going into the locker room up 3-0 and dominating the first half stat sheet outshooting Evansville 16-1 and 6-0 shots on goal. Evansville Goalkeeper Myia Danek made 3 saves and Indiana Goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg did not make a save. Indiana was called for 6 fouls and the Purple Aces had 4 fouls. Indiana had 6 corner kicks and Evansville did not have any and neither team was called for offsides. Evansville’s only shot came at the 27:29 by Ella Hamner.
In the second half Indiana continued to attack the goal and broke through with a fourth goal at the 56:02 mark when Lauren Costello scored her first goal of the season with Sirdah getting her second assist of the game and 5th assist of the season along with Avery Snead getting her first assist of the season. The Hoosiers added a fifth goal when Natasha Kim sent a ball across the box and Avery Snead put it home for her second goal of the season. The Hoosiers outshot Evansville 18-3 and 12-2 shots on goal. Myia Danek made 8 saves between the pipes for the Purple Aces and was replaced by Elke Travis had the 74:28 mark and made 2 saves. Indiana had 5 fouls and Evansville had 7 fouls. Indiana had 5 corner kicks and Evansville did not have a corner kick and neither team was called for offsides. For the game Indiana outshot Evansville 34-4 with 17-2 shots on goal. Myia Danek made 10 saves for Evansville. Indiana Goalkeeper Jamie Gerstenberg made 2 saves picking up her third shutout of the season and school record 28th career shutout and 26th career win which is third all-time and just four wins away from tying former teammate Bethany Kopel had had 30 wins from 2017-22. Indiana had 11 fouls and Evansville 11 fouls. Indiana had 11 corner kicks and Evansville did not have corner kick. Both teams used their benches as the Hoosiers used 22 players and the Purple Aces used 21 players.
Cailtin Clark’s Triple Double leads the Indiana Fever to its Fifth Straight Win
After clinching a spot in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs late Tuesday night, the Indiana Fever (18-16) opened up its six-game homestand in a 93-86 victory against the Los Angeles Sparks on Wednesday night. Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark, who was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month and WNBA Rookie of the Month earlier today, finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for her second career triple double. Clark became the sixth player in WNBA history with multiple triple-doubles and also passed Dallas Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale for third on the WNBA all-time rookie points list with 641. Heading into Friday, Clark is tied with Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell for the most made 3-point field goals in a season in franchise history with 102.
Fever center Aliyah Boston also led Indiana with 24 points on 10-of-16 field goal shooting, a game-high 14 rebounds and four assists, marking her 12th double-double of the season and the 23rd of her career. Boston has distributed at least four assists in six of her last eight games. Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell’s franchise record of seven consecutive games scoring at least 20 points came to an end on Wednesday after recording 18 points on 8-of-18 shooting, four rebounds and two assists to help seal the win. Fever forward NaLyssa Smith tallied 13 points, four rebounds and tied a career-high in blocks with three on Wednesday. Boston recorded six of her 14 rebounds in the first quarter alone as Indiana went on a 10-0 run for almost two minutes to lead 23-19 going into the second quarter. In the second quarter, the Sparks went on a 22-8 run from the end of the first quarter for nearly two minutes and went into halftime leading, 48-47. The score was tied up, 55-55, midway through the third quarter, but a made 3-point field goal followed by a steal converted for a layup from Clark put Indiana up 60-55, sparking a 13-5 Indiana run. Indiana outscored Los Angeles 46-38 in the second half, outrebounded the Sparks, 40-28, and recorded more paint points, 46-40. Former Indiana Hoosier Grace Berger did not play.
Five Sparks (7-26) players still scored in double figures despite the loss, led by guard Odyssey Sims’ 20 points on 7-of-13 field goal shooting. Sparks forwards Dearica Hamby and Rae Burrell both added 16 points. Burrell came off the bench and shot 6-of-10 from the floor. Burrell and Hamby both combined for nine rebounds, eight assists and five steals as well. Sparks guard Kia Nurse and center Azurá Stevens both recorded 13 points, and Stevens pulled down a team-best 11 rebounds. Los Angeles outscored Indiana in bench points, 32-10, and fast break points, 13-9. The Fever stay at home for tonight’s matchup against the Minnesota Lynx at 7:30pm and tonight’s game will broadcast on ION.
Indiana University Men’s Soccer and Butler Draw in Indianapolis
No. 9-ranked Indiana men’s soccer (1-1-2) battled Butler (2-0-2) to a 1-1 draw Wednesday (Sept. 4) night at the Sellick Bowl. Indiana scored first thanks to a rocket off the left foot of senior midfielder Patrick McDonald. IU missed a chance to go 2-0 up from the penalty spot, and Butler capitalized after sustained pressure in the second half to equalize in the 65th minute. In the 12th Minute Forward Tommy Mihalic attracted a swarm of defenders in the box and laid it off to McDonald outside the box. McDonald took a first-time, left-footed swing and hammered it into the top corner to give IU the lead. 14 Minutes later a hand ball call in the box on a shot from sophomore forward Collins Oduro gave Indiana a penalty opportunity. After scoring from the spot Sunday, Mihalic stepped up again. The senior tried to coolly chip his try over the diving goalkeeper, but his attempt sailed high.
12 Minutes into the second half Butler gained some steam in the second half, leading to a free kick from 25 yards out and a yellow card against IU. The attempt came on goal, but senior goalkeeper JT Harms smothered it easily. In the 65th minute Butler finally broke through as a ball leaked past IU’s back-line. Sophomore defender Alex Barger tried to shield in the box and earn a foul, but Butler sophomore forward Ryan Hannosh got around him and finished the one-on-one opportunity with Harms. Two minutes later off a corner, a shot from junior defender Quinton Elliot forced a diving save.
Indiana moved to 27-5-5 in the all-time series with Butler. The Hoosiers are undefeated, by record, in their last 14 matches against teams for the state of Indiana, with a 10-0-4 mark in that span. Redshirt sophomore Seth Stewart made his first career start Wednesday night after making his first appearance since 2022 on Sunday. Redshirt freshman Luke Reidell made his collegiate debut, coming into the match in the 32nd minute. With his assist, Mihalic has recorded four goal contributions (three goals, one assist) in three games. McDonald scored his first goal of the season, No. 7 of his career. Indiana returns home to host Dayton on Monday (Sept. 9) at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. Fans can purchase tickets here.
Dr. Allison Barber steps down as President of the Indiana Fever
Allison Barber announced Wednesday, she is stepping down from her role as President of the Indiana Fever at the end of the season. Barber, who has held that position since 2019, will help lead the development of the Marvella Project, a new effort to empower girls and women in Indiana through sports. Barber joined the Fever in 2019 after working as chancellor of WGU Indiana. She previously served as deputy assistant secretary of defense and special detail to the Office of Global Communications during part of the George W. Bush administration.
Statement from Mel Raines, Pacers Sports & Entertainment Chief Executive Officer. “Allison has been a tremendous leader for the Indiana Fever over the last six seasons. We are grateful for her dedication and look forward to watching the positive impact she will continue to have during her next chapter.”
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