Defense crumbles once more as Michigan falls to Indiana

Coming off of its just second loss of the season, one thing is clear about the Michigan men’s soccer team: when it loses, it loses big. In its 5-0 shutout loss against Indiana, the Wolverines’ faltering defense came back once more after it conceded six goals against Ohio State two weeks ago. 

Coming into the game, the Wolverines’ defense faced an uphill battle. Not only was the unit facing one of the best offenses in the Big Ten, but an injury against Notre Dame left junior defender Nolan Miller out of the match entirely. Miller’s presence is a crucial component of the team’s defensive lineup as his energy and skill are present all across the field. 

“Nolan is a key piece to our group,” Michigan coach Chaka Daley said. “He’s not just a key piece in his ability to defend, but his ability to lead and his ability to direct, so not having him tonight certainly hurt us.”

Miller’s loss was most noticeable in the defense. Within five minutes of the game’s start, the Hoosiers already scored their first goal off of a corner kick. A combination of luck on Indiana’s part and a messy Wolverine defensive placement culminated in the first goal of the evening. The Hoosiers’ second goal was even more disheartening. The Indiana offense moved the ball around the Michigan defenders with ease, a theme carried throughout the game, leading to the goal. 

After the second goal, the Wolverines seemed newly invigorated, attempting to match Indiana’s aggression. However, it wasn’t enough. In fact, Michigan’s increased offensive push left its defense even more exposed.

While Indiana’s aggressively plowed through the Wolverines’ defense, its actual shots weren’t the most dangerous. But the Hoosiers’ imperfect shots were still enough against senior goalkeeper Hayden Evans, who did not record a single save for Michigan the entire night. 

Evans, coming off a shutout against the Fighting Irish, struggled to replicate that form again on Tuesday. His save attempts were poorly timed, even for shots that missed, and Indiana’s third goal of the night flew right past his fingertips.

But it wasn’t a singular player’s injury or performance that led to this loss. The Wolverines’ defense as a whole showed a lack of focus and the Hoosiers capitalized on that.

“I think we’re better when we defend with a little bit more desperation,” Daley said. “I think we know that we have to get back to that.”

He’s right, Michigan’s desperation was what lacked. Indiana, playing faster and more agile, weaved through the dejected seeming defense with ease, creating opportunity after opportunity until their shots stuck. Without that urgency, the Hoosiers were bound to keep exploiting their defensive lapses, ultimately pushing the game in their favor. 

Apart from its two losses, Michigan has only conceded nine goals across ten games, a noble record. Yet, this blowout is more than just one tally in the loss column-it exposes something greater. When the Michigan defense wavers, the team doesn’t just stumble, it falls.

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