Cal Poly Men’s Soccer faced its toughest test of the young season Friday night, losing 2-0 on the road against No. 6 Indiana. Despite the loss, the Mustangs (1-1-3) competed well against a strong Hoosier (4-0-1) side that entered the night unbeaten and had allowed very few goals.
Indiana instantly took control of the match, putting themselves on the scoreboard less than two minutes in. After an initial shot was blocked, forward Oliver Moller-Jensen quickly capitalized, putting the ball in the back of the net.
Later in the first half, the Mustangs appeared to have leveled the score, but the goal was ruled offside after an extended video review. Indiana doubled its lead in the 31st minute off a set piece, when Wes Carnevale headed home a corner kick.
Despite facing a 2-0 deficit, the Mustangs kept their foot on the gas, creating several quality chances and forcing Hoosier goalkeeper Michal Mroz to make difficult saves. Quinn Mahoney struck a shot that hit the right post with three minutes remaining in the first half.
The sense of urgency and fight presented by the Mustangs extended into the second half as they continued to put shots on goal, but were ultimately unable to break through against Indiana’s strong defensive unit. While Cal Poly didn’t earn the result they hoped for, the team showed their quality and ability to compete against a top team in the nation.
The Mustangs will look to bounce back Monday, Sept. 7, when they travel to LMU for a 7 p.m. matchup.