IU men's soccer NCAA tournament run ends with OT loss to Washington in round of 16

IU’s run at a record-17th College Cup ended two wins short of the semifinal Saturday, as the Hoosiers fell 3-2 at Washington in a round-of-16 loss.

Twice, the Hoosiers took the lead in the game — once from a Victor Bezerra penalty and then again when Spencer Glass smashed home from a tight angle. But Washington answered the penalty with one of its own, then scored deep into the second half to force overtime. There, the No. 2 seed Huskies scored a game-winning goal in the 97th minute that ended the year for last season’s national runner-up.

The loss ends the careers of players like Glass and Bezerra, and could break up a core that has formed one of the stiffest defenses in Indiana’s recent history.

After a COVID-forced spring season saw the Hoosiers win both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles, and advance to the national title game where they lost to Marshall, Indiana could not replicate that success again in the fall. A national-title favorite before a ball was kicked, IU started the season slowly before finding its stride in October and November, but a fourth-straight Big Ten double proved out of reach.

Indiana secured a top-16 and a first-round bye, knocking out Bowling Green in the round of 32 before being eliminated at Washington on Saturday.

Follow IndyStar reporter Zach Osterman on Twitter: @ZachOsterman.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana men's soccer NCAA tournament run ends with OT loss to Washington