September 17, 2018

Things didn't just go downhill for the Indiana Hoosiers last season.  More like down Mt. Everest with no brakes and no steering wheel.  Even though things settled down a bit toward the end, the boys from Bloomington were more than a little agreeable to putting 2017-18 behind them.

If the first weekend is any indication, the Hoosiers have indeed moved on.  Andrew Newman was tabbed to rebuild a program in disarray, and the new coach has the cream and crimson off to a solid start.

Indiana kicked off the 18-19 campaign against first-year program Maryville University.  The Saints drew first blood, but Matthew Herbst brought the score back to even halfway through the first frame.  Maryville took the lead once again early in the second, but unassisted tallies from John Cristiano and Jack Jordan erased the deficit and gave the Hoosiers their first lead of the game and season.

The Saints would strike with less than a minute left in period to knot the score at 3, and it would stay that way through the third and the bonus frame.  Maryville would pick up their first win in program history in the shootout, but not before surrendering a point to the visiting Hoosiers.

Game two was a different story, as Indiana was soundly in control from first whistle to last.  Everett Grimes netted the first two goals of the game, and while the Saints refused to go away quietly, they never could quite catch up.  Christian Schurmann-Colicchio picked up a goal and an assist, and Colan Fitzgerald and Matthew Herbst each chipped in a goal to pace the Hoosiers to a 5-2 victory.

Indiana is back on the road next weekend as they take on the Bradley Braves in Peoria, Illinois before returning to 'The Frank' on September 28/29 against Wright State.