No. 5 Billikens provide tough test

Two winning-rich soccer traditions clash tonight in Bloomington when the Hoosiers, winners of five consecutive matches, welcome the No. 5 St. Louis University Billikens into Armstrong Stadium. \nIn their last five games, IU (7-3-4, 4-0-1 Big Ten) has outscored their opponents 12-1, including four consecutive shutouts while upping their Big Ten lead to four points over Michigan. The Hoosiers last allowed a goal in the first half against Michigan on Oct. 5 -- totaling 433 consecutive shutout minutes.\nBut the shutout streak will be tested tonight as the high-powered Billikins (9-2-2, 4-2-1 Conference USA) enter tonight's tilt with three players in double-figured scoring, all of them freshmen.\n"I think it is a classic matchup of two very good young teams and this is the kind of game you want to play in and the kind of game you want to see," said IU coach Jerry Yeagley. "The talent is there (for St. Louis), similar to our team, but they found ways to win those close ones in the beginning when we found ways to not win them."\nThe Hoosiers have four games remaining in the regular season and tonight's match with Saint Louis begins a three-game run out of conference. IU concludes the Big Ten season and regular season against Penn State as on Nov. 8. \nIU holds a 15-7-3 advantage against Saint Louis in a series that dates back to 1975. The Billikens won the last meeting Sept. 5, 1999, in the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington. \n"Usually after a Sunday you take one day off but we didn't because we wanted to stay focused. We are really excited about this game," sophomore Drew Moor said. "At the end of the year they look at what ranked teams you beat. We have been focused all week and guys have been talking about it all week. Everyone is just really pumped up about it."\nWith just four remaining games, IU understands the impact each game has on its postseason aspirations. St. Louis is the highest-ranked team the Hoosiers will face in the regular season. \n"If we can play the kind of defense that we've been playing then I feel very good," Yeagley said. "It would be a great positive result for us. Now is the most important time of the season when you're playing top teams; right now things are on the line for a lot of teams." \nEven top-tier opponents have fallen on hard times at Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers own a 3-0-3 home mark and ride a 19-game home unbeaten streak. Three of IU's final four matches will be played in Bloomington. \n"I think it's a great time to play them since they are one of the better teams in the nation," freshman Kevin Robson said. "I definitely feel we are one of the best teams in the nation, and I think it will be a heavyweight battle that I think we should win."\n-- Contact staff writer Daniel Cohen at djcohen@indiana.edu.