IU set to face Notre Dame in Indianapolis

This weekend the IU men’s soccer team will travel up to Indianapolis to take on in-state rival Notre Dame. \nAlthough the game will be played on neutral ground, it’s not the venue that will be a challenge for the Hoosiers – it’s the competition. \nNotre Dame’s roster touts this year’s Missouri Athletic Club Hermann trophy winner, junior forward Joseph Lapira. \nThe Hermann trophy is the most prestigious trophy awarded in college soccer to an individual player, with previous winners including IU’s own Todd Yeagley (1994) and Danny O’Rourke (2004). Lapira leads the NCAA in goals with 22, and racked up six assists last season. \nLapira has an impressive record against the Hoosiers. \nDuring last year’s 5-4 overtime IU loss to the Fighting Irish, Lapira scored four of the five goals, which included the game winner. Because of his scoring explosion, Lapira was awarded the offensive MVP of the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic.\nHowever, the Hoosiers may get off easy. \nLapira recently underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and it is unclear if he will take the field this weekend. IU coach Mike Freitag doesn’t like the idea of a less challenging game for his team.\n“I hope (Lapira is playing),” Freitag said. “We’d like to play against the college player of the year. We like those kinds of challenges.”\nThe teams will be facing off at Kuntz Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. \n“It doesn’t really matter where it’s at,” freshman forward Darren Yeagle said. “The game is always going to be a good battle.”\nThe Hoosiers last beat Notre Dame in 2005, 3-0, which included an unassisted goal by former IU standout Lee Nguyen, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands.