Women's soccer team look to carry momentum into October as Big Ten play begins

The story line for the women’s soccer team in September has been to go out and find ways not to lose. With a record of 5-0-1 in September to date, they’re on a familiar track.\nLast September had the same story line, as the Hoosiers notched a record of 6-0-3 for the month. Unfortunately, October brought a plot twist worthy of a Stephen King novel that crippled their season. The Hoosiers started October last year 3-0-1 before a 1-0 loss to Northwestern. IU then lost four more one-goal games to finish their season, including a 2-1 lose to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament.\nWith Evansville coming to town Sunday, the Hoosiers have a chance to improve their record in September to 6-0-1 (6-1-1 on the season) with a win. After Evansville, IU will begin the Big Ten season and try to avoid the same outcome as last year.\n“Looking from last season when we lost our first game, it definitely sent us down the wrong path,” sophomore defender Kelly Lawrence said. “If we can get a good result against Evansville and get a bit of confidence for the team, we’ll be in good shape for the Big Ten.”\nEvansville will be the third straight in-state foe for the Hoosiers. IU topped Ball State at home Sunday and Butler on the road Wednesday. Senior defender Katy Stewart said that beating another Indiana team means more than other non-conference teams of the same caliber.\n“We are looking to come and just put them all away,” Stewart said. “We have had a little bit of a difficult time the last two games, so we are looking to come out right away and put them on their heels and show them what it means to play at Indiana.”\nThis weekend’s game does have a little more incentive for the squad. IU coach Mick Lyon played for Evansville and coached the Aces before coming to IU.\n“There is no doubt (an added incentive to beating Evansville),” Lyon said. “I’m not going to get beat by my alma mater, that’s for sure.”\nWith their strong month, the Hoosiers have climbed to eighth in the Great Lakes Region poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. They have also received votes for the national top 25 in the last two polls.\n“It is nice to get on a run, but unfortunately, you can break at the end of it,” Lyon said. “And last year, we had a brilliant run in the month of September, which is great when you can get in that kind of situation, no doubt about it. But we need to make sure we don’t get preoccupied by it like we did last year.”\nAfter the Aces, IU will open their Big Ten season next Friday at home against Northwestern, the same team who started last year’s misery. Lawrence said that conference play is when the real season for the Hoosiers starts.\n“Definitely, every game counts, (because) it helps toward the NCAA tournament,” Lawrence said. “But when it comes to Big Ten games, it really is the next level, and every game is more important than the last.”\nThe Hoosiers take on Evansville at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bill Armstrong Stadium.