Hoosiers look to snap skid against in-state rival Purdue, Illinois

The IU women’s soccer team will return home this weekend, enjoying the comforts of Bloomington for the first time since Sept. 28. The Hoosiers (5-10-0, 0-6) have been on the road the last four games, narrowly losing each game by a one-goal deficit.

“I think the kids are going to be excited to get back on their pitch,” IU coach Mick Lyon said. “You know, with short, fast grass, instead of this thick, mush stuff they have up north, that’s definitely going to be to our benefit.”

This weekend’s games don’t get any easier for the Hoosiers, as they play at 7:30 p.m Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium against in-state rival and Big Ten leader Purdue (10-4-2, 4-1-1). The Hoosiers will then take on Illinois (9-6-0, 3-3-0) at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Besides the rivalry that these teams have built, there will be another interesting matchup to watch between two women who have no Indiana ties. Freshman defender Kirsta Kellin from Arizona will be playing against a former teammate from her club team when the Hoosiers take on Purdue.

“I personally have a friend – one of my teammates is on Purdue – so I want to kill them,” Kellin said. “She (Kellie Phillips) played with me on Sereno for two or three years, so it’s a big rival.

“I’m really excited for this game. Our Big Ten record hasn’t shown what we can do, and hopefully this game will prove that all wrong.”

Currently on a six-game losing streak, the Hoosiers say they believe a win against Purdue would be a big deal. Still, Lyon said he doesn’t care who the opponent is, he’s just looking for a win.

“It would be fairly big,” Lyon said. “I don’t care who’s coming to town, we’re coming out here on this pitch and we are going to score and we are going to win. That’s the only mind-set that I have.”

For a team that had high hopes coming into the conference season, an 0-6 start thus far is something no one expected. However, one thing Lyon and players say about this team is that unity is carrying this team through their current rough patch.

“The one thing I love about this team is the team dynamic,” said junior defender Kelly Lawrence. “We always stick together, there is no blaming. We just get on with it and go to the next game and fight again.”

Kellin said she agrees with Lawrence’s assessment of the team being supportive.
“We are a team,” she said. “We are really together, and the coaches help a lot. When something goes wrong, we always pick each other up. It’s a long season and so many things could happen.”

Lyon said this Hoosier team is one of his all-time favorites.

“Even after last weekend’s games, I told them this is one of the best teams I have ever coached because of their character and their attitude,” he said. “I’ve never seen one player dropping their head or pointing a finger. They are all stepping up asking what can I do, and you can’t ask for more than that.”