IU sports an 8-1 record heading into conference

For the past few years, it’s been the men’s soccer team that has received the majority of the attention at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

But this season, the women’s soccer team is off to a school record 8-1 start, and its play has earned it a No. 19 ranking in the country.

The Hoosiers first raised eyebrows early in the season when they had shut out their opponents for 600 consecutive minutes, dating back to last season.

They received more attention on a national level when they upset the then-No. 6 Florida Gators at home in a double-overtime thriller.

They’ve been the hottest team in the Great Lakes Region, apparent by their No. 1 ranking in the most recent poll heading into Big Ten play. Their efforts have been recognized by their opponents, and future opponents know that this year, the Hoosiers are trying to put themselves on the map.

Women’s soccer at IU became a varsity sport in 1993, and that same year, it posted the best winning percentage as well, going 12-6.

The Hoosiers are now on pace to shatter that record.

In 2007, the team got out to a 11-1-2 record in its first 14 games but ended up winning only two games in the next month, finishing 13-7-3.

That same 2007 team was a young group, as 22 of the 29 players on the team were freshmen or sophomores. In fact, 13 of those who helped the team advance to the third round of the NCAA tournament are on the team today.

This year, the Hoosiers have more of a balanced and diverse roster. There are 12 upperclassmen, and 14 freshmen and sophomores. The Hoosiers are also well-represented from around the world, with players from England, Canada and Colombia.

Historically, IU has always dominated at home.

From 2002 to 2008, IU is 39-16-6 overall in Bill Armstrong Stadium, and 19-11-5 against Big Ten opponents.

This year, they are 6-0 at home, and five of their 10 regular-season games left are going to be played at home.

The 2007 team went 9-1-1 at home, drawing another similarity between the 2007 team and the current Hoosiers.

To finish with a better regular season record than the 1993 team, the Hoosiers must go 6-4 for the remainder of the year.

Considering five of those games are at home, there’s a chance IU could finish with the best record in school history.