IU Coach Todd Yeagley said he feels his team will remain unaffected.
“I’m not concerned about going on the road,” Yeagley said. “In some ways I think they like the hostile environment on the road.”
The atmosphere at Lynn Stadium in Louisville, Ky., will be unlike any No. 16 IU has experienced thus far.
IU’s first two games away from Bloomington this season were neutral site games at a tournament in Notre Dame, Ind., where Hoosiers fans held the advantage over their ?opponents.
IU’s third match away from home came at Rutgers, where IU played in front of 1,246.
The average attendance at Lynn Stadium this season is 4,038, the highest in the country.
“We know it’s going to be a great atmosphere,” IU senior Patrick Doody said.
One reason for the large crowds could be that the team on the field is one of the best in the country.
Louisville is ranked No. 9 in the country and has been ranked as high as No. 2.
“They’re very deserving of their top RPI,” Yeagley said. “Both their losses last week were both very against the flow after watching both games.”
Those two losses came against Ohio State and North Carolina State. Both were by a single goal.
The two games also saw Louisville struggle to score for the first time this season. The Cardinals have scored 16 times this season, led by junior Ricardo Velazco’s four goals. Velazco is also tied for the team lead with three assists.
While Louisville may be enduring a scoring drought, IU is experiencing a flood.
IU has scored 10 of its 14 goals this season in its past four matches. This has been because of an increase in shots on target.
In that four game stretch, IU put 51 percent of its shots on frame whereas in the six matches before, IU only managed to get 26 percent of its shots on frame.
“Obviously it’s been a long time coming — there’s been some droughts,” IU junior Andrew Oliver said. “I think it just goes to show that we’re pretty persistent offensively. We do create chances every game without a doubt.”
While IU has upped its scoring tally as a team, Oliver has yet to put his name on the score sheet this season. This is despite Oliver being much more dangerous in and around the 18 yard box in the past few matches.
“It’s been a disappointment in some of these games,” Oliver said. “I’m trying to keep my head up, work my butt off and create chances.”
It’s good that IU’s attack has increased its output the past few games because its previously stalwart back line has allowed five goals in the past four games. IU only allowed two goals in its first six matches this season.
Despite the increase in goals allowed, Yeagley said he is still pleased with his defense’s effort, crediting the opposition with the goals that have been scored.
“I love our team defending,” Yeagley said. “The goals we’re giving up don’t happen every game. We’re not giving up high percentage goals.”
Even though IU has found success in recent matches without keeping its opponents off the board and Louisville has struggled to score that past two games, Yeagley said he feels his defense will need a top level performance ?Tuesday.
“The mindset hasn’t changed,” Yeagley said. “The shutout is important and good team defending is important.”
