The Hoosier men’s soccer team has already faced three top-25 teams this season and still have a full Big Ten slate ahead of them.
After drawing with Maryland in the conference opener without its top defender, No. 3 IU will head north Wednesday to face Michigan for its first true road game of the year.
IU will welcome back junior defender Grant Lillard after he missed the contest against the Terrapins due to a one-game red card suspension. Despite the absence of Lillard, the Hoosier defense was able to hold the high-powered Maryland offense scoreless until the final three minutes and found positive results through different contributors on the pitch.
Sophomore Timmy Mehl made his first career start on the backline in place of Lillard and earned high praise from his teammates and IU Coach Todd Yeagley. Sophomore defender Andrew Gutman, with more of an attacking mindset without Lillard, fired off a season-high five shots.
“I feel confident on in whoever we put on the backline,” Gutman said. “Timmy Mehl came in for his first start, and he played like a veteran. Anyone we put back there it is just communication, and coach teaches us a lot of good things so I feel confident.”
IU also lost sophomore midfielder Francesco Moore late in the match against Maryland. With Moore squirming on the field in pain, he was removed, and the Terrapins found the back of the net just three minutes after.
Yeagley said that Moore is key on the Hoosier defense because he plugs holes in the middle of the field, is able to get on second balls extremely well and is another key piece that IU needs back in their starting lineup against Michigan.
“He’s just a smart player and is really important to us, so that hurt,” Yeagley said. “Without Frankie and Grant, it hurts us a little bit in that first and second ball, the ability to defend that once the ball goes a little bit long.”
With the way IU rallied without its top defender for more than 70 minutes against the defending national champions and the entire game against No. 4 team in the nation, there’s no reason to believe the Hoosiers won’t continue to do the same this week. The Wolverines are still winless after their first five games and have totaled just five goals on the season.
Michigan sophomore midfielder Francis Atuahene leads the team in goals scored with two in only three games this season. Michigan has had all but one of its games play into extra time, which magnifies the team’s lack of offense.
Although the competition isn’t going to be as vigorous as the previous three matchups, the Hoosiers said they know that they can’t overlook any team in the Big Ten.
“The Big Ten is one of the most physical conferences in the whole country,” senior goalkeeper Collin Webb said before the conference season. “Every game is a battle so if you’re not having a good technical day, teams can just muck it up maybe grind out a result.”
