The song seems the same every year, albeit with a slightly different tune.
The story’s been written before, and each freshly penned chapter brings familiarity. With two Big Ten matches remaining, No. 25 Indiana men’s soccer is in the midst of a four-game winning streak and on the cusp of a regular season title.
It faces No. 15 UCLA Friday night in Los Angeles, California, where a victory could –– at least for the time being –– propel the Hoosiers past No. 2 Maryland atop the conference table.
By now, the nearly month-long woes to begin the season feel like years in the past. Head coach Todd Yeagley hoped his squad could’ve performed better in that stretch. But he knows, perhaps better than anyone, scheduling tough early on pays off.
“We could start easier, and we would maybe get a false sense that we’re maybe farther along than we think,” Yeagley said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “Any coach would say you don’t want to be playing your best in the first two, three games of the season.”
Indiana, which a month ago appeared on the precipice of a disappointing season, certainly wasn’t maximizing its potential in the nonconference slate. A 2-0 loss to Saint Louis University on Aug. 23, a 1-1 draw with Butler University on Sept. 4 and a 2-0 loss to the University of Dayton on Sept. 9 stick out as particularly poor performances.
Just over a week after losing to Dayton, the Hoosiers settled for a 1-1 draw with the University of Evansville on Sept. 17. Both matches were at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Both matches felt like Indiana left points on the table.
It was around that time questions of urgency engrossed Yeagley’s squad. He’d pieced together drastic mid-season turnarounds in the past, but was this year different?
Since falling 1-0 to Maryland on Sept. 21, Indiana has yet to lose in its ensuing seven matches. It toppled two ranked foes in that span, and over the last four games, has outscored opponents 13-3.
Be it October magic or simply starting to capitalize more on the attack, the Hoosiers have evidently squashed those past concerns. By now, nine Indiana players have scored. Graduate forward Justin Weiss, the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, is finally finding the form Yeagley insisted would arrive.
As inconceivable as it may have seemed earlier in the season, the Hoosiers are in the thick of the Big Ten regular season title race. If they can extend their winning streak to five Friday night, they’ll inch one step closer.
“It helps a lot when you have leaders and older players that have been through seasons where the beginning wasn’t super easy,” Yeagley said. “They believe in the process, and they didn’t lose confidence.”
Meet the Bruins
For the first time since the Big Ten expanded to 18 teams, Indiana will be heading to the West Coast for a conference matchup.
Yeagley said the primary focus will be securing a crucial three points, but that isn’t to say the squad won’t enjoy the trip. They plan to eat dinner and spend time in Santa Monica, soaking up the sun and warm weather before returning to Bloomington for the final two matches of the regular season.
On the pitch, Indiana will certainly be challenged. Like the Hoosiers, the Bruins are unbeaten in the month of October, earning wins over then-No. 2 Ohio State and Rutgers in back-to-back contests.
Sophomore goalkeeper Wyatt Nelson earned his second consecutive Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Week honor for his efforts on the road against Rutgers and then-No. 6 Maryland last week.
In Yeagley’s scouting report of the Bruins, he said their fluidity was noteworthy. He likened UCLA to Michigan and Rutgers for their ability to seamlessly swap positions and wreak havoc.
“They’re unpredictable,” Yeagley said. “And that’s a tough thing. They have some guys that can individually break you down, but they also combine well. It’s a good team –– they have a lot of talent.”
UCLA’s attacking production is highly diversified, boasting 11 goal scorers this season. Graduate midfielder Edrey Caceres and redshirt senior forward Jose Contell pace the team with four goals apiece and figure to be the primary focus for Indiana’s backline.
Friday night’s match kicks off at 10:30 p.m. EST and will be televised on the Big Ten Network.
Follow reporters Matt Press (@MattPress23) and Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s soccer season.
