Indiana men’s soccer’s pronounced early season struggles evaporated once the calendar turned to October, akin to a Hollywood film that’s become a yearly occurrence for the team. The Hoosiers stormed on a seven-match winning streak, its attack obliterating opponents en route to a share of the program’s 19th Big Ten regular season title.
Head coach Todd Yeagley wasn’t surprised. Why would he be? His squads are consistently characterized by their mettle, by their ability to adapt and transform when a seemingly underwhelming season so desperately requires it.
This year, the adjustment wasn’t especially complex.
“I think really it’s the final third,” Yeagley said Monday afternoon. “A little more composure on our finish and better shot selection. Those are a few things that have flipped the switch for us a little bit.”
Thursday afternoon in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals against Michigan in Bridgeview, Illinois, Indiana reverted to its early season form, falling 1-0 in large part due to its attacking deficiencies. The Hoosiers only fired one shot on target compared to the Wolverines’ four, causing little discomfort for Michigan’s backline and sophomore goalkeeper Isaiah Goldson.
Since clinching the regular season crown and the No. 2 seed for the conference tournament, it’s been difficult to ignore Indiana’s postseason potential. One of the hottest teams in the country, the Hoosiers checked in at No. 6 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches poll.
Indiana’s recent form made an eighth consecutive trip to the Big Ten Tournament final feel almost inevitable. The mission Yeagley reaffirms each season is three trophies: a Big Ten regular season title, a conference tournament championship and an NCAA Tournament victory.
Yeagley said Monday the team was by no means glancing ahead.
“We’re not naive, we do know what we’ve done,” Yeagley said. “... It doesn’t mean anything. It doesn’t mean this team is gonna be handed it.”
Still, the attacking firepower from recent weeks was absent Thursday afternoon. Indiana’s backline held up well, but Michigan senior midfielder Jason Bucknor’s stunning first-half goal proved the decider, sending the Hoosiers home from tournament play earlier than most anticipated.
Whereas Indiana pieced together combinations in the final third and asked plenty of questions from opposing defenses throughout the winning streak, it was often stagnant against Michigan. Perhaps most surprisingly, one of the Hoosiers finest performances of the season came in a 5-0 stomping of the Wolverines on Oct. 15.
But this was different. Senior forward Tommy Mihalic — the Big Ten’s co-leading scorer with 10 goals — was stifled. Senior Sam Sarver and sophomore Collins Oduro attempted to wreak havoc from the wings, but their attempts were mostly futile.
In the 80th minute, sophomore forward Clay Murador curled a dangerous cross into the box that produced Indiana’s most promising chance of the match. It skipped past Sarver before finding a wide open Oduro, whose shot trickled just wide of the post.
Yeagley toyed with different lineups, bringing on freshmen Michael Nesci and Charlie Heuer in attempt to light a spark. Throughout October, everything seemed to break right. It wasn’t inconceivable to assume Indiana would resolve its struggles and find an equalizer, but it never came.
Graduate student forward Justin Weiss, who scored six goals in his final four matches of the regular season, only played 59 minutes and was held without a shot. Despite entering the tournament as a clear favorite for title contention, Indiana missed out on a chance for a second straight Big Ten double.
“No one wants to see Indiana keep winning,” Yeagley said. “I don’t think anyone’s rooting for us in the Big Ten. It’s just the way it is.”
Now, the Hoosiers wait. And wait. With the Big Ten Tournament championship match being played Nov. 17, Indiana turns its sights to the NCAA Tournament. The committee will reveal its selections on Nov. 18, providing bids for 23 automatic conference qualifiers and 25 at-large selections.
It’s entirely possible Indiana’s regular season resume proves worthy of a selection. With a swift end to their conference tournament hopes, the Hoosiers now aim to put their early struggles behind them for good.
Follow reporters Matt Press (@MattPress23) and Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s soccer season.
