Indiana University Athletics
“Locked In” Lillard Jump Starts IU’s NCAA Tourney Run
11/20/2017 4:27:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It's not about goals. Not for Grant Lillard. Not at this stage of his Indiana soccer career.
Winning matters most, and if that means letting others get the scoring glory, so be it.
Except on a cold and windy Sunday afternoon, Lillard got the game-winning goal, glory and the satisfaction of knowing the Hoosiers are primed for a NCAA title run.
For the record, IU swarmed Old Dominion 3-0 with its usual shot domination and give-up-nothing defense to advance to the Round of 16 against New Hampshire (13-3-5) in a Saturday night game at Armstrong Stadium. New Hampshire advanced past Dartmouth 4-1 in a PK shootout on Sunday.
Lillard scored off a restart with 10 minutes left in the first half, a senior statement from one of the nation's best players, and if it was just his second goal of the season (he has 14 for his career) nobody is sweating it.
That starts with coach Todd Yeagley.
"Grant brings a lot to our team," Yeagley said. "We know when it comes to big moments, to game day, he has a different edge to him.
"He was locked in. He never lost focus. He really wants to make a deep run at this."
Few teams look better prepared to make a deep run than the second-seed Hoosiers (16-0-5), who recorded their 17th shutout of the season.
"It comes into preparation," Lillard said. "It's how you take care of your bodies. How you train every day. It's maintain the focus. This group does that. We're doing the little things well. Keep the focus on that, and focus on the big picture when it comes."
IU also got goals from freshman Mason Toye three minutes into the second half, and junior Austin Panchot 14 minutes later.
Toye continues to play beyond his years (he leads IU with 10 goals), which doesn't make him immune to hard coaching. A less than efficient start sent him to the bench late in the first half (Justin Rennicks replaced him).
"Mason didn't have a great first half," Yeagley said. "We say we can't wait and let him play it out. We had to get someone in to give us something. Justin gave us a nice spark that last part of the first half. I challenged Mason at halftime. He responded. He's a competitor."
Toye's second-half play (he had the assist on Panchot's goal) reflects the contribution of a strong freshman class.
"Our team is a lot better than we were in late September," Yeagley said, "and largely it's the freshmen."
IU was playing its first game of the tourney. Old Dominion (13-6-2) had beaten NC State, 2-0, three days earlier for its fifth-straight shutout victory.
None of that fazed the Hoosiers.
"I love the youth and experienced we have," Yeagley said. "Typically, seniors are a little tight in this game. The end is so close. There is no next year. That can make a team anxious. Our youth can help balance that out."
Added Lillard: "It was nice to start off the tournament with a convincing win. The first half wasn't the best soccer for us, but we still managed to find a goal off a restart.
"Getting a goal early in the second half opened up the game a lot for us. We were able to establish a rhythm. We played with confidence."
It's easy to be confident when you know one goal will likely win the game. IU has allowed just four goals all season.
"When we get a goal," Panchot said, "it forces the other team to come out of its shell.
"We're always confident in our defense so when the other team has to come out, we can excel more offensively."
Regardless of the score, Toye said, the Hoosiers will continue to push an attacking offense that leads the nation in shots.
"We know as we get deeper in the tournament that, we love 1-0 wins, but if we can get more goals and get more of a cushion, we like that. "We don't just sit back and defend and not try to get another goal."
The victory gave Yeagley 100 for his IU career.
"It's nice milestone. It means we have good players. If you coach long enough, you hope to get more wins."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – It's not about goals. Not for Grant Lillard. Not at this stage of his Indiana soccer career.
Winning matters most, and if that means letting others get the scoring glory, so be it.
Except on a cold and windy Sunday afternoon, Lillard got the game-winning goal, glory and the satisfaction of knowing the Hoosiers are primed for a NCAA title run.
For the record, IU swarmed Old Dominion 3-0 with its usual shot domination and give-up-nothing defense to advance to the Round of 16 against New Hampshire (13-3-5) in a Saturday night game at Armstrong Stadium. New Hampshire advanced past Dartmouth 4-1 in a PK shootout on Sunday.
Lillard scored off a restart with 10 minutes left in the first half, a senior statement from one of the nation's best players, and if it was just his second goal of the season (he has 14 for his career) nobody is sweating it.
That starts with coach Todd Yeagley.
"Grant brings a lot to our team," Yeagley said. "We know when it comes to big moments, to game day, he has a different edge to him.
"He was locked in. He never lost focus. He really wants to make a deep run at this."
Few teams look better prepared to make a deep run than the second-seed Hoosiers (16-0-5), who recorded their 17th shutout of the season.
"It comes into preparation," Lillard said. "It's how you take care of your bodies. How you train every day. It's maintain the focus. This group does that. We're doing the little things well. Keep the focus on that, and focus on the big picture when it comes."
IU also got goals from freshman Mason Toye three minutes into the second half, and junior Austin Panchot 14 minutes later.
Toye continues to play beyond his years (he leads IU with 10 goals), which doesn't make him immune to hard coaching. A less than efficient start sent him to the bench late in the first half (Justin Rennicks replaced him).
"Mason didn't have a great first half," Yeagley said. "We say we can't wait and let him play it out. We had to get someone in to give us something. Justin gave us a nice spark that last part of the first half. I challenged Mason at halftime. He responded. He's a competitor."
Toye's second-half play (he had the assist on Panchot's goal) reflects the contribution of a strong freshman class.
"Our team is a lot better than we were in late September," Yeagley said, "and largely it's the freshmen."
IU was playing its first game of the tourney. Old Dominion (13-6-2) had beaten NC State, 2-0, three days earlier for its fifth-straight shutout victory.
None of that fazed the Hoosiers.
"I love the youth and experienced we have," Yeagley said. "Typically, seniors are a little tight in this game. The end is so close. There is no next year. That can make a team anxious. Our youth can help balance that out."
Added Lillard: "It was nice to start off the tournament with a convincing win. The first half wasn't the best soccer for us, but we still managed to find a goal off a restart.
"Getting a goal early in the second half opened up the game a lot for us. We were able to establish a rhythm. We played with confidence."
It's easy to be confident when you know one goal will likely win the game. IU has allowed just four goals all season.
"When we get a goal," Panchot said, "it forces the other team to come out of its shell.
"We're always confident in our defense so when the other team has to come out, we can excel more offensively."
Regardless of the score, Toye said, the Hoosiers will continue to push an attacking offense that leads the nation in shots.
"We know as we get deeper in the tournament that, we love 1-0 wins, but if we can get more goals and get more of a cushion, we like that. "We don't just sit back and defend and not try to get another goal."
The victory gave Yeagley 100 for his IU career.
"It's nice milestone. It means we have good players. If you coach long enough, you hope to get more wins."
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's SoccerIUBB Pregame Press Conference
Friday, October 24
FB: Under the Hood with Indiana Football - Week 9 (UCLA)
Wednesday, October 22
FB: Carter Smith Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21
FB: Stephen Daley Media Availability (10/21/25)
Tuesday, October 21