Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Becomes Fastest To 700 Wins
11/2/2015 9:36:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Go ahead and cross off another milestone on Indiana men's soccer's program accomplishment checklist.
The Hoosiers added to their renowned program legacy on senior night Saturday with a 1-0 win over Wisconsin at Bill Armstrong Stadium, becoming just the fifth Division I men's soccer program to reach 700 wins.
Indiana is the quickest of the five schools to reach the 700 mark, doing so in just 953 games, beating the previously set marks of UCLA (962), Saint Louis (992), Maryland (1,111) and Virginia (1,122).
"It's awesome just to be a part of history," sophomore defender Grant Lillard said. "Indiana has such a rich history, just to be any part of it means a lot to me and the whole team. We were pumped about it. Coach was talking about how proud it made him, and obviously we feel the same."
Head coach Todd Yeagley took time in the locker room after the game to reflect on the program's accomplishment, tipping his cap to the current players and coaches who've come before them.
Perhaps no name is more synonymous with winning at Indiana than Yeagley's own. His father, Jerry, is responsible for 544 of Indiana's 700 wins as a coach. Todd has since won 70 games as a coach after winning 79 as a player for his father.
Mike Freitag's 86 wins combine with the Yeagley father and son duo to account for all 700 victories.
"It's special," Yeagley said. "I agree with my father, the numbers aren't as special as the consistency and the mentality. If you have good people and good players and the program's in a good place, then the numbers will come. With this one, I felt the same way—those things will come. But it's nice to celebrate them when they do."
The 700th win only adds to the growing tradition of Indiana soccer. Its eight national championships rank second all-time behind Saint Louis' 10. The Bilikins' last national title came in 1973, the same year Indiana's program began.
Since then, no team has a higher winning percentage in the regular season or postseason, appeared in or won more College Cups or won more matches. On three different occasions, Indiana has won back-to-back national championships and remains consistently near the top of the national rankings year in and year out.
That consistency was important to Jerry, and it remains important to Todd. He said he knew the 700th win was coming, but he didn't quite realize how quickly. It wasn't until it was brought up earlier in the week did he realize he needed to address the possibility of reaching the milestone with his team.
"I knew the players might hear about it, so it was a good chance to talk about how proud we are of the history and the responsibility it is to wear the uniform," Yeagley said. "It just gives them extra confidence to know that they can be part of a monumental moment for IU soccer. To say you played in the game, and to be the fastest team to do it, is another great experience for our team."
It seemed fitting the 700th win come against Wisconsin, a team Indiana has now beaten 35 times. The Hoosiers' most wins have come against Ohio State, a program Indiana has defeated 40 times.
"It's a great feeling to be part of something that big," freshman midfielder Austin Panchot said. He scored the game-winning goal against Wisconsin on an assist from Lillard and junior midfielder Tanner Thompson.
"Every single one of us in there know we're part of something bigger than ourselves, and there's a great history with the program, so really happy we can do that for all the alumni."
The Hoosiers added to their renowned program legacy on senior night Saturday with a 1-0 win over Wisconsin at Bill Armstrong Stadium, becoming just the fifth Division I men's soccer program to reach 700 wins.
Indiana is the quickest of the five schools to reach the 700 mark, doing so in just 953 games, beating the previously set marks of UCLA (962), Saint Louis (992), Maryland (1,111) and Virginia (1,122).
"It's awesome just to be a part of history," sophomore defender Grant Lillard said. "Indiana has such a rich history, just to be any part of it means a lot to me and the whole team. We were pumped about it. Coach was talking about how proud it made him, and obviously we feel the same."
Head coach Todd Yeagley took time in the locker room after the game to reflect on the program's accomplishment, tipping his cap to the current players and coaches who've come before them.
Perhaps no name is more synonymous with winning at Indiana than Yeagley's own. His father, Jerry, is responsible for 544 of Indiana's 700 wins as a coach. Todd has since won 70 games as a coach after winning 79 as a player for his father.
Mike Freitag's 86 wins combine with the Yeagley father and son duo to account for all 700 victories.
"It's special," Yeagley said. "I agree with my father, the numbers aren't as special as the consistency and the mentality. If you have good people and good players and the program's in a good place, then the numbers will come. With this one, I felt the same way—those things will come. But it's nice to celebrate them when they do."
The 700th win only adds to the growing tradition of Indiana soccer. Its eight national championships rank second all-time behind Saint Louis' 10. The Bilikins' last national title came in 1973, the same year Indiana's program began.
Since then, no team has a higher winning percentage in the regular season or postseason, appeared in or won more College Cups or won more matches. On three different occasions, Indiana has won back-to-back national championships and remains consistently near the top of the national rankings year in and year out.
That consistency was important to Jerry, and it remains important to Todd. He said he knew the 700th win was coming, but he didn't quite realize how quickly. It wasn't until it was brought up earlier in the week did he realize he needed to address the possibility of reaching the milestone with his team.
"I knew the players might hear about it, so it was a good chance to talk about how proud we are of the history and the responsibility it is to wear the uniform," Yeagley said. "It just gives them extra confidence to know that they can be part of a monumental moment for IU soccer. To say you played in the game, and to be the fastest team to do it, is another great experience for our team."
It seemed fitting the 700th win come against Wisconsin, a team Indiana has now beaten 35 times. The Hoosiers' most wins have come against Ohio State, a program Indiana has defeated 40 times.
"It's a great feeling to be part of something that big," freshman midfielder Austin Panchot said. He scored the game-winning goal against Wisconsin on an assist from Lillard and junior midfielder Tanner Thompson.
"Every single one of us in there know we're part of something bigger than ourselves, and there's a great history with the program, so really happy we can do that for all the alumni."
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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