Indiana University Athletics
DIPRIMIO COLUMN: No. 2 Indiana Takes Aim at No. 4 Kentucky
10/3/2018 1:45:00 PM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana's latest soccer scheduling gauntlet looms and the second-ranked Hoosiers prepare with this thought in mind:
Bring it on.
In this case, it's a Wednesday trip to No. 4 and unbeaten Kentucky and a Sunday battle at No. 19 Michigan.
"Our goal moving forward is to win every game from here on," sophomore defender Spencer Glass says. "Kentucky is a very good team, but we're looking to build a season. We're excited to go there."
Excitement comes from a 9-1 record against as challenging a schedule as there is in the country, and a nine-game winning streak. It comes from strong defense, opportunistic offense and the growing sense that the best is still ahead.
"There's always room for improvement, top to bottom," senior midfielder Austin Panchot says. "We always continue to want to kill teams off. There's room to improve on the attack and defending. Every play counts. Continue to have a championship mentality every game."
Championships are as much a part of Indiana men's soccer as breathing given the eight national titles, 14 Big Ten crowns and 12 conference tourney championships.
And then there are the marquee opponents.
"This team wants that," coach Todd Yeagley says. "The bigger the game, the bigger the atmosphere, the more they're ready to play."
Strong scheduling is among the reasons for IU's five decades of success.
This year the Hoosiers opened at then No. 5 Wake Forest and at then No. 3 North Carolina, then hosted No. 22 Dartmouth and No. 18 Connecticut, and then played at No. 8 Notre Dame, all in the season's first two weeks.
Now comes Kentucky, which is 8-0-1 with a four-match winning streak. It's the best start in program history. The Wildcats are especially tough to beat at four-year-old, $7.7 million Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex, which seats 3,368.
Michigan (7-1-1) is also imposing at home.
"The stretch we have coming up is a tough one," Yeagley says. "Kentucky is undefeated and playing well. They have a really good home-field setup with the fans.
"I told our guys to be excited to go there and have some fun. They'll be just as excited as they were to start the season at North Carolina and Wake Forest."
Don't be fooled by four straight games against non-ranked opponents. Yeagley isn't. He understands, in this era of greater parity than ever before, nothing is sure except upsets happen.
"There are challenges in all the games, even the ones that, maybe on paper, you're supposed to win, the games that don't have that extra hoopla," he says. "And yet, our commitment and determination in those games has been equally as positive. That gives me a lot of (optimism) with this team."
Kentucky has allowed just three goals all season. IU has allowed five while scoring 25.
"It's about going in there and enjoying the challenge," Yeagley says. "Non-conference games are important in resume building. We have to continue to perform and keep getting better."
IU should be at full strength as it wasn't during Sunday's 2-0 win against Penn State. Herman Trophy candidate Andrew Gutman was held out after an injury suffered four days earlier against Northwestern.
Glass replaced him, and totaled two assists.
"We can win without Andrew," Yeagley says, "but we're a more dangerous team with him in there."
Figure Gutman will play against Kentucky
"He was angling (to play against Penn State)," Yeagley says. "He is so competitive. That's what I love about him. He has a huge future ahead, and there's never once a question of 'I've got to make sure I'm fully ready in January (for the pro soccer draft).'
"He wants us to win every game and let January be January for his pro opportunity. That says a lot about him and his commitment to helping our team."
The Hoosiers also have midfielders Jeremiah Gutjahr and Francesco Moore approaching peak fitness and efficiency. Gutjahr has bounced back from last season's severe knee injury. An extensive summer internship cost Moore work out time.
Both thrived against Penn State.
"It's been steps," Yeagley says. "We have an experienced team, but some of our experience doesn't match (the necessary fitness). It was hard for Frankie to stay match fit. He's playing better every week. Jeremiah is showing that, as well.
"Yes, they're experienced players, but they have to get back to their form, and maybe a little more."
Gutjahr's recovery has been especially impressive given there was a chance he might have to redshirt this season.
"He can handle an injury as professionally as anyone I've ever coached," Yeagley says. "It was a tough injury. It was a long recovery.
"As we see in today's athletics, we now have great recovery rates coming back from injury. Sometimes you can come back even stronger."
Gutjahr showed that against Penn State.
"It was his best game," Yeagley says. "He was dominant in the midfield. He and Frankie were in control of the game. That's what we want."
And if the Hoosiers keep getting what they want, look out.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana's latest soccer scheduling gauntlet looms and the second-ranked Hoosiers prepare with this thought in mind:
Bring it on.
In this case, it's a Wednesday trip to No. 4 and unbeaten Kentucky and a Sunday battle at No. 19 Michigan.
"Our goal moving forward is to win every game from here on," sophomore defender Spencer Glass says. "Kentucky is a very good team, but we're looking to build a season. We're excited to go there."
Excitement comes from a 9-1 record against as challenging a schedule as there is in the country, and a nine-game winning streak. It comes from strong defense, opportunistic offense and the growing sense that the best is still ahead.
"There's always room for improvement, top to bottom," senior midfielder Austin Panchot says. "We always continue to want to kill teams off. There's room to improve on the attack and defending. Every play counts. Continue to have a championship mentality every game."
Championships are as much a part of Indiana men's soccer as breathing given the eight national titles, 14 Big Ten crowns and 12 conference tourney championships.
And then there are the marquee opponents.
"This team wants that," coach Todd Yeagley says. "The bigger the game, the bigger the atmosphere, the more they're ready to play."
Strong scheduling is among the reasons for IU's five decades of success.
This year the Hoosiers opened at then No. 5 Wake Forest and at then No. 3 North Carolina, then hosted No. 22 Dartmouth and No. 18 Connecticut, and then played at No. 8 Notre Dame, all in the season's first two weeks.
Now comes Kentucky, which is 8-0-1 with a four-match winning streak. It's the best start in program history. The Wildcats are especially tough to beat at four-year-old, $7.7 million Wendell and Vickie Bell Soccer Complex, which seats 3,368.
Michigan (7-1-1) is also imposing at home.
"The stretch we have coming up is a tough one," Yeagley says. "Kentucky is undefeated and playing well. They have a really good home-field setup with the fans.
"I told our guys to be excited to go there and have some fun. They'll be just as excited as they were to start the season at North Carolina and Wake Forest."
Don't be fooled by four straight games against non-ranked opponents. Yeagley isn't. He understands, in this era of greater parity than ever before, nothing is sure except upsets happen.
"There are challenges in all the games, even the ones that, maybe on paper, you're supposed to win, the games that don't have that extra hoopla," he says. "And yet, our commitment and determination in those games has been equally as positive. That gives me a lot of (optimism) with this team."
Kentucky has allowed just three goals all season. IU has allowed five while scoring 25.
"It's about going in there and enjoying the challenge," Yeagley says. "Non-conference games are important in resume building. We have to continue to perform and keep getting better."
IU should be at full strength as it wasn't during Sunday's 2-0 win against Penn State. Herman Trophy candidate Andrew Gutman was held out after an injury suffered four days earlier against Northwestern.
Glass replaced him, and totaled two assists.
"We can win without Andrew," Yeagley says, "but we're a more dangerous team with him in there."
Figure Gutman will play against Kentucky
"He was angling (to play against Penn State)," Yeagley says. "He is so competitive. That's what I love about him. He has a huge future ahead, and there's never once a question of 'I've got to make sure I'm fully ready in January (for the pro soccer draft).'
"He wants us to win every game and let January be January for his pro opportunity. That says a lot about him and his commitment to helping our team."
The Hoosiers also have midfielders Jeremiah Gutjahr and Francesco Moore approaching peak fitness and efficiency. Gutjahr has bounced back from last season's severe knee injury. An extensive summer internship cost Moore work out time.
Both thrived against Penn State.
"It's been steps," Yeagley says. "We have an experienced team, but some of our experience doesn't match (the necessary fitness). It was hard for Frankie to stay match fit. He's playing better every week. Jeremiah is showing that, as well.
"Yes, they're experienced players, but they have to get back to their form, and maybe a little more."
Gutjahr's recovery has been especially impressive given there was a chance he might have to redshirt this season.
"He can handle an injury as professionally as anyone I've ever coached," Yeagley says. "It was a tough injury. It was a long recovery.
"As we see in today's athletics, we now have great recovery rates coming back from injury. Sometimes you can come back even stronger."
Gutjahr showed that against Penn State.
"It was his best game," Yeagley says. "He was dominant in the midfield. He and Frankie were in control of the game. That's what we want."
And if the Hoosiers keep getting what they want, look out.
Players Mentioned
Midfielder/Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
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