Indiana University Athletics
Elite Eight Challenge – Best Is Still Ahead for Indiana
5/10/2021 2:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One game from a record 21st College Cup and Todd Yeagley knows this about his Indiana soccer team:
"I don't think we've seen our best gear yet. That's a good sign."
The second-ranked Hoosiers (10-1-2) face No. 6 Seton Hall (10-1-4) Monday evening in an Elite Eight showdown at Cary, N.C.,'s WakeMed Field and, when it comes to execution, Yeagley expects more.
For one thing, the Hoosiers will need it against the Big East tourney champs.
"This will be our toughest match (of the NCAA Tournament) with the type of weapons they have," he says via Zoom opportunity.
For another, his guys are capable of it.
"We have not had our 'A' games at the same time. That's a good thing. You have to win a game where maybe your key players are off a little bit.
"We do a lot of good things -- the small details, our help, the ideas on where we're trying to get the ball has been very clear.
"The final execution can be better. We're working on it. We're not hammering. It's trust the game."
Mostly, he adds, "Just clear their minds. Feel confident and be relaxed."
Pressure is everywhere you look this deep in the NCAA tourney, and not just on the soccer field. In the last week, IU has played two down-to-the-wire games and dealt with academic finals, all under remote, pandemic-caused bubble conditions.
"There's been a lot of strain on these guys," Yeagley says. "We had a stressful week with two big games and a lot of stress academically. They all did really well.
"We had a couple of guys miss some meals; some missed a practice and came later (to training) than you'd want them to.
"The mental fatigue is real. We're through that, which is good. Our young players feel better."
Veteran leadership has helped. Players such as Spencer Glass (out with a season-ending broken leg), A.J. Palazzolo, Thomas Warr, Victor Bezerra and Roman Celentano have all had off-field, take-charge moments.
"If leadership is driven by us (coaches), it's hard to get where you want to go," Yeagley says, "At times, we had to give them a little shot and get them going, but with this team, there's a lot of grit. At times, we need to dig it out. The players have done a great job with that.
"It's a committee of players. It's not just one voice."
Still, Palazzolo (whose intense half-time speech sparked Thursday night's second-half rally against Marquette) and Celentano have stood out.
"AJ is edgy," Yeagley says. "He's fiery. I love it. It's a good thing. We wouldn't have been here without him.
"Roman has had a bigger voice. Guys are getting confidence from his demeanor and the way he's been playing."
Offensively, Yeagley says IU can score on fewer chances better than some of his other teams. It can score key goals at key moments, crucial given the tight-margin pressure in NCAA tourney play.
IU has advanced without dominance, beating St. Francis-Brooklyn in a penalty kick shootout, then rallying in the second half for a 2-1 win over Marquette. Crisp play has mixed with inconsistency, but when it mattered most, the Hoosiers delivered.
It helps to have perhaps the nation's best goalkeeper. The two goals Celentano has allowed in the tournament have more to do with the excellence of the opponent than his mistakes. Probably no goalkeeper in America could have saved the 40-yard missile by Marquette's A.J. Franklin just before halftime.
Celentano is at his best amid PK shootout pressure, getting two saves against Penn State in the Big Ten tourney title game, three against St. Francis.
"He's very good at reading kickers and has good instincts," Yeagley says. "We don't over-do it with the scout.
"I don't know if there's a Roman secret I can share because he doesn't share them with me. I love his demeanor and the way he goes about it. There's no drama. He doesn't show any emotion. He's so confident in his ability. There's no arrogance, just pure confidence and preparation."
The Pirates have won under pressure, beating Air Force 2-1 and Virginia Tech in a 7-6 PK shootout to reach their first Elite Eight since 1988.
All-Big East forward CJ Tibbling has a team-high 17 points on seven goals and three assists. Midfielder James Boote has nine assists. Goal keeper Andreas Nota has posted six shutouts.
"They are balanced," Yeagley says. "They're as good as any team here. We have to do the little things well to find success. That's what you'd expect eight days into the tournament.
"They were really good against Virginia Tech. They're playing some of their best soccer of the year. They can beat you in a lot of different ways. That presents a big challenge."
Seton Hall has a strong international presence with players from Sweden, England, Germany, Malta and Israel as well as the United States. Their coach, Andreas Lindberg, is from Sweden.
Yeagley says international players, "Come from a very competitive, professional environment. They didn't make it to the professional level, so college is a way to keep their careers alive.
"They are a mature team. They're big. They have a lot of belief. They have beaten some good teams. We have to be really good."
IU is aiming for its third College Cup appearance in the last four seasons.
"Our team is in a good place physically and mentally," Yeagley says.
"We hope to punch another ticket to the Final Four."
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – One game from a record 21st College Cup and Todd Yeagley knows this about his Indiana soccer team:
"I don't think we've seen our best gear yet. That's a good sign."
The second-ranked Hoosiers (10-1-2) face No. 6 Seton Hall (10-1-4) Monday evening in an Elite Eight showdown at Cary, N.C.,'s WakeMed Field and, when it comes to execution, Yeagley expects more.
For one thing, the Hoosiers will need it against the Big East tourney champs.
"This will be our toughest match (of the NCAA Tournament) with the type of weapons they have," he says via Zoom opportunity.
For another, his guys are capable of it.
"We have not had our 'A' games at the same time. That's a good thing. You have to win a game where maybe your key players are off a little bit.
"We do a lot of good things -- the small details, our help, the ideas on where we're trying to get the ball has been very clear.
"The final execution can be better. We're working on it. We're not hammering. It's trust the game."
Mostly, he adds, "Just clear their minds. Feel confident and be relaxed."
Pressure is everywhere you look this deep in the NCAA tourney, and not just on the soccer field. In the last week, IU has played two down-to-the-wire games and dealt with academic finals, all under remote, pandemic-caused bubble conditions.
"There's been a lot of strain on these guys," Yeagley says. "We had a stressful week with two big games and a lot of stress academically. They all did really well.
"We had a couple of guys miss some meals; some missed a practice and came later (to training) than you'd want them to.
"The mental fatigue is real. We're through that, which is good. Our young players feel better."
Veteran leadership has helped. Players such as Spencer Glass (out with a season-ending broken leg), A.J. Palazzolo, Thomas Warr, Victor Bezerra and Roman Celentano have all had off-field, take-charge moments.
"If leadership is driven by us (coaches), it's hard to get where you want to go," Yeagley says, "At times, we had to give them a little shot and get them going, but with this team, there's a lot of grit. At times, we need to dig it out. The players have done a great job with that.
"It's a committee of players. It's not just one voice."
Still, Palazzolo (whose intense half-time speech sparked Thursday night's second-half rally against Marquette) and Celentano have stood out.
"AJ is edgy," Yeagley says. "He's fiery. I love it. It's a good thing. We wouldn't have been here without him.
"Roman has had a bigger voice. Guys are getting confidence from his demeanor and the way he's been playing."
Offensively, Yeagley says IU can score on fewer chances better than some of his other teams. It can score key goals at key moments, crucial given the tight-margin pressure in NCAA tourney play.
IU has advanced without dominance, beating St. Francis-Brooklyn in a penalty kick shootout, then rallying in the second half for a 2-1 win over Marquette. Crisp play has mixed with inconsistency, but when it mattered most, the Hoosiers delivered.
It helps to have perhaps the nation's best goalkeeper. The two goals Celentano has allowed in the tournament have more to do with the excellence of the opponent than his mistakes. Probably no goalkeeper in America could have saved the 40-yard missile by Marquette's A.J. Franklin just before halftime.
Celentano is at his best amid PK shootout pressure, getting two saves against Penn State in the Big Ten tourney title game, three against St. Francis.
"He's very good at reading kickers and has good instincts," Yeagley says. "We don't over-do it with the scout.
"I don't know if there's a Roman secret I can share because he doesn't share them with me. I love his demeanor and the way he goes about it. There's no drama. He doesn't show any emotion. He's so confident in his ability. There's no arrogance, just pure confidence and preparation."
The Pirates have won under pressure, beating Air Force 2-1 and Virginia Tech in a 7-6 PK shootout to reach their first Elite Eight since 1988.
All-Big East forward CJ Tibbling has a team-high 17 points on seven goals and three assists. Midfielder James Boote has nine assists. Goal keeper Andreas Nota has posted six shutouts.
"They are balanced," Yeagley says. "They're as good as any team here. We have to do the little things well to find success. That's what you'd expect eight days into the tournament.
"They were really good against Virginia Tech. They're playing some of their best soccer of the year. They can beat you in a lot of different ways. That presents a big challenge."
Seton Hall has a strong international presence with players from Sweden, England, Germany, Malta and Israel as well as the United States. Their coach, Andreas Lindberg, is from Sweden.
Yeagley says international players, "Come from a very competitive, professional environment. They didn't make it to the professional level, so college is a way to keep their careers alive.
"They are a mature team. They're big. They have a lot of belief. They have beaten some good teams. We have to be really good."
IU is aiming for its third College Cup appearance in the last four seasons.
"Our team is in a good place physically and mentally," Yeagley says.
"We hope to punch another ticket to the Final Four."
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
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