Finding a Way – IU Rallies into Elite Eight
5/7/2021 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Sometimes, you just have to be tougher than the other guy.
Sometimes, you have to forget strategy and draw the line, make the plays, refuse to cave against pressure and the moment.
Sometimes, if you're the Indiana Hoosiers and a potential NCAA soccer championship is slipping away, you do what's necessary.
Did they ever.
"It was another example of just digging, and digging," Indiana coach Todd Yeagley said in the aftermath of Thursday night's come-back-from-the-brink 2-1 Sweet Sixteen victory over Marquette.
"It was a gutsy, extra effort type of win."
How gutsy was it?
Third-seeded IU (10-1-2) was 20 minutes from defeat. It was down, but absolutely not out.
The Hoosiers won those last minutes 2-0 to advance to a Monday Elite Eight opportunity.
Their 8-4 edge in second-half shots reflected a refuse-to-lose mentality that has typified a program with a record 93 NCAA tourney victories, by far the most ever.
"We made key plays," Yeagley said. "We managed the lead once we had it."
It's IU's third Elite Eight appearance in the last four years, and it came after an intense halftime that included tough talk from the coaches and senior forward A.J. Palazzolo.
"We really challenged them," Yeagley said. "I want to credit A.J. with the way he willed the guys. If we're going out, we're leaving everything on the field."
Mission accomplished.
"We had a little left in the tank in the first half," Yeagley said. "That was the take-away. We had to empty the tank. We did."
Hoosier heroes were everywhere at Cary, N.C.'s WakeMed Field, from sophomores Herbert Endeley and Maouloune Goumballe, who scored the biggest goals of their college careers; to sophomore Ryan Wittenbrink, who didn't get an assist, but who was the driving force behind Goumballe's game-winner; to the return of freshman defender Joey Maher from a one-game suspension; to goalkeeper Roman Celentano's clutch late-game save; to freshman Lawson Redmon's key defensive moments; to sophomore Ben Yeagley, whose tough-minded play in 54 off-the-bench minutes knocked the Golden Eagles out of their rhythm.
"Joey helped with the mentality and focus in the second half," Todd Yeagley said. "Ben did a great job of coming in and giving us energy and a bit of edge."
Victory came even as Marquette limited Victor Bezerra, one of the nation's top goal scorers, to just one shot. He did have the assist on Endeley's goal.
"It wasn't Vic's best day," Yeagley said. "It was a quieter performance. They keyed on him."
This was no game to turn the other cheek, and neither team did. They combined for 11 yellow cards and 26 fouls.
"There was a lot on the line," Yeagley said. "Both teams were fighting for a lot.
"The game got chippy. Marquette is not known for that. The game developed into that."
As for IU getting six yellow cards, Yeagley said some of that might have been from, "The challenge we gave them."
"It might have been the guys were ramped up a little too much. They could have been better with their discipline. There were some tactical fouls. Some we could have used better judgment.
"The official did a nice job of managing it. The game didn't get out of control."
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, IU went on the attack. It pressed for opportunities and shots and, eventually, Marquette's defense cracked.
Endeley scored off Bezerra's assist 21 minutes into the second half. It was the 10th-straight game Bezerra has scored at least one point.
"Victor made a special pass," Yeagley said. "His passing is an under-estimated skill set. He's one of the better passers. He has a great feel.
"With Herb, we've been working so hard on that functional finish. We train that a lot in that area of the box he gets into. It becomes motor memory. He did exactly what he needed to do."
A few minutes later, Goumballe followed with his game-winner.
"It was nice to see a couple of other guys get on the score sheet," Yeagley said.
Marquette had the first-half edge, with a 5-4 advantage on shots, 2-0 on shots on goal. The Golden Eagles scored on a goal from A.J. Franklin with 1:38 left in the half.
IU seemed in trouble.
Instead, it was just warming up.
Yeagley spent the aftermath scouting the Virginia Tech-Seton Hall game. The Hoosiers will play that winner on Monday.
First, though, there was a final bit of perspective to provide.
"Some of (our) guys were uncomfortable," Yeagley said. "We have young guys with not a lot of minutes. It was a big game they were able to overcome. That says a lot. That can prove very important in the next game."
@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. – Sometimes, you just have to be tougher than the other guy.
Sometimes, you have to forget strategy and draw the line, make the plays, refuse to cave against pressure and the moment.
Sometimes, if you're the Indiana Hoosiers and a potential NCAA soccer championship is slipping away, you do what's necessary.
Did they ever.
"It was another example of just digging, and digging," Indiana coach Todd Yeagley said in the aftermath of Thursday night's come-back-from-the-brink 2-1 Sweet Sixteen victory over Marquette.
"It was a gutsy, extra effort type of win."
How gutsy was it?
Third-seeded IU (10-1-2) was 20 minutes from defeat. It was down, but absolutely not out.
The Hoosiers won those last minutes 2-0 to advance to a Monday Elite Eight opportunity.
Their 8-4 edge in second-half shots reflected a refuse-to-lose mentality that has typified a program with a record 93 NCAA tourney victories, by far the most ever.
"We made key plays," Yeagley said. "We managed the lead once we had it."
It's IU's third Elite Eight appearance in the last four years, and it came after an intense halftime that included tough talk from the coaches and senior forward A.J. Palazzolo.
"We really challenged them," Yeagley said. "I want to credit A.J. with the way he willed the guys. If we're going out, we're leaving everything on the field."
Mission accomplished.
"We had a little left in the tank in the first half," Yeagley said. "That was the take-away. We had to empty the tank. We did."
Hoosier heroes were everywhere at Cary, N.C.'s WakeMed Field, from sophomores Herbert Endeley and Maouloune Goumballe, who scored the biggest goals of their college careers; to sophomore Ryan Wittenbrink, who didn't get an assist, but who was the driving force behind Goumballe's game-winner; to the return of freshman defender Joey Maher from a one-game suspension; to goalkeeper Roman Celentano's clutch late-game save; to freshman Lawson Redmon's key defensive moments; to sophomore Ben Yeagley, whose tough-minded play in 54 off-the-bench minutes knocked the Golden Eagles out of their rhythm.
"Joey helped with the mentality and focus in the second half," Todd Yeagley said. "Ben did a great job of coming in and giving us energy and a bit of edge."
Victory came even as Marquette limited Victor Bezerra, one of the nation's top goal scorers, to just one shot. He did have the assist on Endeley's goal.
"It wasn't Vic's best day," Yeagley said. "It was a quieter performance. They keyed on him."
This was no game to turn the other cheek, and neither team did. They combined for 11 yellow cards and 26 fouls.
"There was a lot on the line," Yeagley said. "Both teams were fighting for a lot.
"The game got chippy. Marquette is not known for that. The game developed into that."
As for IU getting six yellow cards, Yeagley said some of that might have been from, "The challenge we gave them."
"It might have been the guys were ramped up a little too much. They could have been better with their discipline. There were some tactical fouls. Some we could have used better judgment.
"The official did a nice job of managing it. The game didn't get out of control."
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, IU went on the attack. It pressed for opportunities and shots and, eventually, Marquette's defense cracked.
Endeley scored off Bezerra's assist 21 minutes into the second half. It was the 10th-straight game Bezerra has scored at least one point.
"Victor made a special pass," Yeagley said. "His passing is an under-estimated skill set. He's one of the better passers. He has a great feel.
"With Herb, we've been working so hard on that functional finish. We train that a lot in that area of the box he gets into. It becomes motor memory. He did exactly what he needed to do."
A few minutes later, Goumballe followed with his game-winner.
"It was nice to see a couple of other guys get on the score sheet," Yeagley said.
Marquette had the first-half edge, with a 5-4 advantage on shots, 2-0 on shots on goal. The Golden Eagles scored on a goal from A.J. Franklin with 1:38 left in the half.
IU seemed in trouble.
Instead, it was just warming up.
Yeagley spent the aftermath scouting the Virginia Tech-Seton Hall game. The Hoosiers will play that winner on Monday.
First, though, there was a final bit of perspective to provide.
"Some of (our) guys were uncomfortable," Yeagley said. "We have young guys with not a lot of minutes. It was a big game they were able to overcome. That says a lot. That can prove very important in the next game."
@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
Players Mentioned
Forward
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Goalkeeper
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Forward
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Forward
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Defender
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Forward
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Defender
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Forward
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Midfielder
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