Indiana University Athletics
Attack Mode – No. 2 Indiana Ready for Soccer Challenge
8/25/2021 11:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Now it matters.
Yes, second-ranked Indiana's soccer juggernaut always plays to win, but three exhibition games in a week -- resulting in a 2-0-1 record -- were mostly designed to prepare for yet another national title run.
A big clue could come from Friday night's season opener at traditional national power Notre Dame.
One thing seems clear -- the offense is back in the Hoosier attack.
The first indication -- nine goals scored in the last two exhibition games.
The second indication -- plenty of offensive talent, some returning, some added.
It starts with returning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Victor Bezerra. He had 12 goals and 28 points last season to rate among the nation's top scorers.
Also back are dynamic veterans Ryan Wittenbrink (five goals, 12 points), Herbert Endeley (four goals and 10 points), Maouloune Goumballe (two and six) and Joe Schmidt (two and six), plus the addition of talented freshmen Samuel Sarver (44 academy goals and a No. 32 national ranking), Tommy Mihalic and Patrick McDonald, as well as up-and-coming players such as sophomores Quinten Helmer, Emerson Nieto and Lawson Redmon.
Schmidt likes what he's seen from Sarver and Mihalic. He calls them "very dynamic attackers."
"I think they're going to play a huge role for us this season," he adds.
Todd Yeagley coaches IU to play to its strengths. Last season, which was played in the spring because of the pandemic, that meant defense, and it produced a 12-2-2 record and a national runner-up finish -- even with All-America defender Spencer Glass missing the NCAA tourney with a broken leg.
Glass is back, by the way, although he missed the exhibition games because of a shoulder injury suffered in practice. Yeagley expects him to return soon.
"It's temporary," he says. "It won't be super long."
Historically, the Hoosiers have rated among the nation's best offensive teams. They control the ball and dominate in shots, shots on goal, corner kicks and goals.
Not last year.
IU scored 31 goals in 16 games, and barely out-shot opponents, 168-158. Both of its losses came by 1-0 scores, including to Marshall in overtime in the national title game.
By comparison, in 2019, the Hoosiers had a 301-182 edge in shots over 22 games. In 2017, when they were national runner-ups with an 18-1-6 record, they out-shot opponents 420-212, with a 49-7 edge in goals.
"Ultimately we play to our strengths," Yeagley says. "This year's team will have a more pressing mentality of players and some athletic tools we didn't have last year. We want to utilize that."
Having more offensive weapons to go with Bezerra will be a huge boost, especially since the defense once again figures to be among the nation's best.
"Sam is very dynamic," Yeagley says. "He's constantly probing. He's going to be phenomenal.
"Our team last year had a different skill set. Our pressing, some of the things you saw (during Saturday's 5-4 exhibition win over Louisville), was different from last year.
"Sam and Vic are quite complementary in they are able to find great seams and great passes. Then you have the balance component."
In other words, rather than Bezerra having to create for himself, others can do much of the work and get him the ball in optimal scoring position, allowing his superior finishing skills to take over.
"Last year, he didn't get many of that," Yeagley says. "He had to work to score some beautiful goals from restarts.
"(Against Louisville), he got, I wouldn't call them tap-ins, but (good opportunities). I'm pleased with that."
Last week, IU also beat Wright State 4-2 after tying DePaul 0-0 in the exhibition opener.
Bezerra had five goals and 10 points in two exhibition games, including three against Louisville. He didn't play against DePaul.
Goumballe added two goals and four points. Mihalic had one goal and two assists.
Yes, giving up six goals in the final two exhibitions is a rarity for a program that gave up just six goals all of last season.
Yeagley isn't worried.
"We have not seen that many goals, both given up and scored, so there's a lot to take away. A lot of positives.
"That's a talented Louisville team that will cause a lot of problems for anyone they face. They had a couple of great goals. For sure the other two we could have done better with.
"Yes, that's concerning, but at the same time, this team has proven to be very stingy defensively. I'm not worried -- big picture."
It's hard to worry when you have perhaps the nation's best goal keeper in Roman Celentano, who at 6-3 and 200 pounds is as intimidating a defensive presence as there is in college soccer. He's a preseason All-America with just 14 goals allowed in 29 career starts.
Plus, Celentano is surrounded by an impressive array of defensive talent even with Glass sidelined. That includes Daniel Munie and Joey Maher.
"We do have moves until Spencer is ready," Yeagley says.
Beyond that, Yeagley now has extra coaching points to deliver before Friday night's season opener.
"Sometimes you have to get hit a little bit. Not that this group wasn't focused, but we didn't give up many goals last year. It's a reminder that the smallest details make a difference. We preach that all the time. That will give us a good learning tool heading into the Notre Dame game."
After playing at least 20 guys in each of the first two exhibitions ("We rotated pretty heavily," Yeagley says. "We had predetermined things in mind."), the Hoosiers reduced the substituting. Fifteen players saw action against Louisville, with only 13 playing 40 or more minutes.
"We rotated much less," Yeagley says. We made it closer to what we might do (during the season)."
The season is finally here, and if IU's offense can match its defense, a ninth national title is a strong possibility.
"We have to work on our attacking shape, our attacking build, being able to break lines and get our speedy guys up top in behind a little more," Schmidt says. "They'll create a lot more chances if we do."
@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. – Now it matters.
Yes, second-ranked Indiana's soccer juggernaut always plays to win, but three exhibition games in a week -- resulting in a 2-0-1 record -- were mostly designed to prepare for yet another national title run.
A big clue could come from Friday night's season opener at traditional national power Notre Dame.
One thing seems clear -- the offense is back in the Hoosier attack.
The first indication -- nine goals scored in the last two exhibition games.
The second indication -- plenty of offensive talent, some returning, some added.
It starts with returning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Victor Bezerra. He had 12 goals and 28 points last season to rate among the nation's top scorers.
Also back are dynamic veterans Ryan Wittenbrink (five goals, 12 points), Herbert Endeley (four goals and 10 points), Maouloune Goumballe (two and six) and Joe Schmidt (two and six), plus the addition of talented freshmen Samuel Sarver (44 academy goals and a No. 32 national ranking), Tommy Mihalic and Patrick McDonald, as well as up-and-coming players such as sophomores Quinten Helmer, Emerson Nieto and Lawson Redmon.
Schmidt likes what he's seen from Sarver and Mihalic. He calls them "very dynamic attackers."
"I think they're going to play a huge role for us this season," he adds.
Todd Yeagley coaches IU to play to its strengths. Last season, which was played in the spring because of the pandemic, that meant defense, and it produced a 12-2-2 record and a national runner-up finish -- even with All-America defender Spencer Glass missing the NCAA tourney with a broken leg.
Glass is back, by the way, although he missed the exhibition games because of a shoulder injury suffered in practice. Yeagley expects him to return soon.
"It's temporary," he says. "It won't be super long."
Historically, the Hoosiers have rated among the nation's best offensive teams. They control the ball and dominate in shots, shots on goal, corner kicks and goals.
Not last year.
IU scored 31 goals in 16 games, and barely out-shot opponents, 168-158. Both of its losses came by 1-0 scores, including to Marshall in overtime in the national title game.
By comparison, in 2019, the Hoosiers had a 301-182 edge in shots over 22 games. In 2017, when they were national runner-ups with an 18-1-6 record, they out-shot opponents 420-212, with a 49-7 edge in goals.
"Ultimately we play to our strengths," Yeagley says. "This year's team will have a more pressing mentality of players and some athletic tools we didn't have last year. We want to utilize that."
Having more offensive weapons to go with Bezerra will be a huge boost, especially since the defense once again figures to be among the nation's best.
"Sam is very dynamic," Yeagley says. "He's constantly probing. He's going to be phenomenal.
"Our team last year had a different skill set. Our pressing, some of the things you saw (during Saturday's 5-4 exhibition win over Louisville), was different from last year.
"Sam and Vic are quite complementary in they are able to find great seams and great passes. Then you have the balance component."
In other words, rather than Bezerra having to create for himself, others can do much of the work and get him the ball in optimal scoring position, allowing his superior finishing skills to take over.
"Last year, he didn't get many of that," Yeagley says. "He had to work to score some beautiful goals from restarts.
"(Against Louisville), he got, I wouldn't call them tap-ins, but (good opportunities). I'm pleased with that."
Last week, IU also beat Wright State 4-2 after tying DePaul 0-0 in the exhibition opener.
Bezerra had five goals and 10 points in two exhibition games, including three against Louisville. He didn't play against DePaul.
Goumballe added two goals and four points. Mihalic had one goal and two assists.
Yes, giving up six goals in the final two exhibitions is a rarity for a program that gave up just six goals all of last season.
Yeagley isn't worried.
"We have not seen that many goals, both given up and scored, so there's a lot to take away. A lot of positives.
"That's a talented Louisville team that will cause a lot of problems for anyone they face. They had a couple of great goals. For sure the other two we could have done better with.
"Yes, that's concerning, but at the same time, this team has proven to be very stingy defensively. I'm not worried -- big picture."
It's hard to worry when you have perhaps the nation's best goal keeper in Roman Celentano, who at 6-3 and 200 pounds is as intimidating a defensive presence as there is in college soccer. He's a preseason All-America with just 14 goals allowed in 29 career starts.
Plus, Celentano is surrounded by an impressive array of defensive talent even with Glass sidelined. That includes Daniel Munie and Joey Maher.
"We do have moves until Spencer is ready," Yeagley says.
Beyond that, Yeagley now has extra coaching points to deliver before Friday night's season opener.
"Sometimes you have to get hit a little bit. Not that this group wasn't focused, but we didn't give up many goals last year. It's a reminder that the smallest details make a difference. We preach that all the time. That will give us a good learning tool heading into the Notre Dame game."
After playing at least 20 guys in each of the first two exhibitions ("We rotated pretty heavily," Yeagley says. "We had predetermined things in mind."), the Hoosiers reduced the substituting. Fifteen players saw action against Louisville, with only 13 playing 40 or more minutes.
"We rotated much less," Yeagley says. We made it closer to what we might do (during the season)."
The season is finally here, and if IU's offense can match its defense, a ninth national title is a strong possibility.
"We have to work on our attacking shape, our attacking build, being able to break lines and get our speedy guys up top in behind a little more," Schmidt says. "They'll create a lot more chances if we do."
@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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