Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio: Back for More – Belief, Great Competition Help Sustain IU College Cup Run
12/6/2022 11:10:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Logic says Indiana is not guaranteed a College Cup berth every season, but logic crashes against men's soccer perception.
Just ask Syracuse coach Ian McIntyre.
"Indiana seems like it's been there every 10 months," McIntyre says during Monday's Zoom College Cup press conference. "They go more than some of you (media members) have birthdays."
The No. 13-seeded Hoosiers (13-4-6) are in their NCAA record 22nd College Cup. They will face Pitt (12-4-5) in a Friday night semifinal. Third-seeded Syracuse (17-2-4) faces Creighton (13-4-6) in the other semifinal.
This is IU's fifth appearance since 2010, and fourth in the last six years.
No other program can match such sustained excellence. This is the second College Cup for Syracuse and Pitt. Creighton is making its sixth appearance.
How do the Hoosiers do it?
Coach Todd Yeagley has a few thoughts.
"A lot of pride goes into what we do," he says. "There's a consistent level of good talent, but there's no genie with magic coming out. Every group we have has a belief. It's part of wearing the (Cream and Crimson) jersey."
Credit grueling schedules loaded with ranked teams. This year that even included a ranked Bowling Green squad for an exhibition. The Hoosiers faced No. 1 Clemson, No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Akron, No. 20 Butler, No. 22 Ohio State, No. 25 Penn State, a Portland team that reached the Elite Eight and an unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Kentucky squad that was the overall NCAA tourney top seed. IU is 7-1-3 against ranked teams this season.
"A process we take very seriously is the way we handle our regular season," Yeagley says. Our scheduling helps us get to these points."
Don't overlook the quality of Big Ten play.
"I think the Big Ten is grossly under-estimated in how it prepares you to be a good, deep tournament team because of the variety of teams in our league," Yeagley says.
"Couple that with the schedule we put together. This year we might have been a little bit juiced up. It gives us the ability to know where we're at."
Doing so, Yeagley adds, helps to make in-season adjustments for postseason benefits.
"It's the willingness to make changes at the right times. Being selfless. It's always been about the jersey and making it better. When you're playing for something bigger than your personal records or numbers, you get the best out of that group.
"It's a complement when you're told your teams are over-achieving. A lot of pride and responsibility goes with wearing the jersey. Our guys feel that. It's not pressure. It's not a burden. It frees them to know there is something really big they're representing."
Before the spring of 2021, IU and Pitt had never met in NCAA tourney action. Now, they will meet for the second time, both coming in the College Cup semifinals. In the first meeting, the Hoosiers edged Pitt in 1-0 on forward Herbert Endeley's goal in the 79th minute.
What will that mean for Friday night's game?
Not much, Pitt coach Jay Vidovich says.
"We've got about 20 new players. Indiana has new players. It's not the same situation."
Adds Yeagley: "It's unique to have the same matchup we had a few years ago."
Pitt advanced to its second College Cup in three years after beating Portland 1-0 in double overtime in the Elite Eight. Valentin Noel's 11th goal of the season won it.
It was the Panthers' 32nd shot of the game, with 11 on goal.
"That's an amazing number," Yeagley says. "We'd love to cut that in half."
Noel leads Pitt in goals and points (25). Five other Panthers have scored at least 11 points. Bertin Jacquesson has eight goals and 21 points.
Goal keeper Joe van der Sar has recorded eight shutouts
Pitt reached to the Elite Eight by beating unseeded Cleveland State 2-1, No. 16 Akron 3-0 and No. 1 Kentucky 2-1.
"They are a good team with a lot of talent," Yeagley says. "They are very good and explosive. Their coach has done a phenomenal job of bringing in experienced, talented players. They're more mature than the younger American players you see across the board.
"We have faced teams with similar talent. We'll be ready for what they have. We'll be confident."
The Hoosiers are the only team in the field that has not allowed a NCAA tourney goal behind goal keeper JT Harms and defenders Joey Maher, Daniel Munie, Nyk Sessock and Brett Bebej. They are led offensively by forward Ryan Wittenbrink's nine goals and 27 points.
Against Pitt, IU will try to control the tempo, but "we can pivot as needed," Yeagley adds. "We're not a stubborn team. We can adapt and evolve and find a way, in the end, to win. It's about winning and advancing."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Logic says Indiana is not guaranteed a College Cup berth every season, but logic crashes against men's soccer perception.
Just ask Syracuse coach Ian McIntyre.
"Indiana seems like it's been there every 10 months," McIntyre says during Monday's Zoom College Cup press conference. "They go more than some of you (media members) have birthdays."
The No. 13-seeded Hoosiers (13-4-6) are in their NCAA record 22nd College Cup. They will face Pitt (12-4-5) in a Friday night semifinal. Third-seeded Syracuse (17-2-4) faces Creighton (13-4-6) in the other semifinal.
This is IU's fifth appearance since 2010, and fourth in the last six years.
No other program can match such sustained excellence. This is the second College Cup for Syracuse and Pitt. Creighton is making its sixth appearance.
How do the Hoosiers do it?
Coach Todd Yeagley has a few thoughts.
"A lot of pride goes into what we do," he says. "There's a consistent level of good talent, but there's no genie with magic coming out. Every group we have has a belief. It's part of wearing the (Cream and Crimson) jersey."
Credit grueling schedules loaded with ranked teams. This year that even included a ranked Bowling Green squad for an exhibition. The Hoosiers faced No. 1 Clemson, No. 8 Maryland, No. 9 Akron, No. 20 Butler, No. 22 Ohio State, No. 25 Penn State, a Portland team that reached the Elite Eight and an unbeaten and No. 2-ranked Kentucky squad that was the overall NCAA tourney top seed. IU is 7-1-3 against ranked teams this season.
"A process we take very seriously is the way we handle our regular season," Yeagley says. Our scheduling helps us get to these points."
Don't overlook the quality of Big Ten play.
"I think the Big Ten is grossly under-estimated in how it prepares you to be a good, deep tournament team because of the variety of teams in our league," Yeagley says.
"Couple that with the schedule we put together. This year we might have been a little bit juiced up. It gives us the ability to know where we're at."
Doing so, Yeagley adds, helps to make in-season adjustments for postseason benefits.
"It's the willingness to make changes at the right times. Being selfless. It's always been about the jersey and making it better. When you're playing for something bigger than your personal records or numbers, you get the best out of that group.
"It's a complement when you're told your teams are over-achieving. A lot of pride and responsibility goes with wearing the jersey. Our guys feel that. It's not pressure. It's not a burden. It frees them to know there is something really big they're representing."
Before the spring of 2021, IU and Pitt had never met in NCAA tourney action. Now, they will meet for the second time, both coming in the College Cup semifinals. In the first meeting, the Hoosiers edged Pitt in 1-0 on forward Herbert Endeley's goal in the 79th minute.
What will that mean for Friday night's game?
Not much, Pitt coach Jay Vidovich says.
"We've got about 20 new players. Indiana has new players. It's not the same situation."
Adds Yeagley: "It's unique to have the same matchup we had a few years ago."
Pitt advanced to its second College Cup in three years after beating Portland 1-0 in double overtime in the Elite Eight. Valentin Noel's 11th goal of the season won it.
It was the Panthers' 32nd shot of the game, with 11 on goal.
"That's an amazing number," Yeagley says. "We'd love to cut that in half."
Noel leads Pitt in goals and points (25). Five other Panthers have scored at least 11 points. Bertin Jacquesson has eight goals and 21 points.
Goal keeper Joe van der Sar has recorded eight shutouts
Pitt reached to the Elite Eight by beating unseeded Cleveland State 2-1, No. 16 Akron 3-0 and No. 1 Kentucky 2-1.
"They are a good team with a lot of talent," Yeagley says. "They are very good and explosive. Their coach has done a phenomenal job of bringing in experienced, talented players. They're more mature than the younger American players you see across the board.
"We have faced teams with similar talent. We'll be ready for what they have. We'll be confident."
The Hoosiers are the only team in the field that has not allowed a NCAA tourney goal behind goal keeper JT Harms and defenders Joey Maher, Daniel Munie, Nyk Sessock and Brett Bebej. They are led offensively by forward Ryan Wittenbrink's nine goals and 27 points.
Against Pitt, IU will try to control the tempo, but "we can pivot as needed," Yeagley adds. "We're not a stubborn team. We can adapt and evolve and find a way, in the end, to win. It's about winning and advancing."
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