Indiana University Athletics
Disruption Rules – IU Defends Way to College Cup
12/8/2022 10:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Defense that you don't want to face has Indiana in the College Cup.
Will it lead to a ninth men's soccer national title?
We're about to find out.
The 13th-seeded Hoosiers (13-4-6) meet unseeded Pitt (12-4-5) in a Friday evening semifinal at Cary, N.C. Third-seeded Syracuse (17-2-4) plays unseeded Creighton (13-4-6) in the other semifinal. The championship game is set for Monday night.
IU squeezes the life out of opposing offenses. It has shut out its first three NCAA tourney opponents – no other College Cup team can say that – behind goalkeeper JT Harms, defenders Daniel Munie, Joey Maher, Nyk Sessock and Brett Bebej, and an overall team concept that dictates play.
"The back four and JT have made good saves," coach Todd Yeagley says. "They are confident because they've been together."
They're not the only confident Hoosiers.
"It starts up top with our strikers," Yeagley says, "and taking away things that teams want to do. You hear teams say, we just didn't have our game today. Typically, Indiana has something to do with that."
IU has posted eight shutouts this season while only allowing 9.9 shots per game. Harms – who replaced two-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Roman Celentano (now playing for Major League Soccer's FC Cincinnati) – credits his defenders, saying it's like having four All-Americans in front of him.
Munie is the first Hoosier to win consecutive Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. He's also made the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region first team for the second straight season.
Early on, injuries prevented IU from using a consistent defensive lineup. Munie missed four games with an injury. Yeagley says Maher, "wasn't at his best form until we got into the season." Bebej was moved around and didn't play left back regularly until halfway through the season. Sessock also didn't start peaking until midseason.
"They all are capable of giving the performances we've seen," Yeagley says, "and it feeds off each other."
Don't underestimate the defensive impact of midfielders Jack Wagoner and Patrick McDonald, and forwards Samuel Sarver, Maouloune Goumballe, Herbert Endeley and Ryan Wittenbrink.
"When you have a couple of attackers feeling it, it makes the guys around them feel better and more confident," Yeagley says. "You see the level of Munie and all of the back-line, and the pride they take and the responsibility of the defending.
"I love the way we're attacking. We're creating some chances. That's our foundation. Those 1 v. 1 and 2 v. 2 moments are critical. We stress those. We train those. We rehearse them. You have to be good in those moments. In the end you have to match up. You have to handle."
The Hoosiers certainly have.
This is their fourth College Cup berth in the last six seasons. That includes a couple of title-game overtime losses in 2017 and '21.
In 2021, the Hoosiers beat Pitt 1-0 in the semifinals before losing in overtime to Marshall.
Friday's approach eliminates complexity.
"We're going to make it as simple as we can," Yeagley says. "We just need to advance. We don't want to get too emotional in games.
"Passion is different. You need that. You need enthusiasm. Emotion can get in the way of performance. We try to take that away. Our focus is advancing."
Pitt had a rough stretch in late September and early October when it went 0-2-3 before bouncing back strong. The Panthers' NCAA tourney run includes upsetting previously undefeated and top-seeded Kentucky, which beat IU 3-0 during the regular season. They beat Portland in double overtime in the Elite Eight to advance to the College Cup for the second time in three seasons.
"It's been a bit of a grind," Pitt coach Jay Vidovich says. "We had some ups and downs. The guys continued to grow. We've had a good run in the tournament."
Vidovich, a two-time national coach of the year, played at IU in 1978 before transferring to Ohio Wesleyan and becoming a team captain who helped lead the team to the NCAA tourney semifinals.
The Panthers flourish with All-Region mid-fielder Valentin Noel, who leads the team in goals (12) and points (25). In three NCAA tourney games, he has four goals. All-Region midfielder Filip Mirkovic has a program-record 12 assists. Pitt has scored 42 goals this season.
"We've become more confident with success," Vidovich says.
IU's confidence also has grown during the season. It opened with a 3-2 loss at then No. 1 Clemson and then a 3-3 tie with Portland before building momentum. It has won seven games against ranked opponents.
"Our team had some big pieces to fill (from last year)," Yeagley says. "They've come together and evolved.
"We put a heck of a schedule in front of them. We knew it would be challenging, and it was. They grew. We hit some bumps and kept getting better. We're hitting our stride now."
The result is a record 22nd College Cup appearance.
"We've been fortunate to have appeared quite a bit in our history," Yeagley says, "and yet, it's like it's your first time with the excitement."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Defense that you don't want to face has Indiana in the College Cup.
Will it lead to a ninth men's soccer national title?
We're about to find out.
The 13th-seeded Hoosiers (13-4-6) meet unseeded Pitt (12-4-5) in a Friday evening semifinal at Cary, N.C. Third-seeded Syracuse (17-2-4) plays unseeded Creighton (13-4-6) in the other semifinal. The championship game is set for Monday night.
IU squeezes the life out of opposing offenses. It has shut out its first three NCAA tourney opponents – no other College Cup team can say that – behind goalkeeper JT Harms, defenders Daniel Munie, Joey Maher, Nyk Sessock and Brett Bebej, and an overall team concept that dictates play.
"The back four and JT have made good saves," coach Todd Yeagley says. "They are confident because they've been together."
They're not the only confident Hoosiers.
"It starts up top with our strikers," Yeagley says, "and taking away things that teams want to do. You hear teams say, we just didn't have our game today. Typically, Indiana has something to do with that."
IU has posted eight shutouts this season while only allowing 9.9 shots per game. Harms – who replaced two-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Roman Celentano (now playing for Major League Soccer's FC Cincinnati) – credits his defenders, saying it's like having four All-Americans in front of him.
Munie is the first Hoosier to win consecutive Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. He's also made the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region first team for the second straight season.
Early on, injuries prevented IU from using a consistent defensive lineup. Munie missed four games with an injury. Yeagley says Maher, "wasn't at his best form until we got into the season." Bebej was moved around and didn't play left back regularly until halfway through the season. Sessock also didn't start peaking until midseason.
"They all are capable of giving the performances we've seen," Yeagley says, "and it feeds off each other."
Don't underestimate the defensive impact of midfielders Jack Wagoner and Patrick McDonald, and forwards Samuel Sarver, Maouloune Goumballe, Herbert Endeley and Ryan Wittenbrink.
"When you have a couple of attackers feeling it, it makes the guys around them feel better and more confident," Yeagley says. "You see the level of Munie and all of the back-line, and the pride they take and the responsibility of the defending.
"I love the way we're attacking. We're creating some chances. That's our foundation. Those 1 v. 1 and 2 v. 2 moments are critical. We stress those. We train those. We rehearse them. You have to be good in those moments. In the end you have to match up. You have to handle."
The Hoosiers certainly have.
This is their fourth College Cup berth in the last six seasons. That includes a couple of title-game overtime losses in 2017 and '21.
In 2021, the Hoosiers beat Pitt 1-0 in the semifinals before losing in overtime to Marshall.
Friday's approach eliminates complexity.
"We're going to make it as simple as we can," Yeagley says. "We just need to advance. We don't want to get too emotional in games.
"Passion is different. You need that. You need enthusiasm. Emotion can get in the way of performance. We try to take that away. Our focus is advancing."
Pitt had a rough stretch in late September and early October when it went 0-2-3 before bouncing back strong. The Panthers' NCAA tourney run includes upsetting previously undefeated and top-seeded Kentucky, which beat IU 3-0 during the regular season. They beat Portland in double overtime in the Elite Eight to advance to the College Cup for the second time in three seasons.
"It's been a bit of a grind," Pitt coach Jay Vidovich says. "We had some ups and downs. The guys continued to grow. We've had a good run in the tournament."
Vidovich, a two-time national coach of the year, played at IU in 1978 before transferring to Ohio Wesleyan and becoming a team captain who helped lead the team to the NCAA tourney semifinals.
The Panthers flourish with All-Region mid-fielder Valentin Noel, who leads the team in goals (12) and points (25). In three NCAA tourney games, he has four goals. All-Region midfielder Filip Mirkovic has a program-record 12 assists. Pitt has scored 42 goals this season.
"We've become more confident with success," Vidovich says.
IU's confidence also has grown during the season. It opened with a 3-2 loss at then No. 1 Clemson and then a 3-3 tie with Portland before building momentum. It has won seven games against ranked opponents.
"Our team had some big pieces to fill (from last year)," Yeagley says. "They've come together and evolved.
"We put a heck of a schedule in front of them. We knew it would be challenging, and it was. They grew. We hit some bumps and kept getting better. We're hitting our stride now."
The result is a record 22nd College Cup appearance.
"We've been fortunate to have appeared quite a bit in our history," Yeagley says, "and yet, it's like it's your first time with the excitement."
Players Mentioned
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