Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio: Mihalic a Catalyst in IU’s Latest Surge
11/18/2023 12:24:00 PM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON – Indiana is rolling. It is motivated. It is peaking in its latest NCAA tourney men's soccer opportunity, a traditional postseason juggernaut returning to potential title-winning form.
Forward Tommy Mihalic is a catalyst.
In his two previous seasons, his scoring was a big part of it – a combined 12 goals, 27 total points.
This season, not so much, but that misses the point.
Mihalic is a catalyst.
He leads. He disrupts and pressures and creates.
Mihalic's early offensive struggles mirrored that of the IU team, but that's in everyone's rearview mirror. The unseeded Hoosiers (13-4-4), owners of a six-matching winning streak after handling Lipscomb 2-1 in Thursday night's tourney opener, play at 10th-seeded Wake Forest (11-2-5) on Sunday as a team no one wants to face.
They have won 10 of 11 matches, scoring 23 goals in that stretch. They have won Big Ten regular season and conference tourney titles. They have a veteran group tested in the sport's biggest games, including last year's national championship epic lost to Syracuse in a PK shootout.
Early season struggles that might have broken a less focused team have only sharpened their resolve.
"We've known the whole season how good we can be," Mihalic says. "We've had great performances the whole season.
"Goals weren't falling for us. Results weren't falling for us, but we've always had confidence. There was never a doubt on this team that we could go where we want to go. There's so much more ahead of us that we're looking forward to and working for.
"We're in a good spot. There's good mojo on the team."
Mihalic has taken a team-leading 57 shots with a team-leading 21 of them on goal.
Only two have found the back of the net, in part because of great goalkeeping, including a spectacular diving save by Lipscomb's Harrison Gough on Thursday night.
The first goal came in IU's 15th game on Oct. 27 against Trine. The second came in a Big Ten tourney semifinal win over Michigan.
Frustrating?
Sure.
Defining?
Not a chance.
"At the beginning of the year, it wasn't ideal," Mihalic says. "You keep your head straight. I wasn't going to let it bring me down.
"In a big game (against Michigan), I got a chance, and I scored. It was a big goal. We won. It was good to see the ball hit the net."
Mihalic has missed from far and short, with defensive pressure and without. It is an anomaly that's part of soccer if you play long enough, and this much we know -- it will end.
You don't score 14 goals at the college level, many of them clutch, without talent and resilience.
Coach Todd Yeagley saw this during the recruiting process. Mihalic's family is from Croatia, and he played on the U17 Croatian national team. His father, Mario, played soccer at Eastern Illinois.
"It starts with his passion," Yeagley says. "He's grown up in an avid soccer family with his Croatian background and mom (Ivana) and dad. He loves the game. You can see that with his attacking ability.
"He's watched the game a lot. He's emulated the game a lot and watched tough players."
What makes him special?
"It's his 1-on-1 abilities," Yeagley says. "His instincts in the final third, his love for the game. I knew we'd have a kid who would translate well for us, and he's done a really nice job."
Ask Mihalic about a tap-in goal he missed against Michigan which followed the key goal he did score, and he doesn't blink.
"It happens. You have to move on. I've missed chances before. Move on and keep going. Keep my head on straight."
And so he has.
College soccer is a physical game at any time. It amplifies under NCAA tourney pressure. Playing through it, Mihalic says, is crucial.
"You have to be patient. Pick and choose the moments to attack.
"It's easy to get frustrated if they're being physical to know when you should step on it, when you shouldn't. Having that patience and knowing when to go and step on the ball, that's what gets you through those physical moments."
IU faces a significant challenge at Wake Forest, but not an insurmountable one.
The Demon Deacons have allowed just 14 goals this season. They are 8-1-3 at Spry Stadium. Since 2015, they have won 102 home matches, 17 more than any other team in the nation.
They are led by ACC Defensive Player of the Year Garrison Tubbs, and All-ACC players Jahlane Forbes, Hosei Kijima, Roald Mitchell and Liam O'Gara.
Mitchell has a team-leading nine goals and 21 points. Goalkeeper Trace Alphin has played all but 33 minutes this season, and has made 32 saves while recording five shutouts.
If ever there was a team prepared for this challenge and environment, it's the Hoosiers. They have a dominant goalkeeper in JT Harms, stifling defenders in Joey Maher, Brett Bebej, Hugo Bacharach, Jansenn Miller and Alex Barger creative offense with Samuel Sarver, Collins Oduro, Maouloune Goumballe, Patrick McDonald and Mihalic, and depth with Karsen Henderlong and Nate Ward. It's all backed by a tradition that includes eight national titles and 22 final four appearances.
"We have guys who have been here a while and played in big games like this," Mihalic says. "The younger guys have adapted to a game like this.
"We've had experience playing in some of the biggest games you can play in at this level. That gives us that confidence that whatever comes our way, we're ready for it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON – Indiana is rolling. It is motivated. It is peaking in its latest NCAA tourney men's soccer opportunity, a traditional postseason juggernaut returning to potential title-winning form.
Forward Tommy Mihalic is a catalyst.
In his two previous seasons, his scoring was a big part of it – a combined 12 goals, 27 total points.
This season, not so much, but that misses the point.
Mihalic is a catalyst.
He leads. He disrupts and pressures and creates.
Mihalic's early offensive struggles mirrored that of the IU team, but that's in everyone's rearview mirror. The unseeded Hoosiers (13-4-4), owners of a six-matching winning streak after handling Lipscomb 2-1 in Thursday night's tourney opener, play at 10th-seeded Wake Forest (11-2-5) on Sunday as a team no one wants to face.
They have won 10 of 11 matches, scoring 23 goals in that stretch. They have won Big Ten regular season and conference tourney titles. They have a veteran group tested in the sport's biggest games, including last year's national championship epic lost to Syracuse in a PK shootout.
Early season struggles that might have broken a less focused team have only sharpened their resolve.
"We've known the whole season how good we can be," Mihalic says. "We've had great performances the whole season.
"Goals weren't falling for us. Results weren't falling for us, but we've always had confidence. There was never a doubt on this team that we could go where we want to go. There's so much more ahead of us that we're looking forward to and working for.
"We're in a good spot. There's good mojo on the team."
Mihalic has taken a team-leading 57 shots with a team-leading 21 of them on goal.
Only two have found the back of the net, in part because of great goalkeeping, including a spectacular diving save by Lipscomb's Harrison Gough on Thursday night.
The first goal came in IU's 15th game on Oct. 27 against Trine. The second came in a Big Ten tourney semifinal win over Michigan.
Frustrating?
Sure.
Defining?
Not a chance.
"At the beginning of the year, it wasn't ideal," Mihalic says. "You keep your head straight. I wasn't going to let it bring me down.
"In a big game (against Michigan), I got a chance, and I scored. It was a big goal. We won. It was good to see the ball hit the net."
Mihalic has missed from far and short, with defensive pressure and without. It is an anomaly that's part of soccer if you play long enough, and this much we know -- it will end.
You don't score 14 goals at the college level, many of them clutch, without talent and resilience.
Coach Todd Yeagley saw this during the recruiting process. Mihalic's family is from Croatia, and he played on the U17 Croatian national team. His father, Mario, played soccer at Eastern Illinois.
"It starts with his passion," Yeagley says. "He's grown up in an avid soccer family with his Croatian background and mom (Ivana) and dad. He loves the game. You can see that with his attacking ability.
"He's watched the game a lot. He's emulated the game a lot and watched tough players."
What makes him special?
"It's his 1-on-1 abilities," Yeagley says. "His instincts in the final third, his love for the game. I knew we'd have a kid who would translate well for us, and he's done a really nice job."
Ask Mihalic about a tap-in goal he missed against Michigan which followed the key goal he did score, and he doesn't blink.
"It happens. You have to move on. I've missed chances before. Move on and keep going. Keep my head on straight."
And so he has.
College soccer is a physical game at any time. It amplifies under NCAA tourney pressure. Playing through it, Mihalic says, is crucial.
"You have to be patient. Pick and choose the moments to attack.
"It's easy to get frustrated if they're being physical to know when you should step on it, when you shouldn't. Having that patience and knowing when to go and step on the ball, that's what gets you through those physical moments."
IU faces a significant challenge at Wake Forest, but not an insurmountable one.
The Demon Deacons have allowed just 14 goals this season. They are 8-1-3 at Spry Stadium. Since 2015, they have won 102 home matches, 17 more than any other team in the nation.
They are led by ACC Defensive Player of the Year Garrison Tubbs, and All-ACC players Jahlane Forbes, Hosei Kijima, Roald Mitchell and Liam O'Gara.
Mitchell has a team-leading nine goals and 21 points. Goalkeeper Trace Alphin has played all but 33 minutes this season, and has made 32 saves while recording five shutouts.
If ever there was a team prepared for this challenge and environment, it's the Hoosiers. They have a dominant goalkeeper in JT Harms, stifling defenders in Joey Maher, Brett Bebej, Hugo Bacharach, Jansenn Miller and Alex Barger creative offense with Samuel Sarver, Collins Oduro, Maouloune Goumballe, Patrick McDonald and Mihalic, and depth with Karsen Henderlong and Nate Ward. It's all backed by a tradition that includes eight national titles and 22 final four appearances.
"We have guys who have been here a while and played in big games like this," Mihalic says. "The younger guys have adapted to a game like this.
"We've had experience playing in some of the biggest games you can play in at this level. That gives us that confidence that whatever comes our way, we're ready for it."
Players Mentioned
Midfielder/Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
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Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
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