Sarver, McDonald, Oduro Named Big Ten Players to Watch
8/21/2023 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON — Two Indiana men's soccer juniors and a freshman featured on the Big Ten Players to Watch list, announced by the conference office on Monday (Aug. 21).
Third-year players Samuel Sarver, a forward, and Patrick McDonald, a midfielder, were joined by freshman forward Collins Oduro as notable talents in the conference's season preview.
Sarver has totaled 30 points on 11 goals and eight assists in his two seasons at Indiana and has played in each of Indiana's 47 games in that span. All of Sarver's goals during Indiana's 2022 College Cup season came in big games as he scored against Clemson, Akron, Maryland and UNCG - all ranked opponents.
McDonald has evolved quickly through his two seasons, transforming from an apprentice to Joe Schmidt and Ben Yeagley as a freshman to becoming a mainstay and leader in midfield last season. He assisted Sarver's goal against UNCG in the Elite 8 and scored a game-tying goal against Syracuse in the national championship match, ending the season with two goals and two assists.
Oduro joins Indiana after a senior season at The Phelps School in Philadelphia where he was named Pennsylvania Gatorade Player of the Year, scoring 39 goals and adding a pair of assists.
Indiana opens its 2023 season on Thursday (Aug. 24) at Notre Dame. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Alumni Stadium, and fans can watch the match on ACCNX.
