DiPrimio: Mihalic, Hoosiers Up for Expectations
8/23/2023 8:26:00 AM | Men's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON — Pressure?
Of course, there is. It comes with playing sports in general, wearing an Indiana soccer jersey in particular.
Junior forward Tommy Mihalic faces it as a "next-in-line" top scorer as the No. 2 Hoosiers open their season Thursday night at Notre Dame.
"Pressure is good to have," Mihalic says. "I know I have to have a big role on this team. I'm up for that."
Some of college soccer's greatest goal scorers have worn cream and crimson, from Ken Snow (84 goals, 196 points) to Steve Burks (77, 182) to Armando Betacourt (64, 165) to Aleksey Korol (57, 149) and more.
No Hoosier is likely to match those numbers (Victor Bezerra led IU with nine goals and 21 points in 2021; Ryan Wittenbrink had 10 and 29 last season), but that's not the point.
Winning is, and Mihalic is poised to help lead the way. His goal from the left wing during last Friday's 1-0 exhibition victory over Louisville suggests he's ready.
"Every year, roles develop," he says. "Everyone finds a bigger role. In moments like that, guys have to step up. I was happy to do that. I made the most of the opportunity."
It's about time, coach Todd Yeagley says, in so many words.
"We were dynamic in transition," Yeagley says. "Our defensive press was excellent. When we went, we can go fast.
"Tommy had brilliant movement. That step over is something he has in his arsenal. He hasn't used it as much as we'd like. He used it appropriately. We need him to be consistently dangerous and do a better job of understanding the rhythm of the game."
Beyond Mihalic, IU has multiple other potential offensive options.
Junior forward Samuel Sarver is a consistent double-figure scorer, with 12 points last season and 18 in 2021. Senior forwards Maouloune Goumballe (five career goals) and Karsen Henderlong (24 career goals at two schools), along with freshmen forwards Collins Oduro (39 high school goals as a senior in Pennsylvania), Alex Barger (43 career high school goals in Illinois) and Clay Murador (44 career high school goals in Texas) have impressive offensive skills, and a lot more.
Murador brings track speed. He's run a 48.06-second 400-meter dash. Sarver and Oduro were listed among the Big Ten's top players in the conference's preseason Players to Watch list. So was junior midfielder Patrick McDonald, who recorded a crucial assist and a goal during last year's NCAA tourney run.
Oduro has the potential for immediate impact.
"Collins is as electric as any player I've been with," Mihalic says. "His speed is similar to Sammy. He's fast and athletic.
"It's fun playing off of them. Any attacker who is hard to defend, it makes it easier for the other attackers. Adding Collins helps us so much and makes others better. He's a great addition."
Opponents will face a big challenge when IU goes into attack mode with players such as Oduro, Goumballe, Murador and Sarver joining Mihalic.
"Four guys like that with the qualities we have up top is hard to deal with," Mihalic says. "If one guy has an off day, another guy can step up.
"We have confidence in each other. We all can make plays. The team has confidence in us. We'll grow together, and hopefully score a lot of goals."
Offense might even come from defenders such as 6-4 Hugo Bacharach, a transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson via Spain.
"He has all kinds of talent," Yeagley says. "He moves way more differently than someone who is 6-4. His sophistication and aerial play are different.
"We haven't had someone in the air like that in a long time. He'll score some restarts for us.
"Defensively, he has a composed presence, and yet he's fiery. He's locked in. He and (senior defender Joey Maher) have really connected."
Defensive connection is huge now that two-Big Ten defensive-player-of-the-year Daniel Munie has moved on to Major League Soccer.
"Having an All-American gone in Munie, to say we feel good right now (defensively) is important," Yeagley says. "It's a different look, but it looks to be effective with Hugo."
Fitness is, as usual, an IU strength.
"Sammy can go all night," Yeagley says. "It's a matter of just giving him a breather. Collins is at an amazing endurance level. Maouloune can go all day.
"We have some guys we don't have to pull out if they're in good form, but we do have some options in the attack."
IU withstood Louisville's physicality, and if it at times seemed excessive, well, tough-minded competitors deal with it.
The Hoosiers did.
"It was a great test for us to see that before we get into it," Mihalic says.
Adds Yeagley: "This game has been a little chippy. Our guys kept their composure. You've got to punish them with a restart goal and make them pay if they keep fouling you 30 feet from the goal. Our guys didn't shy away. They were physical."
The Hoosiers finished 3-0 in exhibition play after going 1-2 last year, although that didn't stop them from reaching the national championship game.
"There is some momentum you can gain from the preseason," Yeagley says.
We'll find out how much momentum was gained starting on Thursday night.
