Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio: ‘Urgency’ Needed as IU Soccer Keeps Building
9/18/2023 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON – Todd Yeagley begins in a voice barely above a whisper. Words come hard when work isn't rewarded, when execution doesn't follow strategy.
When victory doesn't come … again.
"There are a lot of good things," Indiana's soccer coach says. "There's frustration with consistency of some performances."
On a gorgeous September night at Bill Armstrong Stadium, opportunity is lost, but not a game. A 0-0 tie is not a Hoosier goal at any time, especially in a Big Ten opener, although it does keep them undefeated against Wisconsin in 13 straight matches.
Still, the 2-2-2 record is a frustrating reminder that, even for a tradition-rich program such as Indiana (eight national titles), nothing comes easily in this era of unprecedented parity and international impact.
"We have to continue to work on the videos and see where we're disconnected at times," Yeagley says. "Build their confidence."
There's much to build with behind a roster of veteran standouts Patrick McDonald, Samuel Sarver, Tommy Mihalic, Jack Wagoner, Joey Maher, Brett Bebej, Maouloune Goumballe and JT Harms mixed with talented newcomers such as Collins Oduro, Alex Barger and Hugo Bacharach.
The Hoosiers are young and in transition. They defend fiercely (allowing just three goals and three shutouts) and score inconsistently (just four goals on the season).
Early season struggles are not uncommon for a program that schedules rigorously to improve, not to just win. See the four College Cup appearances in the last six seasons as proof it works.
Yeagley has been through early season struggles before. Last year, IU fell to 3-2-1after its Big Ten opener at Ohio State and ended with a national runner-up finish. The solution comes down to this – work, focus and believe.
IU is getting shots – it averages 16 a game – but struggles to finish.
"We're creating enough chances at goal," Yeagley says, "but we're still missing the frame, which is disappointing. We've been focusing on that.
"Some of our front players have been really good in seven to eight out of 10 things, but not the final pass, not the finish. They're a little off in their movements and thoughts."
The solution: "Get on the same page," Yeagley says. "That takes time. The attack is always the hardest."
IU has goal scorers, guys who know how to get the ball in the net. Mihalic had seven goals and 16 points last year. Sarver had four goals and 12 points. Oduro scored 39 goals as a high school senior in Pennsylvania last year.
"The frustration is, offensively, we know we have another gear," Yeagley says. "We know our guys can perform better. We're trying to get that out of them. There's no panic in the group, but there needs to be more urgency."
Wisconsin played a style that demanded patience as well as urgency, teamwork as well as individual execution. It was similar to the Seton Hall game (a 1-0 IU win) and the opposite of the Washington full-throttle style that resulted in a game Yeagley calls, "fast and furious." It also was a 1-0 loss.
"We had to change the tempo, and yet be patient for your moment," Yeagley says about the Wisconsin game. "Sometimes we jammed balls that we could have been patient with a few more passes, and then go.
"We didn't change the rhythm enough. That's personality at times. Someone has to get a hold of those cues and go, 'Now it's on' and have great conviction to finish the play. We had some, but not enough."
IU is also searching for a playmaker in the manner of, say, Ryan Wittenbrink, who last year led the team with 10 goals and 29 points.
"He made plays for us last year," Yeagley says. "You always felt he could do that. Right now, we're searching for that player. We have more players who can make plays. He was the one who could make a play for us."
Yeagley wants the Hoosiers to play to their strengths, and to the strengths of their teammates.
"At times, we're not setting our teammates up for their strengths. We have to find those moments, find those matchup advantages."
When the Hoosiers do shoot, Yeagley says, at least put it on frame.
"If you do that, put it through traffic, something good can happen. You can get a deflection at some point. We haven't been able to do that. We haven't been able to get that slop goal that's created by keeping things alive. We need a good, hard finish on frame that makes the keeper make a play."
The defense has been solid except for the South Florida game, which still burns Yeagley, although it was only a 1-0 defeat.
"Defensively, take the South Florida game out, and we've given away very few chances," Yeagley says. "I'm really pleased with that. We're one of the best defensive teams again, statistically."
IU's goals against average of 0.50 ranks in the top 15 nationally. That's not a surprise. It has had at least nine shutouts in seven straight seasons coming in with a high of 18 in 2017. JT Harms ranks among the nation's top goalkeepers.
"He's a great kid, a natural leader," Yeagley says.
The Hoosiers host Butler (1-3-1) on Tuesday night before ending the month with Michigan State on the road and Michigan at home. A strong finish is possible, and, if it means more tinkering with the lineup, Yeagley won't flinch.
"We're trying to find some combinations to score goals. We have some good attackers. We just have to convert."
