Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio: IU Hosts Northwestern with Big Ten Title Prospects at Stake
10/28/2024 9:15:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – And then there was one.
One more Big Ten opportunity. One more time for Indiana to extend its unbeaten streak, showcase its recent dominance (West Coast trip to face powerhouse UCLA? No problem) and position itself for another conference men's soccer regular season championship.
Beat Northwestern (8-6-1 overall, 2-5-1 in the Big Ten) Tuesday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium, and the No. 22 Hoosiers (8-3-5, 6-1-2) could share the title with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Maryland – or even win it outright.
The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten standings with 20 points. Ohio State is next at 6-1-1 for 19 points. Maryland is 5-1-2 for 17 points. The latter two have two games left to play, including a matchup with each other on Sunday.
Indiana will not play Sunday – Tuesday is IU's last conference game. Ohio State and Maryland's Sunday meeting will likely settle the Big Ten race once and for all. On Tuesday, the Buckeyes host Michigan State (4-3-1) and the Terrapins play at last-place Rutgers (1-6-1).
Beyond the regular season title hopes, IU has clinched a berth in the upcoming seven-team Big Ten tourney. The quarterfinals and semifinals are set for Nov. 7 and Nov. 10 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill., near Chicago. The championship match, scheduled for Nov. 17, will be held at the highest remaining seed's home field.
Which adds to this week's intrigue. Several scenarios see the Hoosiers earning that No. 1 seed – as they dramatically did a year ago – but, even with a win Tuesday, they likely wouldn't know their number until Sunday.
With the conference expanded to 11 soccer-playing schools with the additions of UCLA and Washington, Yeagley wants to see more teams in the conference tourney.
"There might be teams that don't make the conference tournament that are potential NCAA tourney teams," he says. "That's craziness.
"We're excited to be in the conference tournament, but we should have more teams in it."
A struggling September for the Hoosiers has given way to a 6-0-1 October behind a reinvigorated offense that has produced 22 goals in the last eight games, with at least two in each of them, a scoring streak IU last achieved in 1997. The Hoosiers have beaten three straight Top 25 teams and are 3-1-2 against ranked opponents this season.
Indiana's eight-game unbeaten streak is fueled by contributions from old and young, from veterans such as forward Justin Weiss (four goals in the last three games with a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor), forward Samuel Sarver (four goals on the season with 11 points in conference play), junior defender Quinton Elliot (the Big Ten defensive player of the week), senior forward Tommy Mihalic (a team-leading 17 points), senior defender Jansen Miller and senior goalkeeper JT Harms to freshman contributors led by defender Josh Maher, forward Michael Nesci and midfielder Charlie Heuer.
Consider Maher, who continues a family Hoosier connection. Older brothers Jack and Joey played for IU and won Big Ten titles at IU. Not only was Josh Maher a four-star recruit coming out of the St. Louis CITY Academy, he also made the top of his Althoff Catholic School graduating class with a 5.0 grade point average.
Maher has started 15 games and totaled three assists in his debut season, including one in Friday night's clutch 2-1 win at UCLA.
Coach Todd Yeagley says Maher's leadership voice continues to improve, although as a freshman, it's not at an upperclassmen level.
"He's a strong kid," Yeagley says. "He will grow with his voice while he's here. I told him we will wait for that. He's doing better."
As far as Maher's game performance, Yeagley adds that Maher's distribution decisions are improving as far as when to go behind and when to play short.
"His midfield piece is better," Yeagley says. "He's understanding the rhythm of our attack. He's gaining little subtleties every week."
Growing up in a soccer family has instilled in Maher the important of preparation.
"He's a student of the game," Yeagley says. "He watches as much film as any player on the team. You can see that.
"There are so many little things that are hard to teach in a short amount of time. He has a great thirst for learning. He doesn't take a play off. He's always locked in. He's one step ahead and it allows him to make good decisions."
Maher also plays to his experience and skill set.
"He stays within himself," Yeagley says. "He doesn't need to hit balls with his left and making all these creative surges. We have other players who can do that.
"He does his job well. He's getting better every week."
There's one other thing that might be the most important of all.
"When the game is over," Yeagley says, "Josh does little things right."
Keep doing all the little things right, and the Hoosiers may hoist the trophy again this week.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – And then there was one.
One more Big Ten opportunity. One more time for Indiana to extend its unbeaten streak, showcase its recent dominance (West Coast trip to face powerhouse UCLA? No problem) and position itself for another conference men's soccer regular season championship.
Beat Northwestern (8-6-1 overall, 2-5-1 in the Big Ten) Tuesday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium, and the No. 22 Hoosiers (8-3-5, 6-1-2) could share the title with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Maryland – or even win it outright.
The Hoosiers lead the Big Ten standings with 20 points. Ohio State is next at 6-1-1 for 19 points. Maryland is 5-1-2 for 17 points. The latter two have two games left to play, including a matchup with each other on Sunday.
Indiana will not play Sunday – Tuesday is IU's last conference game. Ohio State and Maryland's Sunday meeting will likely settle the Big Ten race once and for all. On Tuesday, the Buckeyes host Michigan State (4-3-1) and the Terrapins play at last-place Rutgers (1-6-1).
Beyond the regular season title hopes, IU has clinched a berth in the upcoming seven-team Big Ten tourney. The quarterfinals and semifinals are set for Nov. 7 and Nov. 10 at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Ill., near Chicago. The championship match, scheduled for Nov. 17, will be held at the highest remaining seed's home field.
Which adds to this week's intrigue. Several scenarios see the Hoosiers earning that No. 1 seed – as they dramatically did a year ago – but, even with a win Tuesday, they likely wouldn't know their number until Sunday.
With the conference expanded to 11 soccer-playing schools with the additions of UCLA and Washington, Yeagley wants to see more teams in the conference tourney.
"There might be teams that don't make the conference tournament that are potential NCAA tourney teams," he says. "That's craziness.
"We're excited to be in the conference tournament, but we should have more teams in it."
A struggling September for the Hoosiers has given way to a 6-0-1 October behind a reinvigorated offense that has produced 22 goals in the last eight games, with at least two in each of them, a scoring streak IU last achieved in 1997. The Hoosiers have beaten three straight Top 25 teams and are 3-1-2 against ranked opponents this season.
Indiana's eight-game unbeaten streak is fueled by contributions from old and young, from veterans such as forward Justin Weiss (four goals in the last three games with a Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honor), forward Samuel Sarver (four goals on the season with 11 points in conference play), junior defender Quinton Elliot (the Big Ten defensive player of the week), senior forward Tommy Mihalic (a team-leading 17 points), senior defender Jansen Miller and senior goalkeeper JT Harms to freshman contributors led by defender Josh Maher, forward Michael Nesci and midfielder Charlie Heuer.
Consider Maher, who continues a family Hoosier connection. Older brothers Jack and Joey played for IU and won Big Ten titles at IU. Not only was Josh Maher a four-star recruit coming out of the St. Louis CITY Academy, he also made the top of his Althoff Catholic School graduating class with a 5.0 grade point average.
Maher has started 15 games and totaled three assists in his debut season, including one in Friday night's clutch 2-1 win at UCLA.
Coach Todd Yeagley says Maher's leadership voice continues to improve, although as a freshman, it's not at an upperclassmen level.
"He's a strong kid," Yeagley says. "He will grow with his voice while he's here. I told him we will wait for that. He's doing better."
As far as Maher's game performance, Yeagley adds that Maher's distribution decisions are improving as far as when to go behind and when to play short.
"His midfield piece is better," Yeagley says. "He's understanding the rhythm of our attack. He's gaining little subtleties every week."
Growing up in a soccer family has instilled in Maher the important of preparation.
"He's a student of the game," Yeagley says. "He watches as much film as any player on the team. You can see that.
"There are so many little things that are hard to teach in a short amount of time. He has a great thirst for learning. He doesn't take a play off. He's always locked in. He's one step ahead and it allows him to make good decisions."
Maher also plays to his experience and skill set.
"He stays within himself," Yeagley says. "He doesn't need to hit balls with his left and making all these creative surges. We have other players who can do that.
"He does his job well. He's getting better every week."
There's one other thing that might be the most important of all.
"When the game is over," Yeagley says, "Josh does little things right."
Keep doing all the little things right, and the Hoosiers may hoist the trophy again this week.
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
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