Trusting Performance, Hoosiers Build Momentum Into Stretch Run
Logan LeGrett | IUHoosiers.com Student Staff Writer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Similar to its starts of recent years, Indiana men's soccer has experienced a roller coaster ride so far in 2024. The Hoosiers have had highlights as the season meets its midpoint, most notably a draw against No. 4 Ohio State and a win over No. 8 Wisconsin, both on the road.
Against Washington (4-2-5, 1-1-3 B1G) on Friday (Oct. 4), the Hoosiers (3-3-5, 2-1-2 B1G) maintained a 2-1 lead for the majority of the match but walked away with a draw in front of the hometown crowd. Despite the result, there's an undercurrent of optimism flowing through the program, which sits No. 4 in the Big Ten standings entering Tuesday.
The draw against Washington opened a three-game homestand, with Kentucky on Tuesday and Penn State on Friday. Head coach Todd Yeagley emphasized how important it is to take advantage of the Bloomington crowds this week.
"The performances at home have been really good," Yeagley said. "Our guys love playing here. The crowds are always good. The students came and got louder as the game went on [against Washington]."
In typical fashion for Yeagley, when the Hoosiers are faced with adversity, he focuses on the positives to take away from Friday's draw.
"I just felt they really wanted to come out and perform well at home, and we did,” said Yeagley, “ I said, 'Take the last 10 minutes. If they don't get the goal, what would the locker room feel like? We'd be in a very good mood. We'd be very pleased. We'd be proud of the performance.'
"We can't lose sight of the moment. When you perform well over the course of a lot of games, that's the most important thing. And we will get results."
Although the team didn't ultimately get the results it wanted, the Washington match exemplified both the promise and the potential of this Hoosier squad.
Junior defender Quinton Elliot, who is in his first season with Indiana after transferring from Louisville, had a career game on Friday scoring two goals in the first 18 minutes.
Elliot has been a key piece for a program he initially looked at as a prep star in Ohio.
"I looked at IU out of high school, and it was a top school. I loved it here," Elliot said. "The first time didn't work out, so when I hit the portal [last year], I just knew this was the place I wanted to be."
For Elliot, the two-goal performance was a long time coming.
"Two goals in one match? It's been a while," Elliot laughed. "It's been since before college, back in travel days, so that was nice for sure."
Elliot's emergence as an integral piece on offense was a development that Yeagley has seen coming.
"We've always said he can help us in the attack, whether that's an assist or a goal, I mean those were fantastic.” Said Yeagley. “I think he needed that. He's a player that doesn't quite know how good he is, which is not a bad thing. But he could be an All-American outside back, and tonight he played like one."
The offensive output from unexpected sources is precisely what Indiana needs as they look to pick up momentum in the heart of their Big Ten schedule. With seven goals in their last three matches - compared to just three in the first eight - there are signs that the Hoosiers are finding their rhythm at a key point in the season.
While the team has shown improvement, Yeagley notes there is room to grow.
"We didn't keep things on frame well enough," Yeagley said. "We weren't on goal. So, although we did create a lot [of scoring chances], I thought we could have had a little more composure and kept it on frame. [When you do that], you're going to get a rebound, you're going to get a deflection. We didn't get those tonight."
While Yeagley sees areas for improvement in the offense, he had high praise for the defense when asked if he was concerned about the goals the team has let up.
"I look at the chances we're giving up,” said Yeagley. “We're not giving up a lot. If we were giving up a lot of chances and having a goal or two against, I would be more worried. But we're not."
While the team's 3-3-5 start may not be what Hoosier fans have become accustomed to, there is no sign of concern within the locker room and Elliot, for one, is confident in the team's direction.
"Obviously the result isn't the best, but it was a good performance," Elliot said. "I think we had a good 90 minutes, and we had plenty of chances. I think just build off of how we played [against Washington] and how we go on Tuesday."
"We're creating a lot of chances. We're converting better," Yeagley said. "We're heading in the right direction."