Hoosiers Head North for Halloween Conference Clash

Friday, October 31

Evanston, Ill.

7:30 p.m.

Indiana University

Northwestern

Hoosiers Head North for Halloween Conference Clash

10/30/2025 8:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer

Match Notes (PDF)Watch Live Stats

EVANSTON, Ill. — Indiana men's soccer (11-4-1, 4-4-0 B1G) hunts for a crucial three points in its penultimate Big Ten Conference match Friday (Oct. 31) night at Northwestern (6-5-3, 1-4-2 B1G).

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Fans can watch the match on the B1G+ digital platform.

KICKING OFF
• With two games remaining in the regular season, Indiana controls its destiny regarding qualification for the four-team Big Ten Tournament. With wins at Northwestern on Friday and versus Rutgers next week, the Hoosiers would automatically clinch a spot in the conference semifinal.
• On top of conference tournament goals, positive results will strengthen IU's already glowing NCAA Tournament resume, highlighted by a No. 4 ranking in the RPI, three victories against ranked opponents and four Quad 1 victories.
• Indiana leans on its high-powered attack, producing 2.6 goals per game and leading the conference in scoring with 41 goals this season – matching, in 16 games, what it totaled in 22 games last season.
• Senior Palmer Ault is the focal point of the Indiana attack as a leading contender for the MAC Hermann Trophy. Ault tops the NCAA leaderboards in goals (15) and points (38) and has hit another gear of late, with 12 G/A in IU's last five games.
• Chicagoland has produced some of the Indiana program's greatest players and continues to provide a hotbed for Hoosier talent, as seven members of the 2025 team call the metro area their first home: Alex Barger (Naperville), Luka Bezerra (Chicago), Easton Bogard (Oak Park), Charlie Heuer (Elmhurst), Michael Nesci (Chicago), Owen Sloan (Lake Forest) and Seth Stewart (Oswego).

ABOUT THE WILDCATS
• Northwestern owns a 6-5-3 record on the year but has done relatively well at home, earning a 4-2-2 mark at Martin Stadium. In Big Ten Conference play, the Wildcats have managed a victory against Rutgers (1-0) and draws with Michigan State (0-0) and Penn State (2-2).
• Head coach Russell Payne leads the Wildcats in his fifth season, sporting a 34-34-15 record during his time in Evanston, and a 103-119-46 career mark over 16 seasons as a head coach.

SERIES HISTORY
• Indiana has historically dominated the series with Northwestern, winning 37 of the 48 meetings. The Hoosiers won the first 20 matchups between 1983-2003 as well as six of the last seven.
• Indiana celebrated winning a share of the Big Ten regular season title last season with a 6-1 victory over Northwestern in Bloomington. Charlie Heuer had a goal and an assist in that match, and Collins Oduro and Alex Barger each added assists of their own.

@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

#NeverDaunted