Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio: ‘Still Another Gear’ – No. 2 IU Continues Unbeaten Streak
10/4/2026 4:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The goal was impressive, Indiana forward Stephane Njike's five Olympic gymnast-caliber backflips that quickly followed it more so.
Then there was the way the No. 2 Hoosiers (9-0-2) controlled No. 4 Maryland (6-2-1) in a statement victory at Bill Armstrong Stadium that suggests this team is poised for yet another special end-of-season run.
How special?
Consider IU is 4-0-1 in conference play for a Big Ten-leading 13 points. Washington is second at 3-1-1 for 10 points. The Huskies' only loss was to the Hoosiers by a 1-0 score.
Consider also, that Indiana is the only team behind top-ranked SMU (9-0-1) to receive a first-place vote in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Hoosiers combine stifling defense with rock-your-world offense, a 1-2 combination, said midfielder Charlie Heuer, few teams can match.
"We take a lot of pride in in defending with the ball," he said. "I think the best way to defend is keep the ball. You'll see us possess and sometimes take the air out of the game.
"That's what we do really well this year – we can take those moments where the game can be a little chaotic and keep possession and get back to our speed. That helps us a lot. It can tire them out.
"We have so many great players on our attack from (Njike, Oliver Moller-Jensen and Easton Bogard) I can go on and on. So, when we do go, we pick our moments, and we can be lethal."
Maryland arrived loaded with top-level talent and coaching (head coach Sasho Cirovski has 457 career victories), plus wins over three top-10 teams in High Point, Georgetown and Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers rocked the Terrapins early and often with exquisite play at every level.
"We came out very intense playing our game," Heuer said, "and I think everybody in that locker room believes that when we come out playing like that, there are very few teams that can stop us."
Maryland couldn't, even with Laurin Mack, last year's Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year who already had one six-save game on his resume this season (against High Point), just off his career-high seven against Washington last year in the NCAA tourney.
Njike's second-half goal put the game away and set off those celebratory five backflips. Njike, a Maryland transfer, insisted he can do as many as 10. An impressed Heuer conceded he couldn't match them.
"He's pretty good at that," Heuer said. "Maybe he'll teach me."
Off to the side in the Bill Armstrong Stadium press box, Njike added, "I will teach you."
"There you go," Heuer said with a smile.
It was a night for Hoosier smiles, including the 20-plus alumni from IU's first-ever NCAA tourney appearance in 1974 and its first national championship game appearance in 1976.
"One of my last messages before we went out," coach Todd Yeagley said, "was, 'You have 20-something alums that really put helped put us on the map at the beginning. Club players got us there. Then the 1974 team made the tournament. That was amazing. Then, in '76, it was like, who is this team? Then, it just took off.'"
Did it ever with 22 College Cups, 17 national title game appearances and eight national championships.
"There's a lot of responsibility when you wear the (IU) jersey," Yeagley said. "I told them those alumni put us here. Give them something to smile about. Make them proud."
The current Hoosiers did.
"That's a very big message," Yeagley said. "I told them after the game (the alumni) are smiling. Thank you for that."
Thank you was sparked by a dominant first half in which the Hoosiers led 2-0 with an 8-3 edge in shots.
"The first half was probably the best we've played this year," Njike said. "Everyone was doing his job. We were playing good football."
Yeagley agreed.
"That was a really complete first half. We never let up. Our spacing was good. Our tempo was good. We went around them, we went behind them, we went through them. That was some really good attacking. The back line was fantastic.
"We didn't give them a chance in the first half. I don't remember any kind of a dangerous attack. For 45 minutes to keep that team really at bay was impressive by the whole team."
Yeagley paused to reflect on the small second-half slippage – caused in part by Maryland's elevated play – and went into coaching mode.
"If that's in the upper tier of where we can go, I think there's still another gear.
"We're right there. That was good to see. Most important, we got three important (Big Ten standing) points against a good team. We move forward."
Moving comes with a pair of upcoming non-conference home games – Tuesday against Kentucky, Friday against Hanover College. IU's 8-0 home record reflects a Hoosier mindset, Heuer said, "that we don't lose at home."
"That's the biggest thing. We've got to protect our home turf. This is a historic place. Teams are always going to give us their best. They're going to play us like we're the best team in the country, and we're ready for that. We embrace it."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The goal was impressive, Indiana forward Stephane Njike's five Olympic gymnast-caliber backflips that quickly followed it more so.
Then there was the way the No. 2 Hoosiers (9-0-2) controlled No. 4 Maryland (6-2-1) in a statement victory at Bill Armstrong Stadium that suggests this team is poised for yet another special end-of-season run.
How special?
Consider IU is 4-0-1 in conference play for a Big Ten-leading 13 points. Washington is second at 3-1-1 for 10 points. The Huskies' only loss was to the Hoosiers by a 1-0 score.
Consider also, that Indiana is the only team behind top-ranked SMU (9-0-1) to receive a first-place vote in the United Soccer Coaches poll. The Hoosiers combine stifling defense with rock-your-world offense, a 1-2 combination, said midfielder Charlie Heuer, few teams can match.
"We take a lot of pride in in defending with the ball," he said. "I think the best way to defend is keep the ball. You'll see us possess and sometimes take the air out of the game.
"That's what we do really well this year – we can take those moments where the game can be a little chaotic and keep possession and get back to our speed. That helps us a lot. It can tire them out.
"We have so many great players on our attack from (Njike, Oliver Moller-Jensen and Easton Bogard) I can go on and on. So, when we do go, we pick our moments, and we can be lethal."
Maryland arrived loaded with top-level talent and coaching (head coach Sasho Cirovski has 457 career victories), plus wins over three top-10 teams in High Point, Georgetown and Wisconsin.
The Hoosiers rocked the Terrapins early and often with exquisite play at every level.
"We came out very intense playing our game," Heuer said, "and I think everybody in that locker room believes that when we come out playing like that, there are very few teams that can stop us."
Maryland couldn't, even with Laurin Mack, last year's Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year who already had one six-save game on his resume this season (against High Point), just off his career-high seven against Washington last year in the NCAA tourney.
Njike's second-half goal put the game away and set off those celebratory five backflips. Njike, a Maryland transfer, insisted he can do as many as 10. An impressed Heuer conceded he couldn't match them.
"He's pretty good at that," Heuer said. "Maybe he'll teach me."
Off to the side in the Bill Armstrong Stadium press box, Njike added, "I will teach you."
"There you go," Heuer said with a smile.
It was a night for Hoosier smiles, including the 20-plus alumni from IU's first-ever NCAA tourney appearance in 1974 and its first national championship game appearance in 1976.
"One of my last messages before we went out," coach Todd Yeagley said, "was, 'You have 20-something alums that really put helped put us on the map at the beginning. Club players got us there. Then the 1974 team made the tournament. That was amazing. Then, in '76, it was like, who is this team? Then, it just took off.'"
Did it ever with 22 College Cups, 17 national title game appearances and eight national championships.
"There's a lot of responsibility when you wear the (IU) jersey," Yeagley said. "I told them those alumni put us here. Give them something to smile about. Make them proud."
The current Hoosiers did.
"That's a very big message," Yeagley said. "I told them after the game (the alumni) are smiling. Thank you for that."
Thank you was sparked by a dominant first half in which the Hoosiers led 2-0 with an 8-3 edge in shots.
"The first half was probably the best we've played this year," Njike said. "Everyone was doing his job. We were playing good football."
Yeagley agreed.
"That was a really complete first half. We never let up. Our spacing was good. Our tempo was good. We went around them, we went behind them, we went through them. That was some really good attacking. The back line was fantastic.
"We didn't give them a chance in the first half. I don't remember any kind of a dangerous attack. For 45 minutes to keep that team really at bay was impressive by the whole team."
Yeagley paused to reflect on the small second-half slippage – caused in part by Maryland's elevated play – and went into coaching mode.
"If that's in the upper tier of where we can go, I think there's still another gear.
"We're right there. That was good to see. Most important, we got three important (Big Ten standing) points against a good team. We move forward."
Moving comes with a pair of upcoming non-conference home games – Tuesday against Kentucky, Friday against Hanover College. IU's 8-0 home record reflects a Hoosier mindset, Heuer said, "that we don't lose at home."
"That's the biggest thing. We've got to protect our home turf. This is a historic place. Teams are always going to give us their best. They're going to play us like we're the best team in the country, and we're ready for that. We embrace it."
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Soccer
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