Indiana University Athletics
DiPrimio: Conference Ready – IU Set to Begin Big Ten Soccer Play
9/10/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Now comes the Big Ten and soccer championship opportunity; now Indiana gets to prove it's ready to roll against perhaps the best conference competition it's ever faced.
After dominating the six-game pre-conference schedule, the No. 5 Hoosiers (5-0-1) travel to Michigan (2-1-1) Friday night for its conference opener. It's the first of five straight Big Ten games that could set up the Hoosiers for their 20th regular season conference title.
Coach Todd Yeagley, in his 17th season directing the program, pushes perspective.
"Every game is important," he says. "You're not winning a championship in Week 1. It's a long race. A lot can happen, so you have to stay steady. You can't look ahead."
Still, looking ahead shows the challenge. Big Ten domination in the national polls – six teams are in the top 12 with No. 2 Maryland (4-0), No. 3 Ohio State (4-0), No. 5 IU, No. 8 Wisconsin (5-0), No. 10 Michigan State (4-0-1) and No. 11 UCLA (3-0-2) – has Yeagley saying, "This year could be the toughest and most defining regular season champion we've had in a long time.
"I was bullish heading into the year that this was going to be a good season for the Big Ten, and the results have shown that.
"I think from top to bottom that maybe it's the best it's ever been, and maybe from the middle to the top might be the best ever."
IU's six-game pre-conference schedule – five at home, one at now No. 21 Louisville – was designed to steel the Hoosiers for Big Ten battles. It included a home game against Notre Dame and that trip to Louisville.
"Not a lot of teams have played six games," Yeagley says. "Most are at five or four. We pushed our group. A lot were home games. That's less travel and wear and tear. Now we have a lot of good things to discuss and train."
The Hoosiers have outscored opponents 13-3. Six players have at least one goal, led by forwards Oliver Moller-Jensen (five goals, 12 points on 27 shots) and Easton Bogard (three goals, six points on 16 shots), and midfielder Wes Carnevale (two goals, four points on seven shots).
Goalkeeper Michal Mroz has allowed just three goals, recorded 12 saves and has a 0.50 goals against average.
"I feel good about where we are offensively and defensively," Yeagley says. "We've been able to get some of our depth sorted out.
"We've had just over a month together. That's all we've had. We've been able to get the best picture we can of where we are with our positional depth.
"The attacking depth with this squad is definitely strong with different types of weapons. We have some guys who can unbalance off the dribble or off the pass.
"Now we just have to read each other better, play into those strengths, read the triggers and the cues better based on what our opponents give us and also what our teammates' best skillsets are. That's the next phase for us offensively."
Monday's 3-1 victory over Denver gave IU its 850th program victory in 54 seasons, the fastest ever. It is the seventh NCAA Division I program to reach 850 wins. It's .771 winning percentage (850-209-124) under Todd Yeagley, Jerry Yeagley and Mike Freitag is the best in major college men's soccer history.
"It's important any time you can leave your mark on this program," Yeagley says. "This team helped the program reach another milestone. They were a small part in reaching that number, but they had to do their jobs.
"It gives the guys more pride in the uniform and confidence that they can trust the environment, trust the process and know the blueprint is there. Now it's their turn to execute and do it with a lot of confidence."
Michigan beat IU last year 3-2 at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium. That's irrelevant for this matchup, Yeagley says, because both a vastly different teams with different strengths.
"We expect to pose Michigan some difficult questions," Yeagley adds.
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Now comes the Big Ten and soccer championship opportunity; now Indiana gets to prove it's ready to roll against perhaps the best conference competition it's ever faced.
After dominating the six-game pre-conference schedule, the No. 5 Hoosiers (5-0-1) travel to Michigan (2-1-1) Friday night for its conference opener. It's the first of five straight Big Ten games that could set up the Hoosiers for their 20th regular season conference title.
Coach Todd Yeagley, in his 17th season directing the program, pushes perspective.
"Every game is important," he says. "You're not winning a championship in Week 1. It's a long race. A lot can happen, so you have to stay steady. You can't look ahead."
Still, looking ahead shows the challenge. Big Ten domination in the national polls – six teams are in the top 12 with No. 2 Maryland (4-0), No. 3 Ohio State (4-0), No. 5 IU, No. 8 Wisconsin (5-0), No. 10 Michigan State (4-0-1) and No. 11 UCLA (3-0-2) – has Yeagley saying, "This year could be the toughest and most defining regular season champion we've had in a long time.
"I was bullish heading into the year that this was going to be a good season for the Big Ten, and the results have shown that.
"I think from top to bottom that maybe it's the best it's ever been, and maybe from the middle to the top might be the best ever."
IU's six-game pre-conference schedule – five at home, one at now No. 21 Louisville – was designed to steel the Hoosiers for Big Ten battles. It included a home game against Notre Dame and that trip to Louisville.
"Not a lot of teams have played six games," Yeagley says. "Most are at five or four. We pushed our group. A lot were home games. That's less travel and wear and tear. Now we have a lot of good things to discuss and train."
The Hoosiers have outscored opponents 13-3. Six players have at least one goal, led by forwards Oliver Moller-Jensen (five goals, 12 points on 27 shots) and Easton Bogard (three goals, six points on 16 shots), and midfielder Wes Carnevale (two goals, four points on seven shots).
Goalkeeper Michal Mroz has allowed just three goals, recorded 12 saves and has a 0.50 goals against average.
"I feel good about where we are offensively and defensively," Yeagley says. "We've been able to get some of our depth sorted out.
"We've had just over a month together. That's all we've had. We've been able to get the best picture we can of where we are with our positional depth.
"The attacking depth with this squad is definitely strong with different types of weapons. We have some guys who can unbalance off the dribble or off the pass.
"Now we just have to read each other better, play into those strengths, read the triggers and the cues better based on what our opponents give us and also what our teammates' best skillsets are. That's the next phase for us offensively."
Monday's 3-1 victory over Denver gave IU its 850th program victory in 54 seasons, the fastest ever. It is the seventh NCAA Division I program to reach 850 wins. It's .771 winning percentage (850-209-124) under Todd Yeagley, Jerry Yeagley and Mike Freitag is the best in major college men's soccer history.
"It's important any time you can leave your mark on this program," Yeagley says. "This team helped the program reach another milestone. They were a small part in reaching that number, but they had to do their jobs.
"It gives the guys more pride in the uniform and confidence that they can trust the environment, trust the process and know the blueprint is there. Now it's their turn to execute and do it with a lot of confidence."
Michigan beat IU last year 3-2 at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium. That's irrelevant for this matchup, Yeagley says, because both a vastly different teams with different strengths.
"We expect to pose Michigan some difficult questions," Yeagley adds.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's SoccerThursday, September 10
Wednesday, September 09
Wednesday, September 09
Wednesday, September 09