Indiana heads to College Cup seeking 9th title

Lucky No. 21. Could this trip to the men’s College Cup be Indiana’s ticket to its ninth NCAA Championship? It very well could be.

In a world where the NCAA couldn’t even confirm whether a championship would happen, the Hoosiers kept focused. They trained via video chats. The players worked out on their own. And when they could finally get together, everything came together.

Now, with a spring season under their belt, the Hoosiers are two wins away from their ninth NCAA championship. Not too shabby. IU (11-1-2) faces Pittsburgh Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET in the College Cup semifinal.

“Every one is very special,” Indiana University head coach Todd Yeagley said. “This is our 21st. We’re very proud of that. But it’s No. 1 for this group. And that’s what we’re focused on, letting this team have its opportunity to leave the ultimate mark.”

It’s been a long road. One year ago, the players were distanced. The NCAA had strict guidelines on all athletes. There was no training. There were no extracurricular activities. Every single thing was watched under a fine microscope. You never knew when the NCAA was going to come knocking on your door, questioning your plan.

Slowly but surely, teams were able to come together and train. But they had no idea when or if a season would happen. The Big Ten Conference announced a conference only season. The teams would take part in a 10-game season and then the conference tournament.

IU started off with back-to-back 3-0 wins. They dropped a 1-0 decision to Northwestern in their third match. That was it. The Hoosiers dominated conference play, allowing just one more goal in the regular season. IU had two games cancelled, but its 7-1 record earned them a regular-season Big Ten championship.

IU then topped Northwestern 3-0 and Maryland 2-0 to earn a Big Ten Tournament championship appearance. After a 1-1 draw the Hoosiers topped Penn State in PKs to capture their third-straight conference double and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid as a No. 3 seed.

But this year’s tournament is not the same. Normally, a top seed would host home matches. This year, all matches are played in North Carolina.

“It’s been really nice to have the team in our little mini bubble,” Yeagley said. “They’ve spent a lot of time together, but individually together in apartments. It’s been really fun. It’s been a great trip. I want to keep this thing going as long as we can.”

History repeated itself against St. Francis Brooklyn, with the two teams ending in a 1-1 deadlock. IU again advanced on PKs. The Hoosiers then topped Marquette 2-1 and Seton Hall 2-0, moving on to its 21st College Cup.

Friday, IU faces off with Pitt. The Hoosiers have been dominant on offense and defense, outscoring opponents 30-5. MAC Hermann Trophy finalist Victor Bezerra leads IU with 12 goals and three assists. He currently ranks fourth nationally in goals per game. Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year Roman Celentano and the defense have earned nine shutouts in 14 matches.

Pittsburgh (16-3) is a newly refurbished squad. Coach Jay Vidovich took over the program in 2017 and in a few short years turned it into a national contender. In his first season, Pitt won just two conference matches. This Pitt team has made a solid tournament run, outscoring opponents 13-1 in three tournament matches.

The Panthers have dominated offensively with 51 goals, while defensively they’ve allowed 22 in 19 matches. MAC Hermann Trophy finalist Valentin Noel leads the Panthers with 14 goals and two assists. Goalkeeper Nico Campuzano and company have earned six clean sheets.

The only time the two teams met was in 2019. Pitt jumped out to a 2-0 lead but the Hoosiers responded, winning 3-2.

“I’m one of those guys who likes to win all the time,” Vidovich said. “It’s not about the last game there. The bottom line is that was a whole different team on our side and a whole different team on their side. We’ve formed a new chemistry and new identity.”

Yeagley said he knows this could be the club’s toughest match yet.

“We definitely know the style of play that they like to play,” he said. “We’ve played a few teams with a similar style. Jay’s done an unbelievable job rebuilding Pitt and rebranding them into the team they are. They’re an absolute contender. We’re going to have to be really good on Friday.”

As for Vidovich, he too knows it will be a tough match.

“The storyline for Indiana — they have the DNA, they find ways to win,” Vidovich said. “Winning has been in their DNA since coach Jerry Yeagley started the program. It really is a quality team that does have history. This team that they have has never been to a final four, nor has ours. That’s the reality of it.”

The bottom line is, yes it’s a shortened season but both teams are excited and hungry for a championship. As for who will come out on top, only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: This Hoosiers team is the real deal.

“This team has not been a team that has overwhelmed our opponents,” Yeagley said. “We don’t kid ourselves and feel that’s the way we’re going to go out. We can play really good soccer and certainly this team is very capable. It’s very built well up the center of the field. We have guys that can change the game in the wings. We have an outstanding goalkeeper, a strong spine and a goal scorer. And those ingredients have proved very important to us. The roles are very defined at this point. The guys know where they are. They go out and do it. The guys that are coming in know what they need to do. They’re not trying to do anything more. There’s a great grit about this group that’s developed over the course of the season.”

A peek at the first men’s semifinal:

In the first semifinal College Cup newcomer Marshall (11-2-3) takes on North Carolina (9-4-4). Marshall earned an automatic bid by winning its second-straight Conference USA Tournament. The Herd topped Fordham 2-1 in overtime, outlasted No.1 Clemson 7-6 in PKs after a 1-1 draw and finally beat defending NCAA champion Georgetown 1-0 to advance to the College Cup. Overall, Marshall has outscored opponents 28-8, while defensively they’ve earned nine shutouts.

North Carolina topped Wake Forest 2-1 en route to its ninth College Cup. Both the Tar Heels men and women find themselves in the College Cup. North Carolina toppled Charlotte, Stanford and Wake Forest in NCAA tourney action. The Tar Heels have outscored opponents 20-10, while earning nine shutouts. They’re in search of their third championship and first since 2011.

Follow Kathryn on Twitter: @Katknapp99.

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