Indiana, Pittsburgh square off Friday in College Cup semifinals
Anyone who watched the Indiana Hoosiers men’s soccer team this season had their doubts. The Hoosiers would come together and play great one minute. And 10-15 minutes later, it was a different story. People mumbled in the stands about a different lineup every game. A lot of players saw playing time. A lot of new faces made appearances. They ended the regular season with an 8-3-6 record (3-1-4 in the Big Ten). What was going on?
Now, four months into the season, it all makes sense. Coach Todd Yeagley was looking for the winning combination. He was finding that special connection that would see the Hoosiers through. Making their 22nd College Cup appearance, the Hoosiers could be peaking at just the right time. The Hoosiers take on Pitt this Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
“You don’t want them to be peaking a little bit too early,” Yeagley said. “That’s hard to manage. With this group, there were a lot more questions coming into the year. We just solved it by the schedule and by trial and by experience. You see what’s happening now.”
Saturday’s quarterfinal match vs. UNC Greensboro was a true test for the Hoosiers. They faced one of the most dominating offenses in the country. The Spartans hadn’t lost in 12 games and outscored opponents 25-11 during that stretch. They had only been shut out two times all season.
Enter IU. The Hoosiers brought their A-game defensively, limiting opportunities in the first half and pressuring from the first whistle. In the 16th minute, Maouloune Goumballe gave the Hoosiers a 1-0 lead, netting a perfect goal. In the 64th minute, Samuel Sarver added a second. UNCG actually outshot the Hoosiers 11-7, forcing Indiana goalkeeper JT Harms to make four saves.
“I thought we played really well,” Yeagley said. “I wouldn’t say it was the complete game of the year, but I thought we were really good in all aspects. We were dangerous not only from the run of play but also in transition. I thought we held them to really limited chances.”
It was a hard-fought, physical match with four yellow cards issued and 16 fouls accrued. But the Hoosiers withstood it all, and walked away with a 2-0 win.
In postseason play, IU has earned a 5-1 record and collected four clean sheets, including three straight in NCAA Tourney play. So, they’re obviously doing something right.
“Some of the players that were maybe inconsistent in the first quarter or third of the year are now really putting in consistent shifts,” Yeagley said. “That starts with our backline, our ‘keeper and midfield. Those guys have really come together. There’s experience in that group, but there are also some new players. They’ve done a great job.”
The next test for the Hoosiers will be Pittsburgh. It’s a bit of deja vu for some of the players who were on the 2020 team. IU and Pitt faced off in the College Cup semifinals that year, resulting in a 1-0 IU win. The Hoosiers advanced to the final, where they fell to Marshall. Will the Panthers be looking to avenge that loss? Absolutely. But more than anything, they’re looking for the same thing IU is — a chance to win the national championship.
Unseeded Pitt fell to Virginia in the ACC Tournament, received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tourney and has been on a roll ever since. Pitt topped Cleveland 2-0, No. 16 seed Akron 3-0, No. 1 seed Kentucky 2-1 and Portland 1-0 to reach the College Cup. Valentin Noel tallied the game-winner in the 104th minute versus Portland, netting his 11th of the season and sending Pitt to its second College Cup in three seasons.
The Panthers are explosive on offense. They’ve tallied twice as many goals as their opponents 42-21. Fourteen different Pitt players have found the net this season. The goals can come from anywhere. Only two teams have shut out Pitt in the 2022 campaign. Goalkeeper Joe van der Sar has been strong in goal, playing every minute, making 73 saves and recording eight shutouts.
Pitt head coach Jay Vidovich is no stranger to the IU program. He began his collegiate career in Bloomington before transferring to Ohio Wesleyan in 1979. Vidovich has earned a 329-171-58 record. He coached at Wake Forest from 1994-2014 and is very familiar with IU’s style of play.
So, what do the Hoosiers need to do to win? Well, once again, the defense will have to step up and stop the offense, especially Noel. Holding the Panthers scoreless won’t be easy, but if IU wants to move on, it’s a good place to start. And of course the obvious: score. Sixteen Hoosiers have found the net this season. Keeping them guessing whom it will be on Friday will be fun. Mixing it up will confuse everyone.
IU is now two wins away from its ninth national championship. They won’t be easy games. Every minute they will be tested. And every minute, they must step up to the challenge. We’ll see Friday if the Hoosiers are up to the task.
Follow Kathryn on Twitter: @Katknapp99.
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