Indiana Soccer Hosts Michigan Tuesday, Searches For First Big Ten Win

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana soccer coach Todd Yeagley confirmed Monday that the team will be without veteran defender Brett Bebej for Tuesday night's contest versus Michigan.

Bebej sustained an injury in the second half of Indiana's 1-0 win over Butler on Sept. 19. He did not play Friday against Michigan State, when the Hoosiers conceded two goals for the first time this season and lost 2-1.

After losing to Michigan State for the first time since 2014, the Hoosiers’ goals-against average dropped from fourth nationally to tied for 11th with four other teams. One is Penn State, which sits perfectly atop the Big Ten with six points. Indiana stands in sixth place in the conference table with one point through two matches.

Yeagley said he likes to approach the Big Ten slate game-by-game, but logically senses urgency amongst the team.

“We do need to start getting points,” Yeagley said Monday. “In each game, the margins as we say get smaller, but I think you kind of answered your own question like, 'Why couldn't we win the Big Ten regular season at this point?' I don't see why we couldn't based on the parity of our league … The urgency yes, I think as every game comes that will become more important. But I don't think that there's a loss of belief that they can't make a run at the top of the table.”

The Hoosiers will pursue their first conference victory Tuesday night, which Michigan has already accomplished in its 3-2 come-from-behind win over Rutgers last Friday. All three were second-half goals. The Wolverines are 2-3-3 and 1-0-1 in the Big Ten standings, previously tying 2-2 at Maryland. They're led in the attacking third by forwards senior Bryce Blevins and freshman Alex Waggoner, who each have scored three goals this season.

The pair both scored in the most recent Rutgers win, though Michigan's backline and goalkeepers have conceded 13 goals through eight matches, the second-most in the Big Ten. That includes three multi-goal matches. In contrast, Indiana only recently allowed two goals in the same match, though the Hoosiers haven't scored two since late August.

Michigan and Indiana also are winless on the road this season in seven tries combined. Last Friday, Indiana's lone goal resulted from Patrick McDonald's superb aired through-ball to Sam Sarver. McDonald showcased accurate and distanced through-balls in three preseason scrimmage victories. Friday marked the midfielder's first assist this season in eight games.

“He's had some really good opportunities this year,” Yeagley said. “He either went low and could have gone (in the air) behind the backline … the ball he gave in the Bowling Green (preseason) game. I thought he tried a few of those in some other games but actually the window for that was closed … I'd love for him to keep doing that more. We're asking him to do that: to be more goal conscious, be more dangerous. Look for the final pass, because he can.”

Yeagley continued by saying that McDonald was somewhat overzealous in the second half at Michigan State, that the game will provide the answer, though one must have “tactical understanding,” and to take what the defense gives you. That improvement comes through film. Right now, Yeagley thinks the team has to be better in critical moments and restarts.

The Indiana-Michigan match will begin at 7 p.m. ET at Bill Armstrong Stadium Tuesday night. The match will air on the Big Ten Network, and the first 150 Indiana University faculty and staff members in attendance will receive free concession vouchers, the program announced.

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