After 10 minutes of play, Gutman looked like anything but a freshman.
Moving up from his left back position, Gutman cut inside with the ball toward the box. He played the ball a few feet in front of him, between two St. John’s defenders. What happened next is a bit contentious between IU and St. John’s.
“I got through and they were kind of closing in on me, and I saw a leg, so I just kind of went through,” Gutman said. “I don’t know, I got the call.”
The drawn penalty, which senior forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen ended up missing, was one of many highlights from the freshman in IU’s season opening 1-0 win against St. John’s on Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
While the penalty was the most noticeable contribution Gutman made, there were multiple plays which left IU Coach Todd Yeagley impressed and confident in his first-time starter’s decisions.
“With most freshman you’re going to have that with 90 minutes,” Yeagley said. “He’s mature beyond his years.”
In IU’s 4-5-1 formation, outside backs are often tasked with the responsibility of not only defending the sidelines, but attacking and streaking down them toward the opponent’s goal.
This meant Gutman was going to be tasked with the job of running up and down the touchline throughout the match, a job he felt more than comfortable doing thanks to his teammates and coach, he said.
“Yeagley gives me the freedom to go up and down, and guys are getting out of my way and I’m getting the space,” Gutman said.
One teammate in particular allowed Gutman the freedom to roam forward at opportune moments. Starting at left mid was junior Phil Fives, a player originally brought to IU to play left back.
This means if Gutman pushes forward, the Hoosiers aren’t exposed defensively on the left side because Fives is more than capable of dropping back and defending.
“Phil and I have a good relationship on if I go forward, he can drop in,” Gutman said. “We’re really interchangeable on left back and left mid.”
Yeagley compared the attacking style of Gutman to last year’s starting left back, Patrick Doody. Doody, now a member of the Chicago Fire organization, often trekked forward and whipped crosses into the box. On many occasions Friday night, Gutman did the same.
“Andrew is more of a Doody, push it and get to the spot because he’s got an explosive first and second step,” Yeagley said.
Moving forward, Yeagley said he hopes Gutman and Fives, who also made his first IU appearance Friday, continue to cause problems for opponents on the left side.
The way the two play together fits how IU has always utilized its outside backs and how the Hoosiers like to attack opponents.
“Because we do get out outside backs forward quite a bit, that’s a great situation,” Yeagley said. “If we can have that more often that would be wonderful.”
