The first time IU played Northwestern, the Hoosiers controlled the Wildcats. They outshot them 28-3 but ended up settling for a 0-0 draw.
This time around, IU will be looking to get back at Northwestern. IU is coming off an important 2-1 win against Michigan State to grab the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament. Now, the Hoosiers will look to carry some of that momentum into the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals.
The first time around, the Wildcats sat behind the ball for most of the match and absorbed a lot of the Hoosiers’ pressure. However, Northwestern has knocked off some premier opponents, including Notre Dame, in the past four games and IU Coach Todd Yeagley said this team is different from the first time around.
“They’re playing a bit differently, but I think they’ll still put quite a few numbers behind the ball,” Yeagley said. “Their shape is different, and they’re confident. Beating Notre Dame is a tough task, and they beat a good Penn State team, so they’re coming off a couple of good results.”
The postseason is now underway and every game moving forward is an elimination game. Because of that, Yeagley said he would work his side a bit less to keep them fresh come Sunday.
IU sophomore midfielder Francesco Moore picked up a knock in Sunday’s match, and IU junior defender Grant Lillard is also not feeling 100 percent. However, both should be good to go for Sunday’s quarterfinal.
The mood around the team is good, IU sophomore defender Andrew Gutman said, and the Hoosiers will look to keep their good form as the stakes get higher heading into the postseason.
“We’re playing well, coming off of a big win in Michigan State,” Gutman said. “We’re all happy, all playing well, so we’re excited to get the Big Ten Tournament started.”
On the offensive end, the Hoosiers have started to find their stride.
After a four-goal week, IU senior midfielder Tanner Thompson is coming off three player of the week honors, including Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week with Maryland’s Gordon Wild.
Thompson now has eight goals on the season. Yeagley said the Hoosiers have filled the gap left by Femi Hollinger-Janzen’s departure but still thinks there are a few more goals out there from others. The name he mentioned was senior midfielder Phil Fives.
Fives has two assists this season but hasn’t found the back of the net, yet he still thinks highly of his chances to put one away.
“I think there have been a lot of chances for me. Some just haven’t fallen my way,” Fives said. “Just need a little bit more focus in the attacking third. He only said one or two? I think a couple more.”
The mood around the team is light, and they will be looking to carry that into Sunday’s match against the Wildcats. If this time around is anything like the first, the chances should be there. Now the Hoosiers just have to stay in their goal-scoring form and put one away.
“We’re excited for postseason play, and we’re in good form and scoring some goals — got a good emotional win,” Yeagley said. “I really like where we are heading into the postseason.”
