A regular season match does not get much bigger than this.
In 2016, there were similar stakes when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and IU met up. That match did not live up to the hype, as IU lost 4-0 in South Bend, Indiana.
Now in 2017, the in-state rivals return to the pitch for a No. 1 versus No. 2 showdown.
The location will be Bill Armstrong Stadium as No. 2 IU welcomes No. 1 Notre Dame.
“It’s not a hard one to get up for for our players,” IU Coach Todd Yeagley said. “A lot of respect for that program, that staff. It’s a great game. It’s a regional game. It has implications down the line. It kind of gives you a break from the Big Ten."
Last year’s matchup in South Bend, Indiana, was not kind to the Hoosiers. The Fighting Irish jumped all over IU. It was 3-0 before 24 minutes had passed.
Coming into this year’s matchup, the Hoosiers still remember what happened in the match last season. This year, IU is hoping to exact some revenge, as the Hoosiers haven’t beaten Notre Dame since 2014.
“I try to get through the lessons from it quick, but you can’t, it’s always in your head,” Yeagley said of last year’s match. “It’s in the back of the guys' minds, but in reality, we know it’s this year’s team. It’s going to be won with this group and a little motivation certainly can help certain players more than others.”
Notre Dame comes into Tuesday’s match following a 2-1 defeat to the Virginia Tech Hokies. It was the Fighting Irish’s first loss of the season. However, senior forwards Jon Gallagher and Jeff Farina provide a formidable 1-2 punch up front for the Irish. They will provide a challenge for an IU backline that has allowed just two goals all season.
Notre Dame Coach Bobby Clark has turned the Irish into a competitive program year in and year out. The Hoosiers won their last title in 2012. A year later, the Irish got their first-ever title.
“Notre Dame is a big game every year,” IU senior defender Grant Lillard said. “Last year they got us pretty good, so we’ll be looking forward to playing them again on our field. We know the way they like to play. They sit in their box well and they are a hard team to break down and beat, but we’re confident with the group we have.”
Notre Dame will drop in the national rankings after Friday’s loss. That still does not diminish the hype this game deserves. It is still two Indiana teams looking to gain the upper hand on each other.
“They’re really good,” Yeagley said. “I know we’ll be excited.”
