IU travels to face defending national champions

Editor's Note: In print, this story's headline indicated that that IU will host this match. The match will actually be hosted by Notre Dame. The IDS regrets this error.

Notre Dame and Indiana last faced one another in a women’s soccer match in September 2001. That will change Sunday when IU will take on the Fighting Irish, the defending national champions, at their home base.

But that challenge does not mean the Hoosiers have forgotten about Friday’s opponent, Western Michigan.

IU Coach Mick Lyon said his team has not yet discussed the game against Notre Dame.

“We take one game at a time,” senior goalkeeper Lindsay Campbell said. “We prepare for each game differently. Our training is tailored to each game.”

The Broncos are first-time participants in the Notre Dame Invitational. They come into this tournament a week after claiming the Northern Illinois University Tournament, outscoring their opponents 5-0.

“(We have to) solidify our back line and make sure we have their target players under pressure at all times,” Campbell said.

Indiana will look to be the aggressor this weekend, Lyon said.

“They’re a possession-oriented team,” Lyon said. “We’re going to make it difficult for them to be able to play their style.

“Our focus is on how we maintain possession of the ball and that we remain attacking. We’re the team that’s dynamic. We’ve got to make sure they’re on their back foot, so concerned about our attack that they’re not able to play.”

Lyon said the team’s ability to play physically will benefit them going forward.

“It’s a huge positive that we can win in physical games,” freshman midfielder Abby Smith said. “We can hold our own. It’s good that we can show that we can play with any team. The coaches emphasize that every time we get a chance, it needs to be in
the net.”

The Hoosiers’ opponent Sunday is more decorated than their opponent Friday, but expectations won’t change, Lyon said.

“You’re playing the reigning national champions,” Lyon said. “It’s in-state rivalry. It will be their opportunity to shine. Nobody expects us to win other than ourselves. When we get to that game, the focus for the players will be, ‘I don’t care who the opponent is. We’re going to compete to put ourselves in a position to win the game.’ That’s what I’ll expect from every one of them.”