Hoosiers return home to face ISU

Coming off a three-game series of away matches and a 5-0 shutout against Xavier, the IU women’s soccer team will return home at 7:30 p.m. today to face in-state rival Indiana State at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

The Hoosiers said they feel positive heading into the match.

“Any time you have that kind of success, it can only mean good things,” sophomore midfielder Jordan Woolums said. “Wednesday should be another game to get ready for the Big Ten on Saturday.”

Indiana State, with a 3-3-1 record thus far in the season, will likely elevate its game to maintain a high level of competition, IU Coach Mick Lyon said.

Yet the level of play IU exhibited Friday night has left him feeling very confident in his players’ abilities, and they are feeling great as well, he said.

“Creativity up front was bordering on special at times,” Lyon said. “There was some really neat stuff — individual stuff, combinations, movement off the ball. I think the girls are very pumped up and feeling good about themselves.”

Adjustments to the formation in Friday’s game against Xavier will remain for tonight’s game, Lyon said.

Such changes include moving senior defender Ciersten Burks to the center of the pitch as a last line of defense and pushing junior defender Lara Ross forward into the midfield.

“I thought that gave us maybe a little bit better balance, a little more speed, a little more strength in that last line,” he said. “I thought Lara was very composed, and she’s got a lot of experience. I thought she also helped us dictate the pace of the game.”
Lyon said emphasizing the importance of this game is essential for success.

“It’s not just another game,” he said. “Every match has a reason to it. It’s the last bit of preparation before Big Ten. It’s making sure there is superiority and dominance within the state.”