The adidas/IU Credit Union Classic has been a long-standing tradition for No. 7 Indiana men’s soccer, dating back to 1983. The classic features two games for the Hoosiers at Bill Armstrong Stadium, often against top competition.
The Hoosiers have not fared particularly well in recent seasons in the classic — they haven’t won both games since 2019, despite their win in the 2022 season’s single game classic.
Indiana began the 2025 season with a 2-2 draw against No. 6 Clemson University on Aug. 21 and a 3-2 victory over the University of San Francsico on Aug. 24. Both matches began with 2-0 deficits for the Cream and Crimson, marking the first time in program history that Indiana overcame two goal deficits in back-to-back matches.
With a new place in the history books, albeit not for entirely the right reasons, the Hoosiers now turn their heads to the Labor Day weekend slate. The first match of the classic features a bout against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay at 8 p.m. Thursday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
Injury updates for Heuer, Maher
Sophomore midfielder Charlie Heuer and sophomore defender Josh Maher both suffered injuries against Clemson, and neither played against San Francisco. Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said in a press conference Tuesday that both players will be considered day-to-day and game-day decisions.
Heuer broke into the midfield rotation last season, netting two goals against Penn State in a breakout performance Oct. 11. The 2025 campaign appeared to be a big step in production and minutes for Heuer, especially considering his two goals in preseason, but the injury has forced the Elmhurst, Illinois, native to miss time to begin the season.
With Heuer out of the picture against the Dons, junior midfielder Jacopo Fedrizzi stepped into the central midfielder role. The Giulia, Italy, native netted two goals and later earned the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week award, showcasing Indiana’s next man up mentality Yeagley often preaches.
Unlike Heuer, it took no time for Maher to burst onto the scene with the Hoosiers, starting in the second game of the 2024 season and never leaving the starting lineup for the rest of the year. However, an early exit against Clemson moved redshirt junior defender Breckin Minzey to the center back role next to junior transfer defender Victor Akoum. Maher’s absence also enabled redshirt freshman defender Drew Gaydosh to notch critical minutes for the Hoosiers.
Meet the Phoenix
Green Bay only has one game under their belt, leaving Indiana little footage to study and analyze. But that doesn’t faze Yeagley, who understands the challenge the Phoenix pose to a Hoosiers side still trying to find stability and consistency.
“They’ll be a good side,” Yeagley said. “They’re certainly a team that can beat anyone any day, so we need to perform well.”
Green Bay ended its 2024 season with a 2-0 defeat to No. 1-seed Oakland University in the Horizon League Championships, but the Phoenix retained several key contributors from a squad that secured 11 wins, their most since 2011.
Forward Chris Album returned to Green Bay for his senior season following a seven-goal campaign, which led the team. Junior midfielder Luke Nicholson and graduate student defender So Nishikawa also returned after combining for seven goals and five assists.
Midfielder Myles Sophanavong and forward Andrew Paolucci marked Green Bay’s most notable graduates — Sophanavong had a team-high six assists and Paolucci led the Phoenix in total goal contributions with five goals and four assists.
Thursday’s match leaves Green Bay aiming to get its first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2021, while Indiana will continue to power through its five-game homestand to begin the season. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium, and coverage is available on Big Ten+.
Follow reporters Elakai Anela (elakai_anela) and Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer) for updates throughout the Indiana men's soccer season.
