Palmer Ault and the state of Indiana have long been connected.
The Hoosier senior forward is a native of Noblesville, Indiana. He played high school soccer for Noblesville High School, winning a state championship in 2021. He joined Butler University for the first three seasons of his college career, racking up accolades in every season with the Bulldogs.
It seems fitting that Ault is finishing his collegiate career at his home state’s titular university. Saturday marked Ault’s first goal of the preseason, which was also the first of three in Indiana’s 3-0 victory over the University of Louisville at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington.
For some, the goal might have provided a sense of relief, one which marked a player’s arrival to a new program and team.
But internally, Ault arrived at Indiana long ago.
“At this stage of my career, it’s been a great change to come into this new environment and really just integrate with these guys and their culture,” Ault said postgame. “It’s been fantastic. I feel right at home.”
December 2024 marked Ault’s official decision to join Indiana, leaving a Butler program he still feels thankful for. His career with the Bulldogs featured lots of personal success, with Ault earning Big East Freshman of the Year honors as well as an All-Big East First Team selection. Despite a slight dip in production, he still received All-Big East Second Team honors in each of his next two seasons.
However, with Indiana’s need for attackers following the departures of Tommy Mihalic, Sam Sarver and Justin Weiss coupled with Ault’s emergence as one of the top transfer portal targets, the match seemed perfect.
Ault’s early addition to the Hoosier squad helped with his transition. In Indiana’s first spring season match March 1, he netted two goals against the University of Evansville. But the squad still wasn’t totally solidified in the spring, leaving more questions as to Ault’s adjustment to his new teammates.
But if the preseason has shown one thing, it’s that Ault has had no issue adapting to his surroundings.
“Palmer is a great kid,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said. “He could adapt (to) any team, but he already knew some of our players, and he just feels at home — he’s an Indiana kid, he’s very welcome here and so I think his acclimation was really clean and smooth.”
Monday’s match against Western Michigan University marked Indiana's first test with its entire 2025 squad, but most notably, it was also Ault's first match next to freshman Colton Swan in the attack.
It took no time to see Ault and Swan had a level of chemistry beyond their time as teammates.
“It's been a great start to our connection on the field,” Ault said. “And he’s a great person as well, so being able to connect with him off the field is another thing. It’s just been free flowing, and I feel that connection and chemistry is only going to continue growing.”
Indiana's first goal against Louisville showcased the Hoosier forwards’ connection. After graduate student defender Ben Do beat his man down the line, Swan sprinted to the near post, freeing space for Ault to direct the cross into the back of the net.
It almost certainly won’t be Ault’s only goal for the Hoosiers this season, but if it is, then that won’t necessarily be an issue to him. Success this season won’t be personal accolades for the senior, although a Player of the Year award is certainly on his radar.
Yeagley labeled Ault as “arguably one of the better attackers in the country,” which was validated by the senior’s inclusion on the United Soccer Coaches Forwards to Watch list. But Ault also understands that national awards will come with team success, which is paramount to him.
“It doesn’t matter if I have no goals and Colton has all the goals,” Ault said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about getting wins in the win column.”
Ault and the Hoosiers will take it one game at a time, starting with No. 9 Clemson University at 8 p.m. Thursday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. Only then can Indiana’s win column start to grow — and the Indiana kid can put a stamp on the legacy of the storied Hoosier program.
“With the success that Indiana has had, I hope to contribute to what they’ve had in the past,” Ault said, “and hopefully go above and beyond.”
Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer covers Indiana men’s soccer for the Indiana Daily Student. You can follow him at @mateo_frohwer on X and contact him via email at matfuent@iu.edu.
