No. 3 Indiana men’s soccer was on top of the college soccer world. A 5-0-1 record was its best since 1997, and the Hoosiers had played three ranked opponents even before entering Big Ten play.
But two weeks after a 1-0 win over the University of Notre Dame, Indiana has suffered two conference defeats. A 3-2 defeat to No. 5 Michigan on Sept. 13 ended a six-game unbeaten run, and after a 4-1 victory over Penn State on Sept. 19, the Hoosiers fell 1-0 to Michigan State on Tuesday.
Next for the Cream and Crimson is UCLA at 8 p.m. Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. The Bruins have yet to lose in Big Ten play, and the match begins a tough stretch for the Hoosiers — one that could make or break their season.
Ault’s influence
Palmer Ault walked off disappointed the last time he took Jerry Yeagley Field. The match with Michigan featured a near comeback, but the senior forward’s penalty with 39 seconds left hit off the post, ending the game 3-2 in favor of the Wolverines.
Ault’s next appearance featured three goals and an assist, earning him his second Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week nod. But the momentum faltered in Indiana’s next match, and Ault finished with only one shot and the Hoosiers stayed goalless through 90 minutes.
Friday’s match against UCLA grants Ault and Indiana another opportunity to play in front of the Hoosier faithful. As one of the Big Ten’s most impactful players, Ault’s performance will likely dictate the Indiana's level of play.
Ault leads the Hoosiers with seven goals and three assists, which are also first and tied for fourth in the Big Ten, respectively. Not all of Indiana's credit can go to him, as junior forward Collins Oduro has contributed three goals and three assists, but a good Ault performance will go a long way for a Hoosier squad seeking a win.
Meet the Bruins
Unlike Indiana, UCLA entered conference play without a win and only two goals scored in five matches. But after a1-0 win over Northwestern and a 3-1 victory against Wisconsin, the Bruins are atop the Big Ten standings to begin the season.
Redshirt sophomore Sergi Solans Ormo leads the squad with three goals and two assists. His 2024 campaign featured 14 goals and three assists in 16 appearances, which led to a first-round selection by Real Salt Lake in the 2025 Major League Soccer SuperDraft.
Other contributors for the Bruins include freshman forward Francis Bonsu, who has a goal and two assists through seven games and only one start this season.
Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. Coverage is available on the Big Ten Network.
Follow reporters Elakai Anela (@elakai_anela and eanela@iu.edu) and Mateo Fuentes-Rohwer (@mateo_frohwer and matfuent@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men's soccer season.
