Certain players make certain programs click. When they succeed, the team succeeds. When they struggle, the team struggles.
Think LeBron James with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Patrick Mahomes with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Or Palmer Ault with No. 14 Indiana men’s soccer.
The senior forward entered Tuesday with the second-most goals in the nation. His goal contributions ranked tied for second in the NCAA, only one behind University of Delaware sophomore forward Marius Stenner. He has five goals against top 25 opponents, five game-winning goals and two hat tricks.
Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley doesn’t think a campaign is necessary — Ault is a MAC Hermann trophy contender.
And after Tuesday night’s matchup at Bill Armstrong Stadium against Wisconsin, a 4-1 Hoosiers win with three assists from Ault, the hype train isn’t slowing down.
“The team’s doing well, he’s doing well,” Yeagley said postgame. “He’s got to be (in the conversation).”
Ault announced his move to Indiana in December 2024, exactly a week after the Hoosiers fell to the University of Denver in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Noblesville, Indiana, native had spent three years with Butler University, totaling 21 goals and 12 assists in 49 appearances.
Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley knew the level to expect from Ault even before a full spring season. Over halfway through October, with Indiana 11-3-1 and Ault leading the team in both goals and assists, Yeagley’s expectations haven’t changed.
“His stats say a lot, but his performance, too, has been really good,” Yeagley said. “That’s what we’re really pleased with.”
The 2024 MAC Hermann Trophy winner, Ohio State’s Michael Adedokun, finished with 22 goal contributions. As for goals, Rutgers’ Ryan Hall has the most in a single Big Ten season since 2018 with 14.
Ault entered the night tied with Hall’s number. He finished by equaling Adedokun’s as well.
The trio of assists began in the 22nd minute, when Ault’s corner found sophomore defender Josh Maher’s head. The flick on header was cleared away, but junior defender Alex Barger slammed the ball home.
Next came free kicks in the 47th and 50th minutes. The first featured Ault’s curved cross that found redshirt junior defender Breckin Minzey’s head for the finish. The subsequent set piece was a low-driven shot that hit off the goalkeeper and landed at the feet of Maher, who tapped it in.
Restarts are crucial to Yeagley. He consistently stresses their importance.
So, when Ault left the field in the 66th minute with three assists from restarts, it was Yeagley’s affection that met him. The 16-year Hoosiers head coach grabbed his star man, walked toward the bench with him and gave an encouraging pat on the back.
There was only one thing the two talked about — restarts.
“We’ve put so much emphasis on it all season and on the training ground, just working different nuances and ways that we can find goals,” Ault said. “When you see it come to fruition on the field, it’s really cool.”
Ault’s key contributions in Indiana’s fourth conference win of the season further emphasized his positive impact in victories — and, conversely, his absence in losses.
Through seven Big Ten games, Ault has five goals and six assists. All 11 contributions came in wins against Penn State, UCLA, Ohio State and Wisconsin. In three losses to Michigan, Michigan State and Washington, Ault notched zero goals and zero assists.
Yeagley has sought to maintain consistency with Ault in the forward line throughout the conference season. Some matches Ault plays as the No. 10 alongside freshman Colton Swan or sophomore Easton Bogard. Other times he’ll play as the primary striker with sophomore Charlie Heuer or junior Jacopo Fedrizzi behind him.
Yeagley noted Ault is most effective in the No. 10 role, but he's just as successful moving into “the channel” as the striker. Yet what's most important to Yeagley is that Ault touches the ball more often than not.
As the season has worn on, with different Hoosiers flanking Ault or joining him in the front line, the connection’s grown cleaner. Film studies and a better understanding of each other’s movements have helped Indiana’s forwards succeed, with 10 goals against the Hoosiers’ last three Division I opponents.
And with those goals come wins, which is all Ault has on his mind.
“The individual accolades are kind of second to me — it’s all about team success,” Ault said. “That’s great that (it) comes with it, and it’s all about stacking wins and keeping this thing rolling.”
Three Big Ten matches stand in the way of Indiana and the postseason. Next is No. 4 Maryland, followed by Northwestern and Rutgers.
History says Indiana is more likely to win with goal contributions from Ault. The Hoosiers are 9-0-1 when he scores or assists; they’re 2-3-0 when he doesn’t.
Ault is the engine driving the proverbial Indiana machine. Championships are all he has on his mind. And just like LeBron James and Patrick Mahomes, he’s fighting for immortality amongst the greats.
He's fighting to become the man who led the Hoosiers to a ninth national championship star.
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.
