It’s not a spot No. 25 Indiana men’s soccer has often been in.
The Hoosiers have entered the final match day of the Big Ten regular season with a title on the line — or already clinched — every year since 2017. In that time frame, they have won the Big Ten regular season title five times and the conference tournament four times.
That streak officially snapped Oct. 24 in a 3-2 defeat to Maryland. But Friday is when reality truly sets in.
Indiana enters its final regular season contest in fifth place in the conference standings. A Big Ten regular season title is off the table, but a chance to compete for hardware is still in play.
The Hoosiers are set to face Rutgers in the regular season finale at 8 p.m. Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. Winning the contest would put them in position to reach the Big Ten Tournament, but only if it's accompanied by a UCLA draw or defeat to Washington.
On the flip side, Rutgers is a bubble NCAA Tournament team vying for a marquee road victory. The Scarlet Knights have only reached the tournament twice since 2015.
There’s a lot to play for Friday night, and Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley doesn't mind it.
“I think it makes for an incredible finish to the Big Ten,” Yeagley said in a press conference Wednesday. “This is what fans and everyone wants to see...drama that is what brings everyone in the sport. Makes it fun.”
Getting Ault involved
Palmer Ault’s impact on Indiana’s success has been monumental. In his one season with the Hoosiers, the senior forward has scored or assisted in 11 matches this season — Indiana is 9-1-1 when he does and 2-4-0 when he doesn’t.
[RELATED: Palmer Ault is a MAC Hermann candidate for Indiana men’s soccer. His focus is only on wins]
Ault’s most recent performance against Northwestern on Oct. 31 didn’t include any goal contributions, but the Hoosier is still tied for the best goalscoring tally in the nation with 15 this season. Yeagley is continuing to find ways to get his star contributing, whether it be on the wing, down the middle or even without the ball.
“I thought a couple of the balls we got in behind at Northwestern were a result of Palmer bringing attention to our high seam,” Yeagley said. “And the center backs were very keen on him, and they caught him in being a little flat, which we talked about. So, yeah, he has an effect, even if he doesn’t touch the ball because every team is ultra-aware where he is.”
Still, the Hoosiers were held goalless against the Wildcats, something that hadn’t happened since Oct. 3 against Washington. It was also the first game since that contest in which Ault failed to contribute a goal or an assist — a stretch of seven goals and five assists in five matches.
Yeagley knows Indiana will need its leading man with much to play for Friday night. But the 16-year Hoosiers head coach isn’t worried, given Ault’s track record this year.
“We just need him to continue to impact the game on and off the ball,” Yeagley said, “and I think he’s done a pretty darn good job of that all year.”
Fast start, slow finish: meet the Scarlet Knights
Rutgers’ first five nonconference matches featured three wins, one draw and one defeat. An identical 3-1-1 start to Big Ten play, as well as two more nonconference victories, brought the Scarlet Knights toward the top of the Big Ten standings.
But Rutgers, which was ranked No. 13 at the time, fell to Maryland on Oct. 13, beginning a slide down the standings. The Scarlet Knights went 0-2-1 since the defeat to the Terrapins, and now a match with Indiana may determine whether their season continues.
Even with the recent dip in form, Yeagley is aware of what Rutgers brings to the table.
“They’re super dynamic,” Yeagley said. “Good in combination, good attacking team. (They) have the players that can unbalance on their own, make plays on their own — which, again, that’s always dangerous against opponents that have that.”
Junior midfielder Joschi Schelb has seven goals and four assists, both of which lead the team. Behind Schelb is sophomore forward Dan Karsten with five goals and three assists, and three Scarlet Knights have three goals apiece.
Rutgers have only gone scoreless in three games this season, all of which came against the top three teams in the Big Ten. But in the other 13 matches, the Scarlet Knights have netted 28 goals, which is fifth in the conference.
Kickoff between the two sides is slated for 8 p.m. Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. Coverage will be available on Big Ten+.
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.
