Big Ten men’s soccer has already provided numerous must-see matchups this season. With half of the conference currently ranked in the United Soccer Coaches’ poll, every team's conference slate is littered with some of the nation’s best sides.
When No. 6 Maryland travels to face No. 2 Indiana on Friday, Indiana fans will be treated to their first top-10 matchup of the season.
As the Big Ten season approaches its halfway point, a match between the Terrapins and Hoosiers present both teams with a chance to improve upon already impressive resumes.
Meet the Terrapins
The Terrapins enter Bloomington with just one win out of their past three matches. After a 4-0 loss to Northwestern, Maryland rebounded with a 1-0 squeaker over ranked Wisconsin and a 2-2 draw with UCLA.
“I think they’re (Terrapins) getting better every week,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said in a press conference Wednesday. “It would’ve been more fun to face Maryland in game one just based on where they’re trending.”
Despite the top-10 ranking, Maryland’s defense has been inconsistent. The Terrapins have two defensive shutouts this season, while still averaging nearly two allowed goals per game. Their four goals surrendered to Northwestern were a season high.
The Terrapin’s backline has done little to help junior goalkeeper Laurin Mack, who has faced more shots than any other goalkeeper in the conference, allowing the second most goals.
Maryland has yet to prove itself as a capable road team. After opening the season with a 2-1 road victory over the University of Pittsburgh, the Terrapins did not appear as a visiting team until their loss to Northwestern, which remains the team’s only conference away match.
A stadium like Bill Armstrong, which averages more than 3,500 fans per game, should create a hostile environment for the unconditioned Terrapins.
“We love our home field,” Yeagley said. “We have great fans. We have a great field. We’re familiar with everything.”
Offensively, Maryland has dispersed its 16 total goals through eight individual players. A pair of freshman forwards lead the way with four goals each: Said El Eyssami and Rodrigo Neri.
Despite being ranked in the top 10, Maryland has scored just the eighth most goals in the Big Ten, which, along with its second-most allowed goals, created a team that has yet to truly pop in the statbook.
Stephane Njike faces his former team
The Hoosiers have not lost a match yet, having won every game played at Bill Armstrong Stadium. As the hottest team in the Big Ten, Indiana will play Maryland, its highest-ranked opponent thus far, still riding an unbeaten streak.
As it has all season, Indiana has won games by relying on its back five. Indiana enters Friday with the conference’s best defense, allowing only five goals through 10 contests. Junior goalkeeper Michal Mroz has recorded the most saves, most shutouts and highest save percentage in the Big Ten, stepping up in massive ways this season.
Indiana’s forward line, while consistent, has yet to truly break out in conference play. Senior Oliver Moller-Jensen's two-goal game in the Hoosiers’ 2-1 trimming of Penn State was the first time that Indiana scored more than once against a Big Ten foe this season.
“We had some really good chances on Friday to score multiple goals,” Yeagley said. “All we care about right now is that we get one more than the opponent. Ideally, it’s just one that’s all we need.”
With both programs experiencing tremendous success in recent seasons, one name swapped kits over the offseason. As the Hoosiers play host to Maryland on Friday, Indiana junior forward Stephane Njike will play his first match against his former team.
Njike spent just a season at Maryland in which he tallied seven goals and seven assists. So far, as a Hoosier, he has one goal and four assists.
“Every game he’s played, he’s performed better for us offensively and defensively,” Yeagley said. “He’s really starting to understand what we need from him, how to bring other players into the game and I don’t think it (Maryland) will be any different.”
Indiana’s defensive-minded play style will have another opportunity to show off against Maryland, a team that has averaged just a goal per match in Big Ten competition.
The Hoosiers will put their perfect home streak on the line as Maryland hopes to get back in the Big Ten win column. Kickoff from Bill Armstrong stadium is slated for 7 p.m. Coverage will be on Big Ten Network.
Follow reporters Noah Boudouris (@noahboudouris and nboudour@iu.edu) and Sean McAvoy (@sean_mc07 and semcavoy@iu.edu) for updates throughout the Indiana men’s soccer season.
