Indiana University Athletics
11/3/2026 9:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Once again, Big Ten men's soccer title opportunity looms for Indiana and these No. 4 Hoosiers (13-1-3 overall, 6-1-2 in the conference) seem poised to capitalize.
A Wednesday night victory over No. 9 Michigan State (10-3-3, 5-2-2) at Bill Armstrong Stadium will clinch at least a share of the regular season conference championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten tourney.
IU has won a record 19 regular season Big Ten titles. It has been dominant all season. Impressive victories include then No. 4 Maryland, then No. 16 Washington and then No. 17 UCLA.
What makes this team unique? Todd Yeagley, who has won six of those championships in his 17 years as Hoosier head coach (plus two more as a player), offers insight.
"I think we've been good in all phases," he says. "We try to build the most balanced team that we can."
Mission accomplished.
Want defense? IU has allowed just five goals in nine Big Ten matches, and only nine overall. Among conference teams it is first in saves (50) and save percentage (83.9). Goalkeeper Michal Mroz leads the Big Ten in goals against average (0.56), save percentage (.839) and shutouts (seven).
Is offense your thing? The Hoosiers are second in the conference in shots taken (268 to Washington's 272), and fifth in goals scored (35). Forward Oliver Moller-Jenson is first in the Big Ten in game-winning goals (four) and second in total goals (12) and points (29). Forward Easton Bogard is eighth with six goals. Forward Stephane Njike is seventh with six assists.
Beyond that, Moller-Jensen's dominant effort in IU's 3-1 victory at UCLA last Friday night (two goals and an assist) earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as making the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week.
Looking for consistency against the nation's best? The Hoosiers are 3-0-1 against ranked teams. They also are 10-0-1 at home, having already set a single-season attendance record of 37,248. Yeagley calls IU's home crowds, "the biggest advantage that I've seen in the conference."
It's all impressive, but when assessing Hoosier performance, Yeagley and his staff look beyond that.
"We have checkpoints throughout the year to back that (team balance) up," he says. "We're doing things well on both ends.
"Besides the eyeball test, we're in the top-15 in the country in most attacking defending statistics. We have players who can make big plays, like Michal coming away with a big save against UCLA or the goal (Moller-Jensen) scored to finish the game. Not many players can strike the ball from that distance, that clean.
"We have difference makers. We've scored those big goals. We've been really good defensively. We've not given teams a lot of chances. That's a really good combination."
It's a combination that blends transfer portal players and high school recruits, which reflects this new era of NIL and transfers.
"We're adjusting," Yeagley says. "We will be using the portal more than we did five to 10 years ago.
"A lot will depend on how good our freshmen are. When we announce the class for next year, there are some really impressive young kids that could have a huge impact, which will then change our recruiting.
"If we do a good job of recruiting the incoming freshmen, then that pushes the portal needs to other positions, or maybe not at all. So, it's a combination of all of it - internal development and recruiting really good freshmen."
Still, Yeagley adds that the days of just bringing in a transfer "here or there" are gone.
"We will be going to the portal to find immediate proven players because teams are not rolling out freshmen. It's just not happening. So, you can die on that sword and say, 'Well, we'll just play a bunch of freshmen,' but we like to have a lot of wins. We like playing for titles. So, we'll adapt."
For now, though, the focus is on Michigan State. The Spartans represent a formidable challenge behind forward Andrew Darakdjian (seven goals) and goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz (six shutouts).
"This is a good defensive team," Yeagley says. "This is a top group in this conference based on the way they've played. They have not snuck through games. They haven't been fortunate. They've outplayed teams.
"Michigan State is a very balanced team, an excellent team."
IU's objectives don't stop with beating the Spartans, and at least sharing the Big Ten title (depending on what happens with Washington against UCLA) to earn the top-seed in the conference tourney. The Hoosiers seek to sweep the regular season and conference tourney championships, something they've done four times under Yeagley, the last in 2023.
"Our goal is to win a trophy," he says. "We'd love to win the double. We also have to think of (NCAA tourney) scenarios, too."
Whichever team wins the Big Ten, Yeagley adds, will be well positioned for NCAA tourney success. Seven conference teams are ranked. Besides IU and Michigan State, there's No. 6 Washington, No. 11 Maryland, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 23 Rutgers and No. 25 UCLA. He thinks seven conference teams could get a bid.
"We're all going to be prepared because the Big Ten is a gauntlet," he says. "We have the toughest conference this year. I can say that with a lot of pride and honesty. I don't think there's a conference, from top to bottom, as good as ours, with different styles of players and being able to play in different parts of the country."
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Once again, Big Ten men's soccer title opportunity looms for Indiana and these No. 4 Hoosiers (13-1-3 overall, 6-1-2 in the conference) seem poised to capitalize.
A Wednesday night victory over No. 9 Michigan State (10-3-3, 5-2-2) at Bill Armstrong Stadium will clinch at least a share of the regular season conference championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Big Ten tourney.
IU has won a record 19 regular season Big Ten titles. It has been dominant all season. Impressive victories include then No. 4 Maryland, then No. 16 Washington and then No. 17 UCLA.
What makes this team unique? Todd Yeagley, who has won six of those championships in his 17 years as Hoosier head coach (plus two more as a player), offers insight.
"I think we've been good in all phases," he says. "We try to build the most balanced team that we can."
Mission accomplished.
Want defense? IU has allowed just five goals in nine Big Ten matches, and only nine overall. Among conference teams it is first in saves (50) and save percentage (83.9). Goalkeeper Michal Mroz leads the Big Ten in goals against average (0.56), save percentage (.839) and shutouts (seven).
Is offense your thing? The Hoosiers are second in the conference in shots taken (268 to Washington's 272), and fifth in goals scored (35). Forward Oliver Moller-Jenson is first in the Big Ten in game-winning goals (four) and second in total goals (12) and points (29). Forward Easton Bogard is eighth with six goals. Forward Stephane Njike is seventh with six assists.
Beyond that, Moller-Jensen's dominant effort in IU's 3-1 victory at UCLA last Friday night (two goals and an assist) earned him Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors as well as making the Top Drawer Soccer Team of the Week.
Looking for consistency against the nation's best? The Hoosiers are 3-0-1 against ranked teams. They also are 10-0-1 at home, having already set a single-season attendance record of 37,248. Yeagley calls IU's home crowds, "the biggest advantage that I've seen in the conference."
It's all impressive, but when assessing Hoosier performance, Yeagley and his staff look beyond that.
"We have checkpoints throughout the year to back that (team balance) up," he says. "We're doing things well on both ends.
"Besides the eyeball test, we're in the top-15 in the country in most attacking defending statistics. We have players who can make big plays, like Michal coming away with a big save against UCLA or the goal (Moller-Jensen) scored to finish the game. Not many players can strike the ball from that distance, that clean.
"We have difference makers. We've scored those big goals. We've been really good defensively. We've not given teams a lot of chances. That's a really good combination."
It's a combination that blends transfer portal players and high school recruits, which reflects this new era of NIL and transfers.
"We're adjusting," Yeagley says. "We will be using the portal more than we did five to 10 years ago.
"A lot will depend on how good our freshmen are. When we announce the class for next year, there are some really impressive young kids that could have a huge impact, which will then change our recruiting.
"If we do a good job of recruiting the incoming freshmen, then that pushes the portal needs to other positions, or maybe not at all. So, it's a combination of all of it - internal development and recruiting really good freshmen."
Still, Yeagley adds that the days of just bringing in a transfer "here or there" are gone.
"We will be going to the portal to find immediate proven players because teams are not rolling out freshmen. It's just not happening. So, you can die on that sword and say, 'Well, we'll just play a bunch of freshmen,' but we like to have a lot of wins. We like playing for titles. So, we'll adapt."
For now, though, the focus is on Michigan State. The Spartans represent a formidable challenge behind forward Andrew Darakdjian (seven goals) and goalkeeper Jake Grekowicz (six shutouts).
"This is a good defensive team," Yeagley says. "This is a top group in this conference based on the way they've played. They have not snuck through games. They haven't been fortunate. They've outplayed teams.
"Michigan State is a very balanced team, an excellent team."
IU's objectives don't stop with beating the Spartans, and at least sharing the Big Ten title (depending on what happens with Washington against UCLA) to earn the top-seed in the conference tourney. The Hoosiers seek to sweep the regular season and conference tourney championships, something they've done four times under Yeagley, the last in 2023.
"Our goal is to win a trophy," he says. "We'd love to win the double. We also have to think of (NCAA tourney) scenarios, too."
Whichever team wins the Big Ten, Yeagley adds, will be well positioned for NCAA tourney success. Seven conference teams are ranked. Besides IU and Michigan State, there's No. 6 Washington, No. 11 Maryland, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 23 Rutgers and No. 25 UCLA. He thinks seven conference teams could get a bid.
"We're all going to be prepared because the Big Ten is a gauntlet," he says. "We have the toughest conference this year. I can say that with a lot of pride and honesty. I don't think there's a conference, from top to bottom, as good as ours, with different styles of players and being able to play in different parts of the country."
Players Mentioned
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