No. 5 Hoosiers Host Saint Louis on Tuesday Night / 5-0 win, story later

[snowling]

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 5-ranked Indiana University men's soccer team will return to Bloomington, Ind. after a three-game road trip to host the Saint Louis Billikens on Tuesday night.

Kickoff at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, with the match being streamed live online on BTN Plus. Live stats can be found at IUHoosiers.com.

SETTING THE SCENE
• The No. 5-ranked Indiana University men's soccer team enters Tuesday's contest with the Saint Louis Billikens with an overall record of 8-1-6 on the year.
• Last Friday, the Hoosiers traveled north to Madison and played Wisconsin to a 0-0 draw to move to 2-0-5 in Big Ten play. Making his first career start for IU, goalkeeper Christian Lomeli made five saves in recording his first career shutout as a Hoosier.
• MF Tanner Thompson and F Richard Ballard lead the Hoosiers' offense, with each accounting for a team-high 13 points on the strength of four goals and two assists on the season apiece.
• IU's unbeaten 10-game streak (6-0-4) to start the season was the first for the program since 1997 and was the ninth-best start in team history.
• The Hoosiers come in to the 2016 season coming off another terrific season in 2015, reaching the NCAA Tournament for a record 29-straight season and 40th overall in program history.

SCOUTING THE BILLIKENS
• The Saint Louis Billikens come to Bloomington on Tuesday with an overall record of 7-4-3 on the season.
• Saint Louis is playing its best soccer of the season, having reeled off six-straight wins to counter a poor start to the season, posting a 1-4-3 mark in the team's first eight matches.
• In four matches against ranked teams this season, Saint Louis is 1-3-0, with the squad's lone win coming in the season opener at No. 5-ranked Wake Forest.
• The Billikens are dominating in the Atlantic 10, posting a 6-0 mark while out-scoring their league opponents, 13-3.
• In a preseason poll conducted of the A-10's coaches, Saint Louis was tabbed the league favorite for the fourth-straight season. Despite being picked first, no SLU player was picked for the Preseason All A-10 team.
• Last season, Saint Louis finished with an overall record of 8-7-2 on the season that included a mark of 4-2-2 in the A-10. In the conference tournament, the Billikens lost Rhode Island, 4-2, to end their season.

SERIES HISTORY
• In the overall history between Indiana and Saint Louis dating back to 1975, the Hoosiers hold a record of 22-9-4 record over the Billikens.
• The Hoosiers went on the road and took down Saint Louis, 3-2, in double overtime. Phil Fives, Grant Lillard and Kyle Sparksall scored for IU.
• The series features the two-winningest programs in NCAA DI history, with SLU winning 10 NCAA titles to IU's eight. Saint Louis, however, has not won a championship since 1972.
• Overall, Indiana is 14-3-2 against the Billikens in Bloomington. IU has outscored SLU, 68-41, in the overall series.

HOOSIERS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
• Indiana checks in at No. 5 in the College Soccer News rankings and No. 16 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll. The NSCAA Coaches rankings and the Soccer America poll will be released on Tuesday.
• In the fifth NCAA RPI rankings released on Monday, the Hoosiers are ranked No. 30.

IU IN THE STATISTICAL RANKINGS
• In the NCAA statistical rankings released on Monday, the Hoosiers rank second in the nation in shots per game (17.33), 14th in shutout percentage (0.53) and 24th in team goals against average (0.73).

UP NEXT
• The Indiana Hoosiers will host the No. 14 Michigan State Spartans on Senior Day at Armstrong Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. ET.
• In the overall series, Indiana leads Saint Louis, 38-8-3, out-scoring the Badgers, 134-30.

@IUMensSoccer
• For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2016/10/...osiers-host-saint-louis-on-tuesday-night.aspx

Go Hoosiers!

 

[snowling]

Hoosiers set for final week of regular season
by Josh Eastern

Just two games remain on the IU men’s soccer regular season slate, and it’s possible we haven’t seen this team's full potential.

Following another 0-0 draw on the road at Wisconsin, the problems that have plagued this team all season just haven’t gone away. There's no doubt the goal-scoring chances were there Friday in Madison, but the Hoosiers weren’t able to put one in the back of the net.

IU’s focus now shifts outside the conference for one final time this regular season as the Hoosiers welcome the St. Louis Billikens to Bloomington.

The Hoosiers have played their best outside the conference, with wins over Louisville, Butler and California. Those results have helped their RPI, which now sits at No. 30, and this matchup with St. Louis could help solidify that ranking with the struggles that have come within the Big Ten.

The Hoosiers did something they hadn't done all season Friday at Wisconsin. IU senior goalkeeper Christian Lomeli replaced senior Colin Webb, who hasn’t missed a minute in goal all season, and burned his redshirt for his first career start in Madison.

It's unclear why the change was made, and could be something to keep an eye out for in the future, but the Crown Point, Indiana, native held his own and recorded a clean sheet in a critical conference road matchup.

IU Coach Todd Yeagley said Lomeli will make his second straight start Tuesday night in the absence of Webb.

If you’re looking for goals, IU's matchup with St. Louis may not be the place to look. IU has only scored 19 goals this season, and the Billikens, just 17.

The Hoosiers are no strangers to draws. They lead the nation in that category, with six on the season. If both teams struggle for goals like they have, the match could be decided by one goal.

A defensive match might favor IU. The Hoosiers have locked down on defense and only allowed 12 goals this year.

The Billiken offense is different than those the Hoosiers have faced in the past, however, as there is more than one player on the St. Louis attack IU needs to keep an eye out for.

Three separate Billikens are tied for the team lead in goals with three, while seven others have also found the back of the net at least once.

These two sides have a bit of history attached to their names. They are the two most winning programs in college soccer when it comes to national championships. The Billikens lead the way with 10 titles, their latest coming all the way back in 1972, while the Hoosiers have raised the trophy eight times.

The Hoosiers hold a 22-9-4 record over the Billikens in a series that goes back to 1975. IU also knocked off St. Louis on the road a season ago by a 3-2 scoreline in extra time.

http://www.idsnews.com/article/2016/10/hoosiers-set-for-final-week-of-regular-season

Go Hoosiers!

 

[Sope Creek]

Well, it looks like the Hoosiers figured out how to score . . . Tanner most particularly, with the hat trick.

IU 4, SLU 0.

Niiiiiiiice . . . .

 

[snowling]

5-0 win, story later. Yep, Tanner with the hat trick. GBR!

Boxscore:

http://iuhoosiers.com/boxscore.aspx?path=msoc&id=11593

Go Hoosiers!

 

[baileyiu]

Impressive win!! Maybe the offense has finally found themselves. This weekend game against MSU will probably give us a clue of whether the offense has really found themselves or whether we struggle again to put several solid games together in a row.

 

[snowling]

Thompson’s Hat Trick Leads No. 5 Hoosiers Over Saint Louis, 5-0

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 5-ranked Indiana University men's soccer team defeated the Saint Louis Billikens, 5-0, on Tuesday night at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington, Ind.

With the victory, Indiana improves to 9-1-6 on the season overall, while Saint Louis falls to 7-5-3 on the year. The five-goal winning margin in the largest in the series between the two teams in the 36-match history dating back to 1975.

Tanner Thompson was unstoppable for Hoosiers on Tuesday night, scoring three first-half goals to record his first career hat trick. St. Louis native Austin Panchot also netted a score for IU, while Andrew Gutman notched a goal in the second half.

Six different Hoosiers tallied assists in the victory on Tuesday – Grant Lillard, Billy McConnell, Timmy Mehl, A.J. Palazzolo, Rece Buckmaster and Trevor Swartz. IU goalkeeper Christian Lomeli made one save in registering his second-straight shutout.

Thompson's hat trick is the first for the Hoosiers since Nikita Kotlov had three goals against Xavier on Nov. 18, 2012. Indiana's five goals against Saint Louis were the most for the team since beating Dayton, 6-0, on Sept. 4, 2011.

In the 22nd minute, Lillard played a long ball looking for a runner. The ball got behind the Saint Louis defense, allowing Thompson to toe-poke the ball around the charging Billikens' goalkeeper. Thompson's team-leading fifth goal of the season gave Indiana a 1-0 lead.

The Hoosiers were back on the attack in the 34th minute and used a great bit of team passing to push the lead to 2-0. With the ball played over the top to the right end line, McConnell corralled the ball and passed back to Mehl in the 18-yard box, who one-touched the ball to Panchot. The sophomore cracked a shot from 15 yards out, beating the SLU goalie to the far left post for his second goal of the season.

Just over two minutes later, IU made it 3-0 over the Billikens. After the ball was played long from the Indiana half, Buckmaster flicked the ball forward to Palazzolo. The freshman then passed to a wide open Thompson in the middle of the 18-yard box, who beat the SLU keeper easily to the far left post.

In the 43rd minute, Thompson netted another to record his first career hat trick. The senior weaved through the Saint Louis defense, creating room on the left side of the box. Thompson fired a rocket at goal, beating the SLU goalkeeper to the near post to give Indiana a 4-0 lead headed in to half time.

The Hoosiers continued the offensive onslaught in the second half, as Gutman netted his first of the season. Off a free kick from 25 yards out on the right side, Swartz sent a ball to the back post, finding Gutman, who headed the ball to the near post from six yards out, beating the goalie for the score, pushing the IU lead to 5-0.

For the game, Indiana out-shot the Billikens, 13-6, with IU getting five shots on goal to just one for Saint Louis. IU also had a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks.

The No. 5 Indiana Hoosiers will host the No. 13 Michigan State Spartans on Senior Day at Jerry Yeagley Field at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.

For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IUMensSoccer on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

http://iuhoosiers.com/news/2016/10/...leads-no-5-hoosiers-over-saint-louis-5-0.aspx

Go Hoosiers!

 

[snowling]

IU men’s soccer sees fresh face in goal
by Josh Eastern

Senior Colin Webb was the incumbent goalkeeper coming into the 2016 season.

After 14 games, Webb has started each and every game for the Hoosiers. It seemed as if his job security was strong.

IU’s match against Wisconsin match last Friday allowed some doubt to creep in, and Tuesday’s game against St. Louis proved his job security was no longer the case.

Starting his second consecutive game and making his first career home start, senior Christian Lomeli posted his second consecutive clean sheet and helped IU win 5-0.

“It’s exciting,” Lomeli said. “I was nervous just as anyone else would be with the timing of the situation and where we are in the season.”

Lomeli was all set to redshirt and play a fifth season for IU in 2017. All of that changed Friday as he was thrown into action in a very important conference game.

It wasn’t as if it was a game-time decision, though. Lomeli was told about the switch a few days prior and had time to prepare mentally and physically for the conference battle. He then carried the momentum from Friday’s clean sheet into Tuesday night.

“Especially given the Big Ten tournament and the possibility of the NCAA Tournament and run, I was excited as could be to hop in goal,” Lomeli said. “I’m just kind of blessed to be in that situation.”

As a goalkeeper, Lomeli said it’s best to not be noticed. Through two matches so far, Lomeli’s stellar performances have kept him out of the spotlight — although that may be because of who is playing in front of him.

The Crown Point, Indiana, native praised his backline. IU junior Grant Lillard has headed a stout IU defense all season with sophomore Timmy Mehl and senior Derek Creviston. Lomeli said he loves that as a goalkeeper.

“It’s been relieving when you have guys like Grant, Timmy and Crev back there,” Lomeli said. “To have them as a support system has made it a really easy transition back there with this whole situation ... I’m serious when I say this, they are the best defenders anyone could ever have.”

On Tuesday against Saint Louis, Lomeli wasn’t tested much.

Saint Louis came in having scored just 17 goals and left Bloomington without adding to that total. IU’s defense played well once again, and Lomeli had to wait until the 85th minute to make his only save of the game.

Webb had only given up 12 goals all season long, and the change caught a lot of people off guard. Yeagley said IU basically had two starting goalkeepers and he wanted to give the team a jolt heading into the postseason.

It was not a performance-based switch.

“Christian has been great since he’s been here,” Yeagley said. “It’s a great situation as a program, tough for the individual in Colin’s case. I felt the team needed a different bounce to them and I know Christian has the ability to make an incredible save when needed.”

It is expected that Lomeli will keep getting starts in goal. Yeagley praised a certain part of his game that could really come into play with the postseason just around the corner.

“The team needed a bit of an injection as to what Christian brings,” Yeagley said. “That’s an incredible shot-stopping ability and a demeanor that is contagious. We do feel that penalties could be a course that comes around, and I don’t think there is anyone as good in the country at penalty kicks.”

http://www.idsnews.com/article/2016/10/iu-mens-soccer-sees-fresh-face-in-goal

Go Hoosiers!

 

[snowling]

Thompson's hat trick leads Hoosiers to victory
by Zain Pyarali

This week Tanner Thompson laces up his boots for the final time at Jerry Yeagley Field in the regular season, and the senior midfielder made sure to start the end of his final chapter off right.

Although the Hoosiers have struggled to score this season, Thompson gave IU a quick 1-0 advantage in the 20th minute. About 20 minutes later he had his first career hat trick, and the Hoosiers strolled into the locker room with a comfortable four-goal lead.

IU would notch another goal in the second half to pad its lead and defeat the St. Louis Billikens, 5-0.

“It felt good. Whenever we come here and play at home, there’s always a special feeling,” Thompson said. “Tonight there was a little extra special feeling. We’re coming down to the wire here with not many games left, so I just wanted to make the most of it.”

Thompson’s three-goal effort was the 52nd hat trick in IU history and the first since Nikita Kotlov did it back on Sept. 18, 2012.

All three of Thompson’s goals were of a different variety. The first was the result of a St. Louis mistake. Senior defender Grant Lillard sent the ball forward off the head of a St. Louis defender, and Thompson was able to beat a charging Billiken goalkeeper to flick the ball over his head.

Thompson was aided by his St. Louis-native teammates, sophomore midfielder Austin Panchot and freshman defender AJ Palazzolo.

Panchot netted the second goal of the contest from the top of the 18-yard yard box after a passing sequence from defenders senior Billy McConnell and sophomore 
Timmy Mehl.

Two minutes after Panchot’s goal, Palazzolo used his speed to get past the defense and run down an IU free kick at the St. Louis end line.

With his back turned to the remainder of the offense he was able to slot the ball into the middle of the box to Thompson, and the senior snuck the ball past the outstretched keeper.

“Austin, I thought, was fantastic. We knew mobility was going to be key in that game to find little seems around their center backs, and he did just that,” IU Coach Todd Yeagley said. “We said before the game, ‘AJ, be ready.’ We knew size was important this game. They’re one of the biggest teams we’ve played and obviously knew AJ would be very motivated in this game being against his hometown.”

In Thompson’s final goal of the night, the senior picked up the ball from 35 yards out, shook a St. Louis defender, charged toward the right side of the box and rocketed a shot past the keeper to claim his first career hat trick.

Sophomore defender Andrew Gutman added the fifth goal of the game in the second half by heading in a long free kick from the far sideline off the foot of sophomore midfielder Trevor Swartz.

The five-goal output was the highest scoring total by the Hoosiers all season.

With 18 combined national titles between these two programs dating to the 1950s, Yeagley said this game has a certain meaning for his team because of the rivalry through the years.

“We have our biggest alumni base in St. Louis, so I know our alumni are very proud tonight as the players in the locker room,” Yeagley said. “Very good performance against a really good team, and this will go a long way for us in postseason play.”

http://www.idsnews.com/article/2016/10/thompsons-hat-trick-leads-hoosiers-to-victory

Go Hoosiers!

 

[GeddyHoosier]

Interesting move by Todd to switch keepers like that. Sounds like he knows we'll have some 0-0 draws in the tourney and will need a PK stopper.