3 Takeaways From IU Soccer's 2-1 Overtime Win Against Akron In The NCAA Tournament

Hoosiers Head To Denver Next Saturday For 10th Straight Sweet 16

Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington Where The Match Took Place

Yeagley Is Not A Fan Of Golden Goal OT But It Works Perfectly For Him This Time

Bloomington-The NCAA Tournament overtime format has changed back and forth in the last few seasons. Up through 2021, overtime in the postseason was golden goal where the game ended as soon as a score happened. Then in 2022 and 2023, it was changed to all 20 minutes of overtime being played out regardless.

IU coach Todd Yeagley has never been a big fan of the sudden death format. However, in 2023 his team scored first early in extra time at Wake Forest in this round and still had to hold on for nearly 20 minutes which they did.

For this fall, the NCAA has gone back to sudden victory and once again Yeagley’s side was the first to find the back of the net in the 99th minute ending the match. Because of the reversion back to the old rules, no further playing was needed and the Hosiers had won 2-1 over Akron as senior Jansen Miller headed in a long serve in front of goal.

Yeagley said while it worked out today he prefers the 2022 and 2023 rule.

“Of course I’m gonna feel better if we win with it,” Yeagley said. “I still would be not opposed to not doing golden goal. I do feel the better team will over the 20 minutes if you just play it out but in this case we’ll take it and move on.

IU’s Bracket More Steady Competition This Year

Last season the Hoosiers had a brutal side to their bracket. While they opened up with a middling Lipscomb squad in Bloomington, their feet were thrown into the fire for the next three rounds. This involved successive road trips to elite ACC teams in the aforementioned Demon Deacons followed by Virginia and Notre Dame.

Indiana managed to upset Wake and the Cavaliers but ran out of steam against the Fighting Irish. Turning to 2024, there is no softer landing like the Bison to start. However, a solid Zips side will give way to a road trip to the very good but still Mid-Major power Denver next weekend (4:00 pm Eastern time Saturday on ESPN+).

While IU cannot look too far ahead, a rematch in Charlottesville or hosting UMass awaits in the Elite Eight if the Hoosiers take out the Pioneers. Overall, Indiana got a slightly easier bracket this time. It is more similar to 2022 when they advanced to the College Cup rather than the brutality of 2023 when it ended just short of that.

Yeagley said his squad is ready for the challenge regardless of who they are paired up against given their conference.

“We’re gonna see different styles,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to win different ways which the Big Ten prepares you for that.”

Hoosiers Take Advantage Of Backup Goalie

The biggest moment of the game may have happened at 38:01 of the first half. IU’s Clay Murador had a breakaway against Akron star goalie Mitch Budler. Budler put his body on the line to stop Murador and the two collided in the box.

Budler ended up taking the worst of it as he was down for several minutes before leaving the game for good with an injury. The Zips were forced to go to freshman backup Brett Kaminski.

Kaminski had never seen any collegiate action before today and was thrust into the spotlight. Whether the Hoosiers could have gotten the same two goals past Budler will never be known. However, it certainly gave IU an unexpected advantage for the rest of the match.

Senior Justin Weiss was responsible for the first score in the 70th minute to tie the game on a chip shot from the top of the box. Weiss said while who was in the net mattered little when his ball went in, they certainly wanted to put the heat on the second stringer.

“I don’t think (it made a difference) as much on that goal,” Weiss said. “I think in general the team wanted to get shots on him. Obviously for that goalkeeper to come in he had some nerves. He probably didn’t expect to play today. I think guys started shooting the ball. I think we got a confidence going that he was a little nervous.”

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Postgame press conferences can be seen below: