Three Takeaways From IU Soccer's 4-2 Win Vs. UCLA
While Big Ten Record Still Not Sparkling, Indiana Near The Top Of College Soccer
Armstrong Stadium In Bloomington, Where The Match Took Place
Offense Led By Palmer Ault Look Championship Ready,
Bloomington-Senior transfer Palmer Ault has unlocked a dimension to the IU offense that has been sorely missed since Victor Bezerra departed for the pros several years ago. Recent players like Sam Sarver and Tommy Mihalic had the potential to score goals. However, the danger Ault provides in the attack to finish from anywhere at any time has been the missing piece to to take things to a whole new level.
Ault’s eighth goal of the season to open the night was symbolic of the element he creates. Junior Collins Oduro’s speed has been a threat from the moment he stepped on campus. However, having Ault to finish the chances Oduro creates with his quick feet has taken the latter’s game to a whole new level.
Despite Ault’s prowess in finishing chances, he credited the team as a whole for the high number of early goals he has scored.
“We’ve got so many dangerous pieces on our team that offer a variety of different things,” Ault said. “It just feels free-flowing when we’re out there playing together.”
As Good As Offense Has Been, Defense Needs Shoring Up
While the attack as a whole looks championship-ready, the defense still needs to kick it up a notch. After racing to a 3-0 lead less than 19 minutes into the match, defensive mistakes from that point forward allowed UCLA to close the gap to 3-2 and get back into the game. Also, a penalty review was waved off late, saving Indiana from allowing the Bruins an easy chance to tie off another miscue.
While the Hoosiers held on for a 4-2 win, the troubles on the back end need shoring up. Otherwise, IU may waste a golden chance (more below) for their ninth star.
Is A Potentially Worse Big Ten Season With A Higher NCAA Seed Worth The Tradeoff?
IU has gotten off to slow starts the last few seasons before ramping it up come Big Ten play and finishing at or near the top of the league. The damage at the beginning of the year was done, though, and Indiana ended up with lower seeds in the NCAA Tournament and traveling on the road for the most part.
However, in 2025, the Hoosiers dominated non-conference play and were ready from the get-go. Despite their 2-2 start to Big Ten play (7-2-1 overall), IU maintains the number one RPI in the nation and is on pace for a very high seed come postseason with multiple home games regardless of their record in league play.
This, in a way, mirrors the 2014 season, where Indiana was a .500 team in the Big Ten but got one of their highest seeds of the last two decades, with multiple signature victories outside of conference play. While the result was not good in the NCAA Tournament, IU still had one of its best chances at the College Cup.
Fast forward to this fall, where the Hoosiers have won five out of the last seven league championships. This raises the question of whether a lower finish in the Big Ten, combined with a better draw come postseason, is worth the tradeoff given the recent domination of the conference.
IU coach Todd Yeagley said he thinks that a good league finish will allow these numbers to work themselves out.
“I don’t really pay attention to RPI,” Yeagley said. “It really doesn’t matter for a couple of weeks. For us, we want to surge in the Big Ten and be a contender, and if that gets us the RPI we need, then great.”
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