Here are the Top 5 Indiana men's soccer games to watch this season
Indiana men's soccer's quest for a ninth national title is set to begin anew in August.
The Hoosiers play their first of three preseason exhibitions on August 12, and the regular season begins two weeks later. This season marks multiple milestones for the Hoosiers: it's their 50th season as a program, and it's the 10-year anniversary of their last national title.
With early-season contests against strong ACC opponents Clemson and Notre Dame, IU will be challenged right from the beginning. Big Ten play begins on September 18, and the conference could provide some tricky games for IU this year.
Here are five of the biggest matches on Indiana's schedule in 2022.
Fountain of youth:Thompson, Gutjahr leaning on recent experience on IU men's soccer staff
More:Indiana men's soccer releases 2022 schedule, celebrates 50th season
at Clemson, Friday, August 26, 7 p.m.
The Hoosiers begin the regular season with a road trip to South Carolina to face reigning national champion Clemson. It's also Clemson's regular season opener, the Tigers' first game since lifting the College Cup in December 2021.
Clemson was the No. 8 seed in last year's tournament, and defeated three higher-seeded teams on the way to winning the title.
The Tigers bring back their leading scorer from last season, forward Isaiah Reid (nine goals) for his senior year. But they'll have a lot of turnover in the squad, with just five returnees who started more than half their games in 2021.
Indiana and Clemson have faced off 11 times, with IU holding a 6-4-1 edge. This is IU's first matchup with Clemson since 2012, when IU won 3-0 and went on to win the national championship that year. The Tigers haven't beaten the Hoosiers since 1987.
More:Takeaways and observations from Indiana men's soccer spring game with Lipscomb
vs. Notre Dame, Saturday, September 3, 8 p.m.
Indiana's only Saturday game of the regular season is against in-state foe Notre Dame in the first game of the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic.
IU faced the Fighting Irish in South Bend last season, prevailing 3-2 in overtime on a Ben Yeagley winner. The teams also met in April in a spring exhibition match at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield. The Hoosiers are 4-0-1 in their last five matches against Notre Dame, whose last win in the series came in 2016.
Since Todd Yeagley took over as IU head coach in 2010, Indiana is 6-5-2 against Notre Dame. They faced once in the NCAA Tournament, when IU earned a 1-0 win in double overtime in 2018 to advance to the College Cup. All-time, Indiana is 32-10-3 against Notre Dame.
The Fighting Irish were the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament reached the College Cup last season for the second time in program history. They lost to eventual champions Clemson in penalty kicks in the semifinals.
College Cup All-Tournament Team forward Jack Lynn is gone, as is forward/midfielder Dawson McCartney. That duo combined for 17 goals and nine assists, Notre Dame's top two in points last season. But starting goalkeeper Bryan Dowd returns, along with ACC All-Freshman forward Matthew Roou (17 points) and defender Josh Ramsey, as well as several other younger contributors who got good experience last season.
More:Indiana, Notre Dame men's soccer teams face off, wrap up spring exhibition schedule
vs. Kentucky, Wednesday, October 5, 7:30 p.m.
One of the main rivals for IU men's soccer returns to Bill Armstrong Stadium this year. IU and Kentucky didn't play each other for the last two seasons, last meeting twice in 2019 — the teams drew 0-0 in the regular season, and the Hoosiers won 3-0 in the NCAA Tournament second round on a Victor Bezerra hat trick.
The Hoosiers long dominated the series against the Wildcats, going 20 consecutive matches without defeat before Kentucky knocked off IU 3-0 in October 2018 in Lexington. UK has beaten IU just twice. IU's overall record against Kentucky is 26-2-4.
Kentucky was the No. 9 overall seed in last year's NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats beat Santa Clara to advance to the third round, where they lost to No. 8 seed and eventual champions Clemson. UK returns a lot of production from its 2021 squad, bringing back eight of its top nine players in points. The Wildcats did lose Conference USA Goalkeeper of the Year Jan Hoffelner.
vs. Penn State, Friday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
The Hoosiers will be out for revenge against the Nittany Lions this year. Though IU won 1-0 in the regular season in 2021, Penn State defeated Indiana 3-0 around a month later in the Big Ten Tournament Final. That loss snapped a 6-0-1 streak against PSU. Indiana leads the overall series 35-15-5.
After capturing the conference title, the Nittany Lions earned the No. 12 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but their tournament was short-lived. Hoftra came to University Park and upset Penn State 8-2 in the second round.
The Nittany Lions bring back several of their top players from last season. Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Peter Mangione (18 points) is back in attack. PSU also returns All-Big Ten second team midfielders Andrew Privett (nine goals, team's leading scorer) and Seth Kuhn (18 points, opened scoring in Big Ten title game). Kris Shakes will line up in goal again.
All-Big Ten first team defender Brandon Hackenberg is gone, as is second team midfielder Pierre Reedy.
vs. Maryland, Sunday, October 30, time TBA
Maryland has been, perhaps, Indiana's stiffest competition since joining the Big Ten in 2014. This will be the first matchup between the Hoosiers and Terrapins in Bloomington with fans in the stands since 2018.
The Terps bested IU last season in a 2-0 win in College Park. The last time they faced off at Armstrong Stadium — spring 2021, with no fans — Indiana won 2-0. Since Maryland joined the Big Ten, the Terps hold a 4-3-5 series edge. Two of those draws came in Big Ten Tournament play — IU advanced in penalties in 2018, while Maryland did the same in 2015. Indiana leads the all-time series 6-4-7.
Maryland earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament last year, but was defeated at home, 1-0, in the first round by LIU.
2021 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year Ben Bender went to MLS after his strong sophomore year, and All-Big Ten first team defender Brett St. Martin graduated. But Freshman of the Year Joshua Bolma returns in midfield. Maryland brings back five players who started 10 games or more last year, including All-Big Ten second team goalkeeper Niklas Neumann. The Terps will need some new faces to step up this season, though, as three of the team's top four scorers from 2021 are gone.
Follow Herald-Times sports reporter Seth Tow on Twitter @SethTow, or email him at stow@heraldt.com.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Here are the Top 5 Indiana men's soccer games to watch this season
