The University of Indianapolis men’s soccer team fell in the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament semifinals to Quincy University on Nov. 6 after being beat 4-1 in penalty kicks. Leading up to the semifinals, the Hounds competed against Drury University in the quarterfinals, and won 2-0.
Prior to the tournament senior midfielder JT Hiquet talked about the team’s expectations.
“I expect wins,” he said. “Our expectations are that we make it to the finals. That’s what we talked about at the beginning of the year. … I think we’re the best team in the conference and I believe in that. I truly do.”
Senior forward Zak Mitiche moves down field against Drury. UIndy won 2-0 to move on to the semifinals. Photo by Cassie Reverman
Although the team fell in PKs against Quincy preventing them from moving forward, they still have the ability to move on in the NCAA Division II tournament. Whether or not the team will continue the season was decided on Monday, Nov. 9. The team was ranked sixth in the NCAA Midwest Regional poll.
The Greyhounds battled against the Hawks for 110 minutes, and that still was not enough to determine who would move on to the finals.
In the 53rd minute, senior forward Zak Mitichie had a chance at a wide open net, but could not gain control of a rolling ball.
UIndy’s defense silenced the GLVC’s top scoring team as the Hawks didn’t get a single shot on goal. The Hounds outshot the Hawks 17 to 7. UIndy had six shots on goal, and Mitiche had three of them. Sophomore midfielder Josh Ling had five shots in the game.
With a scoreless game came another clean sheet for redshirt junior goalkeeper Christopher Jones, making that his 12th of the season, and upping the program record for shutouts.
Facing Drury on Nov. 1, UIndy defeated the Panthers 2-0 to advance to the semifinal round of the tournament. This is the third consecutive year in which the men’s team has advanced.
The Hounds scored a goal in each half of the game, with the first goal scored by Mitiche at 18:36. Late in the second half, junior forward Jacob Meyer’s shot found the back of the net, his 10th goal of the season. Meyer is the team’s leading goal score this season. The Greyhounds took 16 shots, half of which were on goal. Drury had only two shots on goal.
Prior to facing Drury, Head Men’s Soccer Coach John Higgins said he and his staff drew up new plans to ensure a Greyhound victory.
“As a group and as a coaching staff, this is where we have to come into our own and work really hard behind the scenes. And we have to get the game plan right,” he said. “They play a different system from what we normally see in the GLVC, [and] it causes a couple [of] issues, with us pressing higher up the field. So it’s something we have to go in and address. It actually plays into our hands a little bit, given that our threats are from the wide areas, [senior back] Julian Shamsaie and [sophomore midfielder] David Kurz.”
UIndy’s last regular season game was against Saint Joseph’s College on Oct. 28. The Greyhounds topped the Pumas in a 2-1 double overtime victory. Ling’s first shot of the game made its way past the Puma’s goalkeeper at the 79:59 mark to put the Hounds up 1-0 with 10 minutes remaining.
The Hounds held onto that lead for only eight minutes before the Pumas’ shot passed UIndy’s Jones. With the score tied, UIndy and Saint Joe found themselves in overtime. No one scored in the first overtime forcing a second overtime in which the Hounds scored. At 106:06, Shamsaie’s cross found Meyer. Meyer’s header hit both posts and then landed in the back of the net earning the Hounds a 2-1 win.
On Friday Nov. 6, the GLVC announced its all-conference selections. UIndy finished with more all-conference selections than any other team. Representing UIndy was Mitiche, Hiquet, Shamsaie, Ling, Meyer, Jones, redshirt senior midfielder Casey Zimmerman, sophomore midfielder David Kurz and senior back Brendon Widau.
