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The third weekend of college soccer is upon us, with IU slated for one game — a top 25 (depending on which poll you look at) matchup with VCU. The Hoosiers enter this one on the upswing, having won their last three contests, all against ranked opponents, to hop back up to No. 4 in the United Soccer Coaches poll following a week two fall to No. 6.
Andrew Gutman will be key for IU once again. The senior defender was named National Player of the Week by Top Drawer Soccer among several other honors after scoring a pair of game-winning goals last weekend and assisting on another goal with a beautiful through ball. The Hoosiers will need him to continue his hot streak if they’re going to extend their winning streak to four games, especially with the absence of Griffin Dorsey.
Dorsey, the sophomore winger, will be out of the lineup on Friday and will also miss Tuesday’s Marquee matchup with No. 12 Notre Dame as he joins the US U-20 National Team in Florida for a round robin against Jamaica, Venezuela, and the US U-19 National Team. So far this season Dorsey has a pair of goals for the cream and crimson while helping to balance the Hoosier attack on the right wing. His absence could be an issue for IU, but Coach Todd Yeagley’s squad is a deep one and they should be able to adjust. Players like Spencer Glass, Austin Panchot, Cory Thomas and Jeremiah Gutjahr among others should be to pick up the slack.
When they get on the pitch on Friday night the Hoosier defense could have their hands full with VCU forward Siad Haji. Haji took home A-10 Player of the Week after bagging a pair of game-winning goals over the weekend as the Rams improved to 3-1 on the season. He was also named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Team of the Week for his efforts.
VCU is coming off a season in which they finished 12-7 with a 6-2 A-10 record and qualified for the NCAA Tournament despite losing to Massachusetts in the A-10 Tournament championship game. They ended their season in the second round when they were ousted 3-2 by Butler. First kick will be at 8:00 given there aren’t any weather delays.