Following a lengthy nine days of rest and recovery, Notre Dame men’s soccer will return to the pitch this Sunday evening to host the No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers. It will mark the 50th meeting between the two schools, dating back to the rivalry’s inception in 1973. Indiana and Notre Dame are not only the two best collegiate soccer programs in the Hoosier state, but two of the preeminent national powers, combining for 38 conference titles and nine national championships. After last August’s 2-2 draw in Bloomington, the Hoosiers held a 33-11-5 edge in the series.
Eighth-year head coach Chad Riley has his new-look Irish unbeaten early this season, entering play at 1-0-2. Notre Dame opened the campaign with a 1-1 draw in Ann Arbor against the Michigan Wolverines in another Big Ten rivalry match. The Irish followed that result with a second draw, this time 0-0 at home against IU Indy. Notre Dame finally broke through last time out, besting No. 14 Oregon State 1-0, utilizing a 38th-minute header from senior defender Mitch Ferguson to top the Beavers despite being outshot 16-3.
The Hoosiers are 4-0-1 on the young season, having claimed four straight matches following a season-opening 2-2 tie with No. 9 Clemson. Indiana has won consecutive matches over ranked opponents beginning with a 2-0 victory over No. 14 Oregon State. In a battle between the sport’s two most historically successful programs, the Hoosiers got the better of No. 15 Saint Louis 1-0.
Indiana is spearheaded by the dynamic duo of senior forward Palmer Ault and junior midfielder Jacopo Fedrizzi, who together have tallied 16 points in the first five matches of the year. Ault, a Noblesville, Indiana, native, leads the Hoosiers with four goals, while Fedrizzi, an Italian international, is not far behind with three. Both have added one assist.
For the Irish, it has been a bit of a struggle to find the back of the net. Ferguson, who was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, scored his first of the campaign in the win over the Beavers, with the only other goal coming from Notre Dame debutant Diego Ochoa.
Notre Dame’s backline has held strong throughout the first 270 minutes of action, however. Sophomore goalkeeper Blake Kelly has directed the unit powerfully, despite his youth. The Michigan native made 12 starts a season ago as a true freshman, and has made 14 saves on 15 shots faced in 2025. Kelly had a career night, against Oregon State, turning away all seven attempts at goal. His performance included stopping a three-shot flurry midway through the second half, as well as a kick save off the line at the death.
Sunday’s contest at Alumni Stadium is set for a 7:30 p.m first touch. The match will be nationally televised on ACC Network.
