Indiana University’s head soccer coach Jerry Yeagley’s records speak for themselves.

Entering his 18th year as the head coach for the “Team of the ‘80s,” Yeagley will bring his 293-50-23 career record to Huskie Soccer Field at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday to take on the Huskies and coach Willy Roy.

Both have respect for each other. Both teach the same type of soccer and boast that this Wednesday’s game will be a classic showcase of how soccer should be played.

“It’s a great chance to showcase our sport in (DeKalb). I know that Willy likes to play an attractive passing game. That’s how he was successful with the Chicago Sting. And, we don’t like to sit back on our goal. We like to attack the opposing goal just like NIU. I wish more coaches would do that, but it’s going to be a great chance to showcase our sport,” Yeagley said.

Yeagley has been involved with Indiana soccer for 28 years. He coached the club team for 10 years before it became a varsity sport in 1963. Since then, Yeagley has taken his teams to 14 NCAA tournaments, winning three championships in 1982, 1983 and 1988.

He also led the Hoosiers to the Final Four four more times. This year, the No. 10 Hoosiers will bring a 11-2-1 record to DeKalb.

For NIU, it’s almost a must-win situation. Making the NCAA tournament was thought realistic until NIU lost some key games. “It’s not as important of a game for us as it is for NIU,” Yeagley said. “It’s an inter-regional game. It’s more important for NIU, because they lost some key regional games. This is a chance for them to make their mark.”

Yeagley is also wary of NIU’s abilities. “They gave us fits last year, and I think NIU is capable of beating any team in the country on any given day.”

Last year, NIU lost to Indiana on a controversial goal in overtime. IU’s three-time All-America Ken Snow headed the ball from goalie Markus Roy’s left side. Roy jumped on it, but the referee said the ball crossed the goal line. Arguments followed, but IU won the game. “We won the game, it won’t be on the back of our minds,” Yeagley said. “I don’t know if NIU has forgotten about it…”

Actually, the Huskies remember the game very well. “The whole team remembers what happend last year,” NIU forward Willy Roy Jr. said. “That’s the way the referee saw it and you can’t change what happened in the past. We remember what happened and it’s going to be out there on the field.”

And on that field the Huskies might be overmatched. Although the Huskies have played the Hoosiers tough the last two years, IU returns some impressive players. Hoosier goalie Juergen Sommer is not only impressive statistically, but physically as well. The 6-4, 210 pound senior posted seven shutouts last year for a .78 goals against average. This year he has been touted as one of nation’s best. Alongside Snow, offensive midfielder Chad Deering will give the rejuvenated NIU defense fits. Snow has 27 total points this year and Deering has 22.

NIU senior defender Tony Adolfs will bear the heavy burden of marking Snow, while James Ehrlich will shadow Deering. “I think Tony will have to be totally concentrated the whole time. Especially when (Snow) doesn’t have the ball, because he’s very sneaky, making runs when he doesn’t have the ball when he’s not even involved in the play. I think Ehrlich will be fine. He has actually had three very good games for us. He’s starting to play exceptionally well,” Roy said.