New additions have stepped into major roles for Todd Yeagley’s Hoosiers early in the 2025 campaign. Three-year starter JT Harms’s graduation left a gaping hole in between the posts for IU.
After back-to-back shutouts against ranked opponents, including Wednesday’s dogfight 1-0 win against St. Louis, graduate student Holden Brown has taken a firm command of the net.
While not new to the roster, Brown is new to seeing minutes at Indiana. He dealt with a torn ACL that kept him sidelined all of last year, his first season with the squad after transferring from Virginia.
“It was a long two years honestly,” Brown said after Wednesday’s match.
In the hard-fought match Wednesday, it took a second half defensive stand from Brown and his back line to fight off the Billikens.
“Thank you to my defenders,” Brown said, “They do a lot of work, they do a lot more running than me, they do a lot more defending than me. If my number gets called then it gets called and I’ll try to make a save for them.”
All that defending action occurred right near the goal line, causing chaos and even a VAR review to make sure the ball didn’t cross into the net — never an easy spot for a goalie.
“It’s crazy isn’t it,” Brown said. “It’s just so much going on and you’re just trying to find the ball.”
It’s been a wild season for the Hoosiers who are off to their best start, 4-0-1, since 2017. Since the first game, a 2-2 draw versus Clemson, IU has won all four of its matches. Wednesday's shutout came after a 2-0 win over No. 14 Oregon State, marking back-to-back shutouts against ranked opponents.
Judeweillin Michel split time with Brown in the preseason and started in net for the Clemson opener. Coming into this year it was a toss up for who would be in the starting 11.
“We knew coming into preseason it could be a battle,” head coach Todd Yeagley said after a preseason match against Louisville. “I feel confident whoever we put in goal.”
It may be a goalkeeping battle, but it’s all love between the teammates.
“Jude’s an awesome goalie and an even better person,” Brown said, “He’s amazing, I have nothing but good things to say about him.”
Yeagley had nothing but great things to say about Brown.
“To see him succeed is great,” Yeagley said after Wednesday’s match. “I’ve known him personally for a long time… luckily he was looking for a new opportunity and that’s when we were able to bring him here.”
Brown is a Bloomington native and has been able to connect with the community with his excellent performances.
“A lot of little kid goalies (are) following me on Instagram," Brown said. “It’s cool to be some kind of influence to the younger generation as many kids that can look up to me and want to be a college soccer goalie, IU soccer goalie the better.”
Brown will have the chance to make an impression on kids across the state this weekend. The Hoosiers travel to South Bend for their first road matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday.
