The 2020 Big Ten Conference men's soccer season is the 30th season of men's varsity soccer in the conference. The season was originally scheduled to begin on August 28 and conclude on November 8, 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was postponed to start February 3, 2021 and conclude on April 17, 2021.
The season will culminate with the 2020 Big Ten Conference Men's Soccer Tournament to determine the conference's automatic berth into the 2020 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament.
Indiana enters the season as the two-time defending regular season and tournament champion.
Background Previous season
The previous season was the 29th season of men's varsity soccer in the conference. The 2019 Big Ten regular season began on August 30, 2019 concluded on November 3, 2019. The season culminated with the 2019 Big Ten Conference Men's Soccer Tournament to determine the conference's automatic berth into the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. Indiana went on to win both the regular season and the tournament, winning seven of their eight of their Big Ten Conference games. They defeated Penn State in the Big Ten Men's Soccer Championship Game.
With the Big Ten title, Indiana earned the conference's automatic berth into the 2019 NCAA Tournament, where Maryland, Michigan, and Penn State joined as at-large berths. Maryland and Penn State were eliminated in the Second Round, while Michigan and Indiana were eliminated in the Third Round.
In the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, Jack Maher was selected second-overall in the draft, being selected by expansion team, Nashville SC. Nine total Big Ten players were selected in the draft; tied for the second most of all conferences.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
Like most Big Ten sports, men's soccer played a conference-only schedule for the 2020–21 academic year. Additionally, like many fall sports, the season was postponed to the spring.
Head coaches
Team Head coach Previous job Years at school Overall record Record at school Big Ten record NCAATournaments NCAACollege Cups NCAATitlesIndiana Todd Yeagley Wisconsin 9 10 3 1Maryland Sasho Cirovski Hartford 26 25 9 3Michigan Chaka Daley Providence 7 3 0 0Michigan State Damon Rensing Michigan State (asst.) 10 8 1 0Northwestern Tim Lenahan Lafayette 18 9 0 0Ohio State Brian Maisonneuve Indiana (asst.) 2 0 0 0Penn State Jeff Cook Bethlehem Steel (asst.) 2 9 0 0Rutgers Jim McElderry Fordham 1 3 0 0Wisconsin John Trask UIC 10 2 0 0
Preseason Preseason poll The preseason poll was released on February 18, 2021. Indiana was selected unanimously as the favorite to win the Big Ten. Team ranking 1. Indiana 2. Maryland 3. Penn State 4. Michigan 5. Michigan State 6. Northwestern 7. Rutgers 8. Wisconsin 9. Ohio State
Preseason national polls The preseason national polls were released in January and February 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. UnitedSoccer CSN Top DrawerSoccerIndiana — 6 7Maryland — 12 21Michigan — 13 RVMichigan State — — —Northwestern — — —Ohio State — — —Penn State — 21 23Rutgers — — —Wisconsin — — —
Regular season B1G member won B1G member lost B1G member tied
Conference results Each team plays every four other conference team twice; once home and once away, and then four other conference teams once.
Positions by round
Postseason Big Ten Tournament
The Big Ten Tournament was played from April 10–17.
NCAA Tournament
The NCAA Tournament began in April 2021 and concluded on May 17, 2021.
Seed School 2nd Round 3rd Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship 3 T 1–1 (W 3–1 p) vs. St. Francis Brooklyn W 2–1 vs. Marquette W 2–0 vs. Seton Hall W 1–0 vs. Pittsburgh L 0–1 (OT) vs. Marshall W 4–1 vs. UMass L 2–3 vs. Georgetown — — — L 1–2 vs. Missouri State — — — —W–L–T (%): Total:
MLS SuperDraft
Total picks by school
TeamRound 1Round 2Round 3Total Indiana 1 – – 1 Maryland 1 1 – 2 Michigan – 2 – 2 Michigan State – – 1 1 Northwestern – – – 0 Ohio State – 2 1 3 Penn State 1 – – 1 Rutgers – – – 0 Wisconsin – – 1 1 Total 3 5 3 11
List of selections
Round Pick # MLS team Player Position College 1 10 Inter Miami CF FW Indiana 22 Orlando City SC DF Penn State 25 Toronto FC MF Maryland 2 33 Chicago Fire FC DF Michigan 41 Los Angeles FC DF Ohio State 44 New York City FC DF Maryland 52 Columbus Crew DF Ohio State 53 Vancouver Whitecaps FC DF Michigan 3 55 Austin FC GK Ohio State 60 Chicago Fire FC MF Wisconsin 63 CF Montréal MF Michigan State
References
External links Big Ten Men's Soccer