In soccer, all it takes is one pass, one touch, or in IU’s case, one cross to make a difference in the game — and the Hoosiers had a special left foot playing at left back against Penn State.
No — senior defender, and the No. 2 player in the nation, Andrew Gutman did not play Sunday afternoon. It was sophomore Spencer Glass.
Ask anyone on the team about Glass, and you get nothing but praise in return. His delivery from the sideline, and his vision in the middle of the field are what makes him a special piece on Indiana’s roster.
"Is it weird to have both your goals come from crosses into the box for the shortest players on the team?"@Austin_Panchot and Todd Yeagley didn't seem to be surprised. #iums pic.twitter.com/IVaPaFo9sM
— The Hoosier Network (@TheHoosierNet) September 30, 2018
“I think, talking about Spencer Glass, his left foot is the best in the country,” sophomore Griffin Dorsey said after IU’s 2-1 victory over Northwestern. “With the cross, with the shot, his left foot is the best in the country, and he really put together a great performance for us tonight.”
Glass was on the assisting end of the game-winning goal that Dorsey scored, and he was an integral part of why IU was able to break down Northwestern late in that game.
He had an even better performance against Penn State.
Glass was credited with two assists on the day in IU’s 2-0 win over the Nittany Lions, and he was a constant headache down the left side of the field. One of the things that makes Glass so special is his versatility. He can play on the wing, in the midfield or on the back line for the Hoosiers, but his style stays the same no matter where he is on the pitch.
He likes to create space, and either look for the open man or try to beat the guy in front of him. He brings a lot of talent and creativity to a team that has one of the most talented rosters in all of college soccer.
FINAL | Indiana 2, Penn State 0@Spencer_Glass21 picks up his second assist of the match with this ridiculous ball into the box as @Rico_da77 finishes the job. #iums pic.twitter.com/vKlRQ1yVWR
— The Hoosier Network (@TheHoosierNet) September 30, 2018
Indiana didn’t have arguably its best player on the pitch today, and the Hoosiers didn’t skip a beat. Sure, there were times where Penn State had control of the match near halftime, but when IU was at its best, Glass was in the thick of it all.
“We knew his time was coming for more minutes,” IU head Coach Todd Yeagley said. “Obviously, we have Andrew that is an All-American left back. Spencer, we felt like he could play at both lines — in the midfield and at left back. Today, we needed him in the back line, and he did a great job.”
Now with six assists on the season, Glass has already shown what he is capable of. The only question that remains is how Yeagley can keep him in the game when this team is fully healthy.
He primarily came off the bench all of last season, and he was able to make an impact when he subbed on in various games. He even scored the last time IU played Penn State in the regular season — it ended up being the game-winner.
Whether he’s coming off the bench or listed in the starting lineup, it seems Glass is always finding ways to impact games one way or another. Sunday afternoon was just another example of that.
