The Michigan men’s soccer team has shown time and time again that it will not back down in the face of adversity. In an up-and-down season that has been plagued with injury, the Wolverines have refused to retire their cleats for the season thus far.

Heading into the second round of the NCAA Tournament tonight at 7 p.m., Michigan will face another daunting challenge: No. 2-seed and defending NCAA Champion Indiana.

After defeating Akron 2-1 in the first round of the tournament, Michigan (11-7-4) will now face the sixth-rated Hoosiers (14-4-1) in Bloomington for the second time this season. In the teams’ first meeting this season on Oct. 10, Indiana defeated the Wolverines 2-1 after Michigan kept the Hoosiers scoreless in the first half.

Michigan has never beaten Indiana since the Wolverines began play in 2000.

“Indiana has been, and continues to be, the standard by which all teams model themselves after in our conference,” Michigan coach Steve Burns said. “To have an opportunity to play in Bloomington under the lights in an NCAA tournament game, there is no better way to play with our hearts out on our sleeves and show exactly where we measure up.”

Indiana boasts sophomore Jacob Peterson, who leads the Hoosiers with 18 points, including eight goals and two assists. Defensively, Hoosiers goalkeeper Jay Nolly has given up less than one goal per game this season.

“They are able to bring in the top players in the country,” Burns said. “They have a great style of play. Most importantly, they take a lot of pride defensively.”

Several Michigan upperclassmen have tasted the sour flavor of defeat at the hands of the Hoosiers six times in their careers.

“(Fifth-year senior Joe) Zawacki has never beaten Indiana in the five years he’s been here, and he wants to get a win,” junior Peter Dzubay said. “So we’re going to try to do it for him.”

In the two schools’ last meeting on Oct. 10, each side received 14 fouls, including a red card on each squad. Tonight’s matchup promises to be no less of a physical and emotional contest.

“Emotionally, we want our guys peaking at the start of the game,” Burns said. “But once it begins, you have to fall back on the fundamentals you have (used) all season long. It’s going to be a difficult game. You want to make sure defensively you are taking care of the fundamental principles of the game.”

Playing on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, Michigan midfielder Adam Bruh will not be available for tonight’s game. The junior was rushed to the hospital after an Akron player came down on his leg in the final minutes of Friday’s game.

But for the Wolverines, injury has been a recurring theme all season that the team has learned to work around.

“It’s just another opportunity where a young guy gets an opportunity to gain some valuable experience and hopefully thrive in that environment,” Burns said.

Senior Mychal Turpin will return to the field for Michigan after sitting on the sidelines against Akron. He was suspended for a game after receiving a red card against Northwestern on Nov. 12.

Tonight’s winner will face the winner of the Boston College/Connecticut matchup that also takes place today.