There are still two major hurdles to overcome before Indiana United Academy can realize its dream of a national three-peat, but the David Costa-coached side took one major step toward the prize this weekend, wrapping up the US Soccer Development Academy Great Lakes Division U18 regular season crown with a pair of home victories in Indianapolis at the Butler Bowl.

On Sunday, Indiana, which won national Academy titles the past two seasons under the name Carmel United, beat a depleted Derby County Wolves 4-0 behind two goals from Nikita Kotlov and one each from Dylan Mares and Daniel Keller. The divisional title was actually clinched Saturday in a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Michigan side Vardar.

Indiana United will have to negotiate the Academy Playoffs in Greensboro this June (where 8 groups of 4 square off over three matches, just one team advancing to the national finals) and then the Finals in Carson, California in July to win another national title. Still, an undefeated regular season (with only the non-division Sarasota Spring Showcase – TopDrawerSoccer.com will be on hand next weekend – remaining) of 15-0-3 looks like a pretty strong testament to the team’s chances.

The two-headed scoring machine of Harrison Petts and  Nikita Kotlov was at it again on the weekend. Kotlov scored the tying goal vs. Vardar to go with his two goals from Sunday, while Petts hit a late winner, driving in a low strike inside the far post from a seemingly impossible angle in the closing minutes. Both players are set to begin playing for Todd Yeagley this fall at Indiana University.

Saturday’s match looked early like it wouldn’t break Indiana’s way. Petts hit a post in the 1st half and Dylan Mares was robbed by a great save from Vardar goalkeeper Dean Dziewit. Meanwhile the Michigan side, coached by Demir Muftari, went up 1-0 on a rebound finish from Derek Schrauben after Caleb Stanko had put in some good work on the right.

Vardar scored again early in the 2nd half, with Dario Folino putting the ball in the back of the net and Stanko again getting the assist. A wild sequence in front of goal saw one shot by Indiana’s Kegan Hardenrider saved by Dziewit from point blank range, Mares putting a header from inside the 6-yard box off the crossbar and Petts just missing with a drive from the edge of the area.

But with a hot Indiana day creating a bit of a cauldron on the field turf inside the natural amphitheatre, the Vardar team seemed to lag as the 2nd half wore on, while Indiana, still striving for an undefeated season, rallied.

Harkenrider put Indiana on the board with an excellent individual move and 15-yard strike to make it 2-1. Minutes later, Indiana outside back James Vollmer, he of the impossibly long throws in, struck a cannonading blast at goal that war parried away, but Kotlov pounced for a rebound effort to make it 2-2, setting the stage for late heroics from Petts.

Vardar got good attacking play from Stanko, a 2011 grad who is a verbal commit to Michigan, and Yale-bound forward Peter Jacobson. Northwestern recruit Jeffrey Rogers showed good feet and decisions at left back, while Ezekiel Harris put in some crunching tackles in central defense, especially in the 1st half.