Jump to content

Thanks for visiting BtownBanners.com!  We noticed you have AdBlock enabled.  While ads can be annoying, we utilize them to provide these forums free of charge to you!  Please consider removing your AdBlock for BtownBanners or consider signing up to donate and help BtownBanners stay alive!  Thank you!

Leaderboard


Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 08/21/2013 in all areas

  1. 1 point
    The Hoosiers are about to show the world if it can be done. While the candidates may be young and not the most experienced in the college game, that will not deter them from strapping up the gloves and doing all they can to prevent the ball from kissing the twine. So without further ado, let's meet the men who will be the last line of defense for Indiana. Michael Soderlund: The redshirt sophomore from Boise, Idaho, is the only Hoosier who has experience in goal at the collegiate level, with 108:03 minutes total in his time with Indiana, all coming his freshman season in 2011. After securing his first and only win against Evansville that year, he stayed off the pitch this past year to reserve a year of eligibility. One takeaway from his only stint of action was his five saves in a full 90 minutes against the Purple Aces, and finished his freshman year with a Goals Against Average of 0.83. Soderlund is the favorite to start between the posts for the Hoosiers, having played the most in the preseason matches. The results may not have been W's, but his 11 saves against the U-20 Mexican National team are a tribute to how poised the up-and-comer is. Colin Webb: The second choice behind Soderlund has to be freshman Colin Webb. Even with no recorded time on the pitch for the Hoosiers, his credentials tell all you need to know about his ability to play the game. A member of the U-15 and U-17 National Team pools, Webb is no stranger to a high level of competition. In addition to his national achievements, he has also had the opportunity to train internationally, most notably at the Tottenham Hotspurs Academy in London as well as the Sporting Lisbon Academy in Portugal. These experiences will prove to be very valuable as his training progresses at IU. Sean Weidman: This redshirt sophomore sat out his freshman year and didn't receive any playing time behind Soffner last year, but did gain Academic All-Big Ten honors. In high school, he started 54 games with 31 of them being shutouts, and posted a GAA of 0.53 as a senior when he led his team to an undefeated regular season. He is very familiar with senior Nikita Kotlov as they played together on their high school team and in club play. Kyle Wieschhaus: He didn't play soccer last year as a freshman, as instead he was on the practice squad IU's women's basketball team. Up in South Bend he was named a team captain and MVP while leading St. Joseph's to a sectional title and regional runner-up. Just because he spent last year on the hardwood doesn't mean he can't make an impact on the pitch. Curt Miller, the women's basketball team coach, stresses the importance of leadership from his players, so you can be sure that message wasn't lost on Kyle. Though the roster shows four keepers, coach Todd Yeagley will certainly be looking to only have to use one throughout the season, while having the others gain experience when they can. While the assumption is Soderlund will start day one, Webb certainly has the skill set to challenge for the job. It will certainly be interesting to see who can step up and provide rock solid performances week in and week out.
  2. 1 point
    What comes with being at the top of the pyramid is always having a large target on your back from those programs who are just behind you. Indiana's first opponents come in the form of the National Soccer Festival in Fort Wayne, IN. First up will be Marquette, ranked 8th coming into this preseaon tournament. After suffering an early exit from last season's tournament at the hands of Northwestern, the Golden Eagles will be looking to show the 1-nil loss was a fluke. MU went 16-4-1 last season, and return their strong core mixed with experience and rising talent. Among that incoming talent is C. Nortey, a redshirt sophomore who will bring the attack to the next level. The second game in the fixture is against an all too familiar foe for the Hoosiers, the University of North Carolina. In 2012, the Tar Heels finished with a record of 16-4-3 and reached the quarterfinals where they fell to the Hoosiers 1-0, ironically the same score they used to defeat Indiana the year before en route to their own national title. UNC round out the nation's top 5 for the upcoming preseason. While a strong seven starters return for the Carolina blue and white, the biggest hole the team must fill is in the goalkeeper position as Scott Goodwin, who has been a rock in the net for the past several seasons. While the Festival will be held in Indiana, don't expect the Hoosiers to bring home two easy wins. Not only are the opponents of the highest caliber, but the Hoosiers will have to answer questions of their own, including how to replace their own void in goal left by graduated senior Luis Soffner, who now plays for the New England Revolution. Add that to losing forward Eriq Zavaleta to the Seattle Sounders, and the task looks daunting. During the offseason, the Hoosiers did add a major transfer in the form of Dylan Mares from Louisville. Not only has he played for a top tier program, but is also from Zionsville, IN, where he played with both A.J. Corrado and Harrison Petts. The National Soccer Festival, along with the Hoosiers' 2013 campaign, begins on August 22nd and ends on the 24th. Following these two preseason games will the be annual adidas/IU Credit Union Classic, which will be the official start for this season.
  3. 1 point
    I go to a TON of soccer games. I hope whoever ends up in goal will be just as good as last year. I know that's really optimistic thinking, but a girl can hope right???


×