Much to be determined in Indiana preseason
8/15/2015 7:30:00 PM | Men's Soccer
By: Sam Beishuizen | Twitter
IUHoosiers.com
Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley has a problem. Only, it's not exactly one that has him too concerned.
Yeagley's problem is the talent on his roster. He has too much of it, actually.
Indiana has reached a point where Yeagley isn't quite sure how he's going to fill out his lineup card without leaving somebody off who could just as easily start.
So it's worth repeating. Yeagley's "problem" isn't exactly reason to panic heading into Monday's 7:30 p.m. exhibition match against Valparaiso at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
"The competition is making me smile," Yeagley said. "Things are very close. To call a first team versus a second team, it's a hard deal right now. There's a few standouts that have proven that, but the balance of the team from front to back is as competitive as we've seen in years."
With added competition comes flexibility.
Yeagley has more room for tactical adjustments based on opponents or even based off which of his players are having good weeks of practice. He'll have more chances to experiment with lineups, knowing he has a number of different resources to tap into on his bench.
"You always say you get excited, because you see what the potential of the group can be," Yeagley said. "But the tactical adjustments we can make in a game are much greater this year heading in based on what we've seen and (having) scouted our own team and understand what we have coming back."
Among the 19 returnees are seven starters from a 2014 team that climbed to No. 1 in the RPI and spent a good portion of last season ranked in the top-10 of a number of national polls.
Indiana's two leading scorers from a year ago—junior midfielder Tanner Thompson and senior forward/midfielder Femi Hollinger-Janzen—have returned for another season. So did junior goalkeeper Colin Webb, who allowed just .96 goals per game last season.
Indiana's season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, and Webb hasn't forgotten. He said he and his teammates are eager to redeem their second round loss and make a run at a ninth national championship.
"Last year, I think a lot of guys ended the season with a bitter taste in their mouths, especially me," Webb said. "Going into this season knowing what we're capable of and what the expectation is, I don't think we'll go into any game thinking we aren't supposed to win. That's the standard I think we've held ourselves to."
While holding themselves up to a high standard is one thing, getting complacent is another. Hollinger-Janzen said Indiana doesn't look too much into national rankings or what is written about the team.
The Hoosiers began the year ranked No. 14 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll released Aug. 3.
"None of the rankings really matter. We really don't want to get caught up in that stuff," Hollinger-Janzen said. "What is important is that we play to our potential. Early on, it's going to be huge to just see how the chemistry is so we can build on that moving forward."
Hollinger-Janzen conceded that there are still positions left to be filled, including determining his own, but he likes what he's seen in practice so far.
He and Yeagley both spoke highly of the incoming freshmen and transfers. Yeagley said to not be surprised if he puts a few new faces in the spotlight in the preseason to see how they react and to fight for the available starting spots and key reserve roles left to be won.
"The competition, again, we talk about it all the time, these guys love it," Yeagley said. "They compete, and it's not something that makes guys play with anxiousness and nerves. They have to bring it every day. There's no doubt that in a lot of positions, they need to do that."
IUHoosiers.com
Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley has a problem. Only, it's not exactly one that has him too concerned.
Yeagley's problem is the talent on his roster. He has too much of it, actually.
Indiana has reached a point where Yeagley isn't quite sure how he's going to fill out his lineup card without leaving somebody off who could just as easily start.
So it's worth repeating. Yeagley's "problem" isn't exactly reason to panic heading into Monday's 7:30 p.m. exhibition match against Valparaiso at Bill Armstrong Stadium.
"The competition is making me smile," Yeagley said. "Things are very close. To call a first team versus a second team, it's a hard deal right now. There's a few standouts that have proven that, but the balance of the team from front to back is as competitive as we've seen in years."
With added competition comes flexibility.
Yeagley has more room for tactical adjustments based on opponents or even based off which of his players are having good weeks of practice. He'll have more chances to experiment with lineups, knowing he has a number of different resources to tap into on his bench.
"You always say you get excited, because you see what the potential of the group can be," Yeagley said. "But the tactical adjustments we can make in a game are much greater this year heading in based on what we've seen and (having) scouted our own team and understand what we have coming back."
Among the 19 returnees are seven starters from a 2014 team that climbed to No. 1 in the RPI and spent a good portion of last season ranked in the top-10 of a number of national polls.
Indiana's two leading scorers from a year ago—junior midfielder Tanner Thompson and senior forward/midfielder Femi Hollinger-Janzen—have returned for another season. So did junior goalkeeper Colin Webb, who allowed just .96 goals per game last season.
Indiana's season came to an end in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season, and Webb hasn't forgotten. He said he and his teammates are eager to redeem their second round loss and make a run at a ninth national championship.
"Last year, I think a lot of guys ended the season with a bitter taste in their mouths, especially me," Webb said. "Going into this season knowing what we're capable of and what the expectation is, I don't think we'll go into any game thinking we aren't supposed to win. That's the standard I think we've held ourselves to."
While holding themselves up to a high standard is one thing, getting complacent is another. Hollinger-Janzen said Indiana doesn't look too much into national rankings or what is written about the team.
The Hoosiers began the year ranked No. 14 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) preseason poll released Aug. 3.
"None of the rankings really matter. We really don't want to get caught up in that stuff," Hollinger-Janzen said. "What is important is that we play to our potential. Early on, it's going to be huge to just see how the chemistry is so we can build on that moving forward."
Hollinger-Janzen conceded that there are still positions left to be filled, including determining his own, but he likes what he's seen in practice so far.
He and Yeagley both spoke highly of the incoming freshmen and transfers. Yeagley said to not be surprised if he puts a few new faces in the spotlight in the preseason to see how they react and to fight for the available starting spots and key reserve roles left to be won.
"The competition, again, we talk about it all the time, these guys love it," Yeagley said. "They compete, and it's not something that makes guys play with anxiousness and nerves. They have to bring it every day. There's no doubt that in a lot of positions, they need to do that."
Players Mentioned
Forward/Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
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