Tradition, experience key to men's soccer's success

During his career at IU, fifth-year senior back Ryan Hammer has never gone home early for the holidays. While most students are leaving Bloomington to visit family and friends the weekend after final exams, he has always had a bit of unfinished business to take care of.\n"Since I've been (at IU), we've gone to the Final Four, so for me it's almost part of our season," Hammer said. "Every year I make plans to go home (for winter break), and I don't schedule the plane ticket until after the Final Four."\nSunday, the fourth-seeded Hoosiers will attempt to achieve their fifth straight bid to the Final Four when they face the Clemson Tigers in the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight. The game will be played at Bill Armstrong Stadium, where IU is 45-3 in postseason play.\nThe four consecutive Final Four appearances and dominance in home tournament games represents only the beginning of a long list of accomplishments for the Hoosiers. Since the program gained varsity status in 1973, it has earned a Division I-best five national championships and appeared in 14 Final Fours with a 60-20 NCAA Tournament record. \nJunior forward Pat Noonan said that IU's storied tradition is very important to this year's squad. \n"It means everything," Noonan said. "To be on a team trying to make it to the final four for a fifth straight year, it means a lot for us to get here again. It is a tradition, being 45-3 at home (in post season play) and having this home field advantage is big for us."\nHead coach Jerry Yeagley said that IU's past success is a motivating factor for current members of the team, instilling pride and confidence in their play.\n"When they take the field, it's kind of a feeling of, 'We're Indiana and it's going to take a heck of a team to beat us,'" he said. "We're the team that wants to go out there and not just react to our opponents, but impose our will. We don't go out with the idea of sitting back and saying 'You do what you want to do and we'll try and stop you.' We go out with the idea of forcing them to play in ways they don't like, forcing them out of their comfort zone."\nIU's defense has played an integral role in forcing opponents out of their game plans, shutting out 15 teams and allowing only six goals on the season. Anchoring that defense are Hammer and fellow fifth-year senior, goalkeeper Colin Rogers.\nBoth Rogers and Hammer sat on the bench for a majority of their Hoosier careers, waiting for an opportunity to prove themselves. \nRogers' chance came on Sept. 30 last season, when starting Hoosier keeper T.J. Hannig sustained a season-ending injury. Rogers went on to post a 9-2 record and a .73 goals-against average.\nThis season, Rogers has started every game, leading the Hoosiers to an 16-3-1 overall record. He has allowed only six goals in 1752:48 minutes of play and lowered his GAA to .31, the best in the country.\n"It was tough to be a backup for a few years," Rogers said. "But in the end, it's worked out. I learned a lot about myself and my abilities during that time. It's really made me appreciate my playing time and the team's success this season a lot more."\nHammer only made three starts before the 2001 season. This season, he has become a consistent member of the starting line-up.\nNoonan said Hammer and Rogers are two of the most valuable players on the team.\n"They're the reason we're here," Noonan said. "They're the reason we got 15 shutouts and the best defense in the nation. To wait your turn and then come out and have a performance like they've had this year, that was a big key for us, and everybody's looking up to them. They've done a great job."\nThe expectations placed on the Hoosiers are high because of the team's past success and current experience, and the players have responded to them, Yeagley said.\n"They led the nation in defense, shutouts (and) fewest goals (allowed)," Yeagley said. "We're champions of the Big Ten. (They've done) things that other teams haven't done here. So they've had a great season, and yet, I think it will be marked by if we make the Final Four or not. \n"That will really be the final determination of, 'Has this been a good season?' And we'll accept that. We'll accept those expectations and thrive on them"