Forget the figures; IU ready to stun No. 3 Penn State

There have only been three wins in 12 Big Ten road openers in IU women's soccer history; and so far this season, only one win in four road games. To the casual observer, those numbers might not bode well for the Hoosiers, especially as they travel to State College, Pa., to take on the No. 3 team in the nation, Penn State (8-0).\nTo IU head coach Mick Lyon, those numbers mean nothing. \n"I am not big on stats," Lyon said. "I just go by how the team is playing currently."\nThe Hoosiers (4-3-1) are on a three-game winning streak and have scored seven goals during the streak, while holding their opponents to 10 shots in the last two games.\nMore statistics. But Lyon looks beyond the numbers to point out the play behind them.\n"We have worked really hard the last few weeks," he said. "The team is really picking up on the things we have been working on. We have a number of players contributing and a lot of support off the bench. That puts pressure on everyone to play well, because they know that there is someone waiting to take their spot if they don't."\nLyon hopes the team will build its foundation for success on the defensive unit this weekend. He expects the strong play of the defense to support the \noffense. \nIn the team's last game, against Bowling Green State, senior defender Robin Barker carried out those expectations single-handedly, scoring a goal during the Hoosiers' 2-0 win.\n"I played forward my first few years, so it was fun to score again," Barker said. "(On defense) we have great chemistry and communication. We have been playing together for a while so we know where everyone else will be. If any of us gets beat, there will be someone backing us up."\nInstead of backing her \nteammates up, senior midfielder and team captain, Kristen Zmijewski, prefers to lead. So far, she leads the team in goals with three and points with six. Beyond her play on the field, Zmijewski inspires her teammates with her words. As the team gathered after the final practice before traveling to State College, Zmijewski told her teammates they could be successful this weekend as long as they played hard and stayed focused. \n"I am really excited for this weekend," Zmijewski said. "We will be playing two good teams. But we are coming off two good wins. We have to know that we have the personnel to play well and use it to our advantage. In the Big Ten, the level of competition is as high as it gets, so we will have to play that way."\nAfter facing Penn State Friday, the Hoosiers will travel to the Twin Cities to face the University of Minnesota Sunday.