Club soccer team sees increased success from hard work

The IU men’s soccer team is known as one of the top Division I soccer programs in the nation, with seven national titles and 12 Big Ten regular season titles. But this year, IU club soccer is on the rise as well.\nEntering the regional tournament Oct. 27 and 28, the men’s club soccer team was the top-ranked team in the Midwest region, with a near-perfect record of 11-0-1. Despite beating Purdue 3-1 in the opening round and tying Dayton 0-0, the extra momentum gained in the regular season was not enough to overtake 2006 defending national champion Michigan, and IU lost 3-1 in the semi-finals. \nWhile a loss could have had a negative effect on the previously undefeated Hoosiers heading into the Collegiate Soccer Sport Club Championships in November, senior midfielder Drew Thomson said he thinks otherwise. \n“(The loss) will give players something to build on,” Thomson said. “Playing a team as good as Michigan will give us the experience we need come Nationals.”\nIU is coming off a successful 2006 campaign during which they reached the National Quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions Michigan 2-0.\n“The main difference from last year is our depth,” said junior midfielder Andy Kushnir. “Last year as starters, we weren’t able to get off the field for much rest. But this year, we have guys who can come off the bench and give us a spark.”\nContributing to the team’s success has been a new, “flat-back four” defensive scheme implemented by head coach Nick Tiemann. Compared to last season’s “diamond” setup, there are four defenders across the team’s back line without a sweeper, providing more attacking versatility.\n“(The defense) allows us to swing the ball across the field and start our offense from the back, rather than just have the sweeper clear it,” said sophomore midfielder Alex Boler. \nSophomore goalie Steve Smith has also played consistently throughout the season with eight shutouts in 12 regular season games and a .42 goals against average.\nOffensively, Boler leads IU with 10 goals and six assists on the season. He is followed by freshman forward Zac Adda, who has five goals and three assists, and freshman midfielder/forward Nate Stern, who has five goals and two assists. \n“I practiced every day this summer on a club team in my hometown,” Boler said. “With some of my teammates playing Division I soccer, playing with them has made me step up and work harder.” \nThe team outscored its opponents this season 42-5.\nBut despite its recent success, the team is working harder than ever to improve on weaknesses that might hinder its shot at winning a national championship. \n“We outshot our opponents by a large margin, but we need to put the ball in the back of the net,” Stern said.\nAnother issue on the minds of some players is communication, which junior defender Sam Delisio said is vital during play.\n“We need more talking in the back,” Delisio said. “If we communicate and stay aggressive, we will be fine.”\nThe team is confident that its hard work will be worth it.\n“Our goal is a national championship,” said senior forward David Amaya. “When we play our game, no one can beat us.”