The IU women’s soccer team has not played a home game since August 23, a 0-0 draw against SIUE that featured two 10-minute overtime periods. After playing five consecutive road games, including one upcoming away game this Friday at Notre Dame, IU will play a home game against Ball State at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.
Though IU has yet to play a Big Ten opponent, its non-conference schedule has been full of high caliber opponents. They started their season against then-No. 13 University of Virginia, played a challenging Louisiana State University team this past weekend and now face a formidable Notre Dame squad.
“We play non-conference opponents every year,” IU Coach Amy Berbary said. “You always play eight games, so what we try to do is schedule some really competitive games so that our non-conference games prepare us for the conference games that are very tough.”
Berbary views IU’s grueling schedule as a challenge that serves a purpose.
“I think putting these kids in an uncomfortable situation again helps our young ones to mature a little bit faster,” Berbary said. “This group of kids is very disciplined off the field with their academics, and then of course on the field. I think they’ve done a really good job.”
Preparation for road games is taxing, Berbary said, as the Hoosiers must balance their academic and team commitments regardless of where they play.
“We do study hall on the road in between games,” Berbary said. “On our team we have an academic captain as well as our team captain, so I think that’s a big part to help us stay organized.”
The Hoosiers have even changed their schedule to accommodate the players’ need for rest.
“It is grueling,” Berbary said. “Our travel last Sunday was a very long day getting home from Baton Rouge. But we changed up our schedule and gave them the day off yesterday.”
The Hoosiers do embrace playing on the road despite the challenges.
“I like going away and I think the kids do too,” Berbary said. “It takes away any distractions that we have here because we are just together and away from things.”
Though playing away provides the women’s soccer team valuable experience, Berbary finds playing at home in front of their fans to be the most rewarding experience.
“Oh, there’s nothing like it,” Berbary said. “It’s amazing, when the lights come on and the music is going and those guys have their jerseys on, I want to put a jersey on and go out there and play.”
