A.J. Corrado, the 2009 Indiana Gatorade Player Of The Year, has joined the Indiana soccer squad. The Zionsville, Ind.-native has three seasons of eligibility remaining, after transferring from Southern Methodist University.
In 2010, as a freshman Corrado appeared in 18 games for SMU, scoring one goal and one assist. The Mustangs went 16-2-2. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament before falling to North Carolina on penalty shots.
Corrado began classes in Bloomington in January. He is eligible to play immediately, since in soccer there is a one-time transfer rule without a year of residency.
Corrado isn't unfamiliar with soccer in Indiana. At Zionsville Community High School, Corrado captained his team to an IHSAA State Championship as a senior with fellow Hoosier Harrison Petts. In 2009, he also trained with the U.S. U-17 National team, became a member of the Region II Olympic Development squad and was named All-American by ESPN/Rise.
Since 2007, he has played with Petts and Hoosier Nikita Kotlov at their club, Indiana United. The three Hoosiers won back-to-back USSF Development Academy national championships in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
From Todd Yeagley per the IU Hoosiers:
"We are very excited to have A.J. join us at IU," Yeagley said. "A.J. is very talented with the ball at his feet and will certainly give our attack a boost as we prepare for next fall. His ability to unbalance defenders off the dribble along with his precise distribution will help us become a more creative and explosive attacking unit. He is a team player who excels on the field and in the classroom."
Here's a video of Petts and Corrado from 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUi2PEVOHjk
