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(10/04/13 3:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>IU boasts a rich history of Hispanic culture, and the Latino Studies Program is showing that history off with artwork and live music.Tesoros Latinos, created to showcase the variety of Hispanic art on display, is sponsored by the IU Art Museum and the Latino Studies Program. The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the museum. The program will begin with live music from Brazilian trio BRAMUS, followed by a tour led by the museum’s curators. This tour will present pieces from the pre-Columbian era and the works of Cuban-American artist Emilio Sanchez and others.A reception with more live music will close the evening. Ann Fields, coordinator of curatorial and educational programs at the museum, said the goal of this program is to feature works created by people of Hispanic heritage. She said the program can serve as an educational outlet for the public. “The museum’s collection has terrific breadth, which lends itself nicely to creating programs like this,” she said.John Nieto-Phillips, director of the Latino Studies Program, said Tesoros Latinos is the first of hopefully many events that will bring attention to the vast collection of Hispanic materials and artifacts available to the community.“There are a lot of Hispanic treasures, and we just want to highlight them,” he said.Jenny McComas, a curator at the museum and leader of the Sanchez artwork section of the tour, said this event offers the opportunity to zone in on one culture. “Even though we do not have large holdings of Latin American art, it is important to feature it when possible in order to draw attention to the significant artistic production of this part of the world,” she said.McComas said the artwork in the tour is a sampling of the holdings at the museum, and they are rotated frequently.Tesoros Latinos is part of an all-day event sponsored by the Latino Studies Program, as a symposium about the politics of language precedes the event, Nieto-Phillips said.When it comes to the museum’s program, he said he hopes it will cause people to foster a sense of unity. “I’m excited about creating a multicultural event that brings people together and that allows people to appreciate great art,” Nieto-Phillips said. “It’s a moment when we can all come together.” Fields said the event should remind the community the arts are not an exclusive endeavor. “We are trying to help everyone remember that art belongs to the public and that these treasures are here for everyone to see,” Fields said. Follow reporter Kourtney Liepelt on Twitter @KourtneyLiepelt.
(10/03/13 3:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Cuban-American artist Emilio Sanchez focused on bright colors, distinct shapes and the relationship between light and shadow in the artwork he created throughout his career. The result: vibrancy and simplicity in his depictions of international architecture.Assistant Professor Anke Birkenmaier emphasized these features during her interactive lecture “Emilio Sanchez’s Visions of Light: Caribbean Architecture Reimagined” Wednesday for the IU Art Museum’s first Noon Talk of the semester. The talk, which also took place to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and the 40th anniversary of La Casa, honed in on Sanchez’s life in the 20th century and offered an interpretation of his six pieces at the museum. Birkenmaier initiated the conversation with a brief biography, explaining Sanchez was born into one of the richest sugar families in Cuba in 1921 and moved to the United States to receive an education.It wasn’t until he finished his schooling at the university level that he discovered his passion for painting, Birkenmaier said. At that point, he settled into a studio in New York City and traveled to the Caribbean islands for inspiration in the winter. She said he developed his architectural representations based on photos and sketches he made during these trips. “Of course, they must be inspired by the nostalgia of a home he never had,” Birkenmaier said.This concept, however, is contradicted by Sanchez’s choice to live abroad and make the U.S. his home rather than residing in Cuba, she said. Birkenmaier went on to dissect the trends apparent in Sanchez’s paintings through the years and their greater significance. His play on light and shadow, for example, perhaps suggests a connection to a modernistic style, she said.The majority of his work can be categorized as realism, though, which proved to be a factor in the lack of critical reception of his work, Birkenmaier said. “Realism is not really a category that sold well in the late 20th century, and I think that’s a lot of why he doesn’t sell well himself,” she said. The lecture concluded with a brief commentary session from the audience and Birkenmaier sharing her thoughts about the techniques Sanchez employed.For Tamara Mitchell and Alysa Schroff, Ph.D. students focusing on Spanish and Portuguese literature, the lecture allowed them to explore a topic pertinent to their studies, as well as the relationship between immigration and artistic movements.“Seeing realist representations outside of literature is really fruitful,” Mitchell said. Follow reporter Kourtney Liepelt on Twitter @KourtneyLiepelt.
(09/13/13 4:33am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Junior Kelsey Endahl worked more than 30 hours per week at Recreational Sports last year. Accepting a position as a Residence Assistant this year, she said she knew she would have to cut back her hours to juggle each job.The change wasn’t drastic, she said, and she would be able to manage the load. Financially, she’d be set. Personally, she’d be working in areas she enjoyed.That was before IU changed its policy. Between her two jobs at Read Residence Center and Recreational Sports, she can now only work 29 hours each week.Now, she said she forfeited one of her jobs at Recreational Sports and significantly reduced her hours because IU must extend health care benefits to anyone working more than 29 hours.In March 2010, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. The legislation affects businesses with 50 or more employees, requiring them to provide health care for anyone working a minimum of 30 hours per week — the new standard for full-time employment. One of the largest employers in Indiana, IU had to make adjustments. Thousands of part-time employees will see their hours reduced in order to avoid extra health care costs should part-time workers like Endahl reach full-time status.A new University policy declared a 29-hour weekly limit for part-time university employees, originally instated in July, said Mark Land, associate vice president of public affairs and government relations. “We already spend over $200 million a year on health care as a University,” he said. “We’re just trying to be responsible from a spending perspective.”That’s not to say that health care benefits are being taken away from anyone, Land said. Rather, more employees than ever will be insured this year through the University. The ACA is expected to add $3.3 million to IU’s medical costs in the upcoming fiscal year. Health care will now be provided to more than 6,000 full-time hourly workers across campus.Shortly after the university-wide mandate, the policy was delayed. This resulted in an official implementation date of Sept. 29, which will initiate a trial period for the University until the ACA kicks into gear nationwide in January 2014. Much of the University has already been experimenting with the hour limits to flag problem areas within their departments, with mixed results. Many departments will experience hour cuts, and some have had to add additional employees to keep all bases covered. Residential Programs and Services is one such department responding to the planned policy, said Chris Lucas, RPS assistant director for human resources. Health care benefits have been added for about 100 positions previously considered part-time, Lucas said. RPS also had to boost recruitment to make up for hours previously worked by part-time employees. John Applegate, executive vice president for university academic affairs, deals specifically with academic employees for the University. Though the ACA complicates the employment of adjunct lecturers, he said the changes are similar to current standards.A policy has been in place for years that does not permit part-time instructors to work more than 70 percent of a full-time load, he said.“It makes it more important than ever that we make sure that we know whether somebody is actually full-time or actually part-time,” he said.Although the employee mandate hasn’t yet been made official nationally or on the University level, Applegate said academic workers are already knee-deep in implementation, testing the waters to ensure adjustments are made and glitches avoided. That way, when penalties are carried out in 2015, everything should run smoothly, he said. Some situations have made it clear that such an adjustment period is necessary.Senior Rachel Kendrick dealt with the change within the academic employee spectrum this summer when her research job was cut back from 40 to less than 30 hours each week. Regardless of the change in hours, though, her workload remained the same.She put in extra hours to get everything done, unpaid.“It wasn’t a huge change,” she said. “But I definitely was affected by it.”Recreational Sports, one of the largest employers on the IU campus, has been minimally affected by the new policy, associate director Jackie Puterbaugh said. When the news of the ACA and new University policy came out, Rec Sports concluded that of more than 1,000 employees, around 18 averaged more than 29 hours per week. Since so few would be affected, Puterbaugh said, the issues that arise will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.Endahl, however, has felt some frustration. She’s had to adjust for the hour cuts across her jobs as a Residence Assistant and as a Recreational Sports facility support employee. Between car insurance, phone bills and other payments that must be made, it’s been a struggle, she said.Land said the decentralized nature of the University affects the implementation of the policy as well. Many students, like Endahl, work two or more jobs on campus. The 29-hour average per week is across any number of jobs an individual might have within the University, he said.Without an overarching human resources department to keep tabs on every employee’s hours at each of their jobs, Land said determining a tracking system has proven to be a challenge. “We just need to be aware of that if this kicks in, because those are the kinds of things that we need to stay away from,” he said. The University is working to find a balance on all accounts, for part-time and full-time employees and any unique situations that arise, Land said. “We’ve got a responsibility to live by our budget,” he said. “At the same time, we want to do right by our employees, and we have a lot of work that needs to get done.”Follow reporter Kourtney Liepelt on Twitter @KourtneyLiepelt.
(08/21/13 8:03pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For the first time in more than 20 years, an IU president will travel to Africa this month. President
Michael McRobbie plans to visit South Africa, Ghana and Kenya for a
trip lasting more than two weeks, beginning Aug. 25. On his agenda are
expeditions to the Gordon Institute of Business Sciences in
Johannesburg, several other institutions in South Africa and Ghana and
the IU-led Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare program in
Eldoret, Kenya, said Associate Vice President of IU Communications Mark
Land. Alumni meet-and-greets will also take place along the way.“A
lot of this is more at the ground level,” Land said. “We’ve been to
Africa before, but we’ve not done as much work in Africa as we have done
elsewhere.”The visit to AMPATH will be the centerpiece of the president’s trip, he said. Led
by the IU School of Medicine, AMPATH is a partnership between Moi
University, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, and several
U.S. universities. The IU School of Medicine initiated the program in
1989 and began a focus on reducing and preventing cases of HIV/AIDS as
well as its transmission when AMPATH forged a partnership with USAID in
2001. The program has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on two
occasions. McRobbie will be the first IU president to survey AMPATH firsthand. “That
program has been around for two decades, so I think we’re long overdue
in having a president visit there,” said Shawn Reynolds, associate vice
president for international partnerships. Kelley School of
Business Dean Idalene Kesner said she will be participating in the trip
to sign an agreement with GIBS in South Africa. Though the details of
this partnership have yet to be outlined, she said it can potentially
include student exchanges and faculty research. “Naturally, if
we have programs or projects that Kelley students have to work on in
South Africa in conjunction with students from GIBS or faculty from
GIBS, then our students get the benefit of this broader, international
experience,” Kesner said. “It’s a global perspective, having worked on
research and projects in South Africa.”Part of the purpose of
the trip is to seek further research opportunities and increase
international experiences for IU students, Reynolds said. Through this
networking, McRobbie and other IU officials aim to diversify student
recruitment, particularly at the graduate level. African students
represented 1.1 percent of all international students on campus during
the 2012-13 school year, according to the Office of International
Services statistical reports. “All the universities that we’re
visiting are potentially and are currently sources of graduate student
recruitment for us,” he said. McRobbie’s trip to Africa is
simply one component to his strategic plan to increase IU’s
international engagement. The plan identifies about 30 countries
believed to be significant connections for the University. “I
do think exposing our students to what’s happening in all regions of the
world is important,” Kesner said. “It’s not simply about Africa.”Most recently, McRobbie has made trips to East Asia in May and Latin America in November 2012. At this point in time, Africa’s prominence to the University stems from its position in the world as a developing region. “Africa
is important because it is one of the last great regions of the world
that has to develop pretty quickly,” Land said. “It’s really one of the
last emerging regions of the world.” Follow reporter Kourtney Liepelt on Twitter at @KourtneyLiepelt.
(10/29/12 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s soccer team’s hopes to make the Big Ten Tournament were broken this weekend after a 5-0 loss to No. 25 Ohio State on Friday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium.The Hoosiers finished their season with a 4-7 conference record and a 9-9-1 record overall.After losing to the Buckeyes, IU needed Iowa to lose or tie in its Saturday match. When Iowa defeated Wisconsin 2-1, the Hoosiers surrendered their position in the tournament. “I wish we would have taken our fate in our own hands tonight and gotten that point to ensure our spot in the tournament,” senior defender Ciersten Burks said. The Buckeyes came out strong from the beginning, successfully netting two balls within the first five minutes of the match. “I think those first couple goals really took the wind out of our sails,” Burks said.From there, Ohio State continued to attack, tallying 10 total shots in the half and putting two more in the back of the net by the time the half came to a close. IU Coach Mick Lyon said at halftime he stressed the importance of competing for results.“Second half, much better,” Lyon said. “They competed and had some good chances. It was a totally different game in the second half.”The Hoosiers narrowed the shot gap between the two teams as Ohio State took only three shots to the Hoosiers’ four. They kept the Buckeyes at a single goal in the entire 45 minutes.“I’m glad we responded in the second half and came out and competed, but we just have to do that for a full 90 minutes, and unfortunately we didn’t do that,” Burks said.Despite the Hoosiers’ response, they were unable to find the back of the net and pull off a comeback. Lyon acknowledged the fact that Ohio State is a top-notch team, ranked in the top 25 in the nation, but he said it was the level of competitiveness for the Hoosiers that most contributed to the loss that night and their lack of a spot in the tournament. “It just comes down to one thing, and that is, in sports, if you don’t compete, you don’t get anything,” Lyon said. “I haven’t seen us that noncompetitive all year, and unfortunately they left it to this game to be that noncompetitive.”
(10/26/12 4:26am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Everything the IU women’s soccer team has worked for this year comes down to its final regular season match against Ohio State tonight at Bill Armstrong Stadium.A win or tie will mean a definite position in this year’s Big Ten Tournament, and IU Coach Mick Lyon said the team knows the season-long goal will be defined by this game. “They certainly all know what’s at stake, and we’ll start the game at the first whistle and really go at them with the mentality that we’re going to do what it takes to be playing next week,” Lyon said.Relaxation remains a key feature of the team’s mentality going into the game, despite what the outcome will mean.“The way I always think about it is to just have fun and enjoy the game,” senior forward Orianica Velasquez said. “Every time I do that, I can play with any pressure.”Ohio State has registered a 7-2-1 conference record up to this point, and Lyon acknowledged that the Buckeyes will be a tough opponent. Their playing style is the style the Hoosiers like to play against, he said, which will hopefully contribute to success. With several players on the squad from Ohio, the matchup will prove to be quite the rivalry, he said, and the team is excited heading into it. Senior defender Molly Buynak said maintaining communication will keep the team level-headed throughout the match, especially from a defensive perspective.“(Senior defender) Ciersten (Burks) and I talk to each other, and it helps us calm down and relax a lot,” she said. “I think we know whatever the outcome is, it’s our last regular season game, so just have fun and enjoy it, and that will relax us a bit.”A last-minute loss against Wisconsin last weekend has not left the team in low spirits, and Lyon said it was a learning experience for them.“We could have done better,” Lyon said. “These are our mistakes. Move on like any other game. I don’t want them to think, and I’m certainly not even thinking it, that we’re a team that can’t finish a match, because obviously we can.”What remains essential in a game with so much at stake is to remember the prospect of getting into the Big Ten Tournament but not let it hinder the team’s performance, Burks said.“We definitely have that in our mind, but we do have to treat it just as any other game, just go out there and do the things we’ve been doing,” she said.
(10/25/12 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the last regular-season game for the IU women’s soccer team, Friday night’s match against Ohio State is the deciding factor in the team’s acceptance into the Big Ten Tournament.But it is also of a more sentimental significance for the team.The match is Senior Night for the Hoosiers, the last regular-season home game for the team’s three seniors as the season comes to a close. It provides the opportunity to honor them as players as well as their accomplishments throughout their four years at IU.Forward Orianica Velasquez, defender Molly Buynak and defender Ciersten Burks will participate in what could potentially be their last game with the team in the regular season.“It’s pretty sad,” Velasquez said. “I thought it was going to be easier, but it’s not.”IU Coach Mick Lyon said their development and contribution to the team has been quite notable, and he’s enjoyed the time spent helping them grow. “I characterize them all as somewhat chance players that have worked out phenomenally and have worked out because of their hard work and commitment to representing IU and getting the most out of the experience of being here,” he said. “It’s been a fun four years working with them.”The seniors reflect on their time playing for IU and what they will take away from their four years spent on the pitch.Orianica Velasquez, forwardHometown: Bogota, ColombiaFavorite memory: “I would say just beating Purdue. That was so nice just to be there, and it was Coach’s 200th win. Everything was just perfect that night.”What she’s learned: “Here, we’re like a family. These guys just want to have fun, and they love to play soccer. I think I learned that. It’s not just competition. It’s also being a friend and working hard, setting goals together and working to accomplish them.”Lyon’s Comments: “What incredible challenges she faced — walking off the plane, speaking half English, not understanding the culture, things like that. For her to develop to where she is now is just a credit to her hard work.”Molly Buynak, defenderHometown: Strongsville, OhioFavorite memory: “I can’t really think of one off the top of my head. I just love this team, and I’m going to miss the girls so much. That’ll be the biggest thing I’ll miss. Just any time with them has been really fun.”What she’s learned: “The most important thing I’ve learned is patience, to have faith in the system, definitely to have fun and to enjoy what you love to do.”Lyon’s Comments: “Molly’s story is just an inspiration to all of us, coming back from so many injuries ... She’s certainly at the top as far as smarts in the game, understanding how to play the game.”Ciersten Burks, defenderHometown: IndianapolisFavorite memory: “I’d say probably the bonfire before the Purdue game, that was a great memory. And then going on to win the Golden Boot — I’ll remember that for the rest of my life.”What she’s learned: “Just to always keep working hard, and that with hard work and coming together we reach our goals and continue to improve. I think we really showed that this season.”Lyon’s Comments: “While she’s the nicest, politest young lady in the world, she’s a tough SOB when it comes to playing. She’s a tough competitor and physical on that side.”
(10/24/12 3:24am)
Unlike in previous years, IU does not have an automatic berth. This
time, only the top eight teams in the Big Ten make it into the
tournament.
(10/22/12 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s soccer team increased its winning streak to three at its home field this weekend with a victory against Minnesota, but a loss against Wisconsin broke the streak.Friday night’s match against Minnesota resulted in a 2-0 win for IU, though the Golden Gophers outshot the Hoosiers 16-6. However, IU Coach Mick Lyon said the team and coaching staff remained confident throughout the 90 minutes of play.“I felt like the game was going to be ours,” he said. “As long as we maintained the high level of effort and discipline, I just felt like we’ll win the game.”IU got on the board the first time about 20 minutes into the first half, when junior forward Rebecca Candler crossed the ball into the box. Sophomore midfielder Abby Smith had knocked the ball in at the back post.About seven minutes later, junior midfielder Becca Zambon dribbled the ball up the sideline and tapped it to senior forward Orianica Velasquez. From there, Velasquez upped the Hoosier lead when she quickly one-touched the ball to get into position amidst Minnesota defenders and blasted it in from 15 yards out. “That’s why that kind of player plays at the World Cup and Olympic level and why she’ll have a chance to play as a professional player, because nobody else on the park could create and score a goal like that,” Lyon said.The Hoosiers entered the second half knowing they would have to ward off the Gophers to maintain the lead, but senior defender Ciersten Burks said the defense remained focused and assured. “I feel really good about the defensive performance,” Burks said. “I felt like we’re really on the same page back there with our organization and our communication. It really helps us keep a strong line, and we got a shutout. You can’t ask for more than that.” Following the victory, Lyon said it would be a matter of sustaining the positive attitude in Sunday’s game against Wisconsin.“We’ll just ride the wave of confidence and enthusiasm within the squad and take it into the next game on Sunday,” he said. “That’s all we focus about is the next game.”That confidence and enthusiasm wasn’t enough Sunday. The Badgers came from behind at the end of the match to win 2-1.“What I told the team was, do not let this game define you,” Lyon said. “It’s just one game. You played extremely well against a very good team, created tons of chances, got a goal ... you are a high-level, quality soccer team, so leave remembering that.”The Hoosiers’ first and only goal of the match came early in the first half. Junior defender Lara Ross lofted the ball over a leaping Wisconsin goalkeeper from 25 yards out to put IU on the board with a 1-0 lead.“One of our main goals today was to get a goal in the first half, and reaching that goal was really exciting,” Ross said.The early lead meant the Hoosiers had to manage their progress for the remainder of the match, and they knew the Badgers would come back strong, she said.“Being up for the majority of the match, we knew they would come out after the first goal and especially after the first half, just going at our defense again and again and again,” Ross said.It wasn’t until there were seven minutes left in the game that Wisconsin retaliated. Wisconsin’s McKenna Meuer chipped the ball over freshman goalkeeper Sarah Stone to tie the match.When it seemed the match would head into overtime, Wisconsin put one more in the back of the net in the last minute, resulting in the 2-1 final. “We just lost our momentum and our focus for a few minutes, and they got the advantage from that,” Ross said.IU maintains a 4-6 record in conference play, with entry into the Big Ten Tournament next week still in the air. One match remains in the regular season, and the Hoosiers, currently tied for seventh with Nebraska, will need a victory or tie against Ohio State this week to secure their place in the tournament.Only the top eight teams make it into the tournament. If IU ties Iowa, who is in ninth place, or Nebraska, a spot in the tournament will not be secured.IU lost to both Nebraska and Iowa earlier in the season, and head-to-head matches decide tie-breakers.
(10/19/12 4:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Just relax.This was the main focus of the IU women’s soccer team’s training prior to matches against Minnesota and Wisconsin this weekend.It’s something IU Coach Mick Lyon said he’s stressed since the team returned from a tough 3-0 loss against Michigan a month ago. The assistant coaches are practicing it. They players are practicing it. Lyon himself is practicing it as well.“This is the most relaxed I’ve seen a team here in a couple of years,” he said.Such an outlook is key going into the weekend’s match-ups, but the team does not lack concentration and purpose at all, Lyon said.“Our attitude is terrific,” he said. “We’re enjoying ourselves, they’re very relaxed, but they’re also very serious about what they want to accomplish.”IU kicks off the weekend 5 p.m. Friday against Minnesota, a team with a current 4-3-1 record in the Big Ten. The weekend will then continue with a Sunday match against Wisconsin, presently 3-4-1 in conference play.“They’ll both present difficult opponents, and it’ll be hard to break them down,” Lyon said. “They each have a couple of special players, or at least one special player, that can create havoc and score goals.”Sophomore midfielder Abby Smith said no matter which Big Ten foe the team faces, the players stick to who they are and what they do.Victories against Purdue and Michigan State helped the team to understand how to control an entire game, Lyon said. Now it’s just a matter of going one step further.“Managing the game can extend now,” Lyon said. “We definitely managed the match between the lines when the whistle blows, but we’ll kind of grow from that a little bit and talk about managing the preparation, what does that all really mean.”Heading into the weekend, the Hoosiers are nothing but positive about what’s next, Lyon said.“We’ve come a long way in the last couple weeks for sure,” Lyon said.
(10/15/12 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Thursday night’s rivalry match against Purdue proved to be one of history for IU women’s soccer.It was the first time the Hoosiers tallied more than two goals against the Boilermakers since the two teams first met in 1999. It was the first time IU won against Purdue during IU Coach Mick Lyon’s tenure, with the only other IU victory occurring in that initial meeting.To top it all off, it was Lyon’s 200th win of his career as a head coach.“I think the best part about it was it was not just winning it, but the way we won it,” Lyon said. “It was very, very impressive, and to do that on the stage on national TV is great, and in front of a terrific crowd, as well.”The Hoosiers scored for the first time less than 10 minutes into the first half. Sophomore midfielder Abby Smith knocked a ball into the back of the net from 14 yards out off an assist from junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy.The second two goals came from senior forward Orianica Velasquez within a six-minute span in the first half, the first off assists from both Nouanesengsy and junior forward Rebecca Candler. Velasquez’s second goal came from a penalty kick.“They were just on top of everything,” Lyon said.Though no goals were scored in the second half, the Hoosiers maintained their lead and prevented the Boilermakers from having a chance to score.“We just eliminated any threats, so it was comforting on the bench not thinking that they would score unless it would be by a fluke,” Lyon said.He said the team’s performance in the match exemplified what he had emphasized throughout the last couple of games, which is to come out and control the game in its entirety.Unlike matches against Illinois and Penn State in which the team played full-on for 70 or 80 minutes and didn’t pull through at the end, this time the players completely managed the game, he said.“I think they’re getting a true understanding of what that means,” Lyon said. “It’s not just in the last five minutes keeping the ball in the corner to preserve a 1-0 win. It means managing the whole 90 minutes.”This is a concept he said the team needed to carry into Sunday’s match against Michigan State, and Velasquez agreed, stressing the importance of continuing to play with force.“I really wanted to beat Purdue, and I’m so glad that we played the way that we played,” she said. “I hope we can continue this, just getting results and doing well ... I hope we can take all the good things here and just bring them into Sunday.”And carry the momentum into Sunday’s game they did, as the Hoosiers defeated Michigan State 2-1 on the road in double overtime.The Spartans were the first to score. Michigan State’s Allyson Krause tapped the ball in off a corner kick in the first half. Wind was a major factor throughout the game, Lyon said, especially during the first 45 minutes, when IU was against it. Regardless, he said the team had quite a few decent attacks, but a clear scoring opportunity did not arise.“We just kept emphasizing continuing to play with maximum confidence,” Lyon said. “A number of times we gave the ball away when we didn’t need to. In the second half, we took care of the ball.”IU returned to the pitch strong and positive, exemplified when junior defender Lara Ross scored the equalizer for the Hoosiers off a corner kick.At the end of regulation play, neither team had notched another goal, bringing them into overtime. Again, the teams were unable to break the tie, leading to a second overtime. Lyon said it was clear which team had more energy and would come away with the result.“We looked like we could keep running forever, and they looked like they were done, exhausted,” Lyon said. “We just had more legs than they did.”The Hoosiers proved him correct when Smith came away with the game-ender, heading the ball into the goal off an assist from Candler and finalizing the victory.“It’s a great week for IU women’s soccer,” Lyon said. “We thoroughly deserved both wins.”The Hoosiers now have a 3-5 record in conference play with three Big Ten games left on the schedule.
(10/11/12 3:28am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Two games for the IU women’s soccer team this weekend will provide two opportunities to add wins to its 1-5 conference record. The Hoosiers face in-state rival Purdue at 8 p.m. Thursday in Bill Armstrong Stadium, followed by a trip to Michigan State for a Sunday afternoon match. IU Coach Mick Lyon said his team is drawing inspiration from its match against Penn State on Sunday, in which the Hoosiers lost in last-minute goals after battling evenly through 70 minutes of play. He said this match left the team confident going into Thursday’s rivalry game against Purdue. “We’re going to bring the same attitude, intensity and desire to win into Thursday’s game,” Lyon said. “We play hard, we work hard, we win the game. That’s the way we’re going into it.”Last year, the Boilermakers served the Hoosiers an 8-2 loss, but this time around, IU plans to get revenge as well as a victory, redshirt freshman goalkeeper Sarah Stone said.“I’m just excited to play Purdue,” she said. “I’ve never obviously stepped foot on the field against Purdue, and with the rivalry, I’m really excited to be able to play against them.” IU suffered a loss against Michigan State last year as well, but Stone said the team has improved significantly this year in terms of cohesion and motivation and now has a competitive edge.Lyon also said the team plans to maintain a similar attitude going into the game against the Spartans as they will have in the match against the Boilermakers. Essentially, individual and group confidence are key, he said.“It’ll be the same going into Michigan State,” Lyon said. “They’ve got a nice little team, but we’re feeling very confident about the way we play.”Senior defender Molly Buynak said the team needs to bring energy into each match, but the important thing will be carrying that energy through until the end. “We just need to finish the game,” she said. “The last 20 minutes the last couple games we let some goals in, so we just need to go the whole 90 minutes.”Despite a current losing record in conference play, Buynak said she thinks her team is up to par with any other Big Ten team it has faced or will face. “We’ve definitely competed, and I think we’re right in it,” Buynak said. “The last four or five games are going to be a true test to see if we can finish the season and get in the Big Ten tournament.”
(10/09/12 3:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>An Aug. 26 game against Missouri State was the turning point for junior forward Rebecca Candler.She scored two goals in the match after going scoreless for her entire sophomore year and the majority of her freshman season.“I felt like I broke the curse because I hadn’t scored since my first game freshman year, which has been extremely frustrating for these past two or three years,” she said.In a sense, it symbolized a fresh start.Candler injured her hip the summer before her freshman season, but she didn’t know exactly what was wrong. She was not allowed to participate in preseason training, and although she did play throughout the season despite the injury, the nagging pain and lack of a diagnosis became difficult to ignore.“It was extremely hard just because you want answers,” Candler said. “It’s hard when no one can tell you what’s wrong, and no one can really figure it out. It was a frustrating year.”In January 2011, assistant athletic trainer Wendy Poppy brought Candler to Philadelphia to see a specialist. A sports hernia was the official verdict, and her first surgery took place soon after.From there, she had to go through rehabilitation to earn her way back to health. The pain continued, though, and Candler and Poppy returned to Philadelphia for a second surgery in May of the same year. Again, she took the time for rehabilitation. She then entered her sophomore season not having played soccer or been able to train without struggling from her ailment.“Sophomore year was difficult just because the first time I had really run without pain in over a year was coming into preseason,” Candler said. “I hadn’t played soccer in over a year, and it was just getting back into the groove.“Getting through these seasons was frustrating, Candler said, but she drew inspiration from fellow injured teammates who helped her through each day. She said she also realized that, even from the bench, she knew she was involved in the team as a whole.“Some days it was really hard,” she said. “You just feel like not giving up, but is it really worth all this trouble? Just sitting on the sidelines and watching the team play, you know that you’re in it for something bigger than yourself.”Now, for the first time in her collegiate career, Candler is completely healthy and in top physical condition. She arrived in Bloomington early to get in shape for training, taking full advantage of her new-found ability to do so.Since then, Candler has contributed to the team’s success, registering seven assists and four goals thus far in the season.She said she now is fully able to understand the importance each player has on the team.“It’s easier to have fun when you can contribute and help your team,” she said. “But in reality, everybody has a role no matter where you are, whether you’re on the bench or on the field.”IU Coach Mick Lyon said it was difficult to watch Candler struggle through her first two seasons knowing the potential she had as a player, but he continued to put her in matches in hopes that it would benefit her down the road.“Unfortunately for her, her development the first couple of years has been just getting her healthy,” Lyon said. “It’s been a tough ordeal for her, one that she’s been diligent trying to resolve. She’s now getting the rewards of that hard work.”Candler’s teammates have noticed a change in her, as well.Junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy said she’s noted improvement in Candler’s performance and recognizes the hard work she puts in.“Coming in freshman year, we’re not so confident, but as the years have gone by, we’ve gotten used to how to play at the college level,” Nouanesengsy said. “She’s shown that she can compete against everyone, and her confidence has just been so much better.”Lyon said his main focus was shaping Candler into the best she could be across all platforms, but she deserves the credit for all she’s accomplished and the physical fitness she’s now attained.“I just offered help to her and guidance, and tried to instruct her in the things that would make her a better soccer player,” Lyon said. “She brought all the effort and determination. She provided all of that. The results are all hers.”When it comes down to it, Candler said she owes it all to Poppy.“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be playing soccer,” Candler said.
(10/08/12 3:05am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Three goals late in the second half contributed to a loss for the IU women’s soccer team as it faced No. 4 Penn State on Sunday afternoon.Despite a Penn State goal early in the first half, IU countered quickly, with senior forward Orianica Velasquez nailing a ball into the back of the net from 24 yards out. “I was a little bit concerned about how we were going to respond, but we came straight back in less than a minute and scored,” IU Coach Mick Lyon said. “Once we settled down and scored that first goal, we just continued to get better and better.”Penn State scored once more in the first half, bringing the Nittany Lions into the lead when the half came to an end.The Hoosiers retaliated in the second half. Junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy hit a ball into the goal off a cross from junior forward Rebecca Candler, tying the game at 2-2.A string of three goals within six minutes brought Penn State into a three-goal lead, resulting in the 5-2 loss for the Hoosiers. “From that point, we didn’t have the strength or the depth in our team to sustain the level of play that we were playing at,” Lyon said.The addition of the team’s fifth conference loss to its record did not leave the players with feelings of complete disappointment, however.“I definitely feel like we fought really hard,” Candler said. “We came out strong, which was important. I think that we stayed tight and tough, and I’m really proud of the way we fought against them.”Lyon said he found promise in the team’s overall performance. “Like I said, for 72 minutes we were step for step with one of the best five teams in the country,” Lyon said. “We’re going to take that as the promise of better things. We can raise our level of play, and we can even play a little bit better.”Candler, who tallied her eighth career assist in the match, said seeing the team pull together by scoring twice to stay in stride with Penn State was really exciting for the team as a whole. Lyon agreed, saying the talent across the field will no doubt contribute to future matches. “If we play like that against any of the teams we’ve got at home in the remainder of our schedule, we’ll win all those games,” Lyon said. IU will face Purdue at 8 p.m. Thursday at home to continue conference play.
(10/05/12 3:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s soccer team will travel to State College, Pa., this weekend for a Sunday afternoon match against No. 4 Penn State, a team currently undefeated in Big Ten play.“I think it’ll be pretty tough, but as long as we play how we know how to play, it’ll be good,” sophomore midfielder Abby Smith said. “We’re definitely confident going into this weekend, and we just want to get a win.”After splitting a pair of games this past weekend against Illinois and Northwestern, the players said they are feeling confident with their current level of play and encouraged to have a victory on their Big Ten record.“It definitely helps to have a win right behind us,” junior defender Lara Ross said. “Just beating Northwestern, I think, gave us enough of a confidence boost to put us in a good spot going into Penn State.”The Nittany Lions’ style will be different than what the Hoosiers have been up against thus far in conference matches, Ross said, making them a tough opponent. A 5-0 conference record and 11-2 overall record also contribute to the challenge.“They have a lot of really good players that we need to keep our eye on,” she said. “But overall, I think they’re going to be a little bit more composed on the ball, and it’ll definitely give us a challenge.”IU Coach Mick Lyon said only having one game on the road, rather than two like the Hoosiers did when facing Iowa and Nebraska, makes the preparation and the task itself a bit easier.Still, it is a mental obstacle that will prove to be the greatest challenge for the team, he said, and preparing the team mentally for the match has, therefore, been the focal point in the team’s training this past week.“Our biggest battle will be psychologically, how do we come out to address the game,” Lyon said. “If we don’t come out psychologically strong and committed to wanting to compete with them, then it’s going to be a tough, uphill battle.”He said it is important for his players to accept that the opponent will have chances on goal, as any good team will.It is making those chances uncomfortable for Penn State by applying pressure and not giving away free opportunities on goal, though, that will make the difference, he said.Going into the matches against Illinois and Northwestern this past weekend, Lyon said he encouraged his team to simply enjoy the game and the opportunity they have been given to play here at IU.This attitude was a contributing factor to the results that came out of the weekend, he said.Lyon said he plans to maintain the same attitude going into the game against Penn State this weekend.“I think we really took that into the Illinois game and again into the Northwestern (game) and got results from it,” he said. “We will certainly look to do that this weekend. When we do that, good things happen for us.”
(10/01/12 4:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Although the IU women’s soccer team grabbed the team’s first conference victory this weekend, going 1-1 in two games against Illinois and Northwestern, it wasn’t without a little heartbreak.The Hoosiers’ match against Illinois on Friday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium came down to the last 10 minutes.Two goals by the Fighting Illini at the end of the match brought them into the lead, resulting in a 2-1 loss for the Hoosiers, their fourth loss in conference play. “It’s bittersweet,” IU Coach Mick Lyon said. “I’m thrilled at how awesome the team played, but I’m gutted for them because we couldn’t finish it and make it a full 90 minutes.”Play remained fairly even throughout the first half, with each team leaving the other scoreless as the first 45 minutes of play came to a close. The Hoosiers returned to the pitch strong for the second 45 minutes. Senior forward Orianica Velasquez drilled a ball into net from 15 yards out just more than 10 minutes into the second half, bringing IU into a 1-0 lead. The possibility of the team’s first Big Ten victory seemed to be within IU’s grasp until Illinois’ Amy Feher chipped a ball over junior goalkeeper Shannon Flower with just more than 10 minutes left to play.The Fighting Illini responded yet again with another goal 84 minutes into the match. The Hoosiers could not regain their footing from that point, leading to the 2-1 loss. “At halftime I said, ‘You know we played a fantastic first 45 minutes,’” Lyon said. “‘Now let’s play a magnificent 90 minutes’, and we played a magnificent 80 minutes. But, you know, the game is 90 minutes long, and they took the two chances, and we didn’t.”Lyon said finishing and optimizing on created chances were the main issues for his team. “Illinois is a very good team, and we dominated them in every category except putting the ball in the back of the net,” Lyon said.Velasquez said she agreed, and the final score didn’t reflect the team’s performance overall.“I think we deserved to win on Friday, and we didn’t,” she said. “We couldn’t keep the score in our favor.”Lyon told his team he understood how hard the loss was.“It’s hard, and as I told them in the huddle, nobody more than I wants to cry, but you can’t,” Lyon said. “You have to have just self belief that you’re doing things right, even though you didn’t get the result.”Northwestern faced a similar plight as the IU women’s soccer team Friday evening, losing to Purdue in the final 10 minutes of the match. Going into Sunday’s game at Bill Armstrong Stadium, the Hoosiers and the Wildcats maintained identical 0-4 conference records.Yet it was the Hoosiers who pulled off their first Big Ten win of the season with a 1-0 victory.“There were great performances all over the park,” Lyon said. “I was very excited about it because we certainly have grown since Friday, and that’s what you ask for all the time.”The first half of the match ended scoreless on both ends, but the Hoosiers broke the 0-0 tie midway through the second half when junior forward Rebecca Candler broke away from the Wildcat defense and headed the ball past Northwestern’s goalkeeper.From there, IU kept off Northwestern’s attack, taking time off the clock to secure the win.“That kind of stuff is what you need to finish off a game,” Lyon said. “That last 10 minutes was terrific from our side.”Redshirt freshman goalkeeper Sarah Stone made the first start of her career, executing save after save to maintain the Hoosier shutout. “It was exciting, a little nerve-wracking,” Stone said. “But I think once the whistle blew, the team helped out, which always keeps you calm and focused. It was great to have a win.”Lyon said Stone’s performance in training has improved immensely in regard to effort and ability levels, which contributed to his decision to start her Sunday afternoon.The team will now move forward in Big Ten play with a win on its record after a four-game losing streak, and both Lyon and the players said they are not worried at this point. “I think this win is going to give us more confidence,” Velasquez said. “The team has played pretty well against Iowa, against Illinois. They are great teams, and we play at the same level as them, but if we just change that, if we get the result, I think we’ll be fine.”
(09/28/12 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After three road games resulting in three conference losses, IU Coach Mick Lyon said the IU women’s soccer team is happy to return home this weekend to face Illinois and Northwestern.“The travel last weekend was not the easiest, getting to Iowa and Nebraska,” Lyon said. “It’ll be good to get back home and get a couple of games in this weekend.”The Hoosiers begin their weekend against the Fighting Illini at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bill Armstrong Stadium.Illinois, currently registering a 5-4-1 record overall and a 2-1 record in conference play, will be as challenging as any Big Ten team, Lyon said.“Illinois has had a good start to the year, a strong start,” he said. “They’ve been a good team the last several years, but we’ve always had good games against them. I feel positive.”The weekend will continue with a game against Northwestern at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Wildcats have yet to win a Big Ten match and have a 0-3 conference record, identical to that of the Hoosiers. “Northwestern will be a little different,” Lyon said. “But if we come out and do what we can do, then we have a strong chance of winning both games.”Freshman defender Caitlin O’Connor said she recognizes both opponents as challenges for IU, and she and her teammates will have to step up.“They’re both strong teams,” she said. “We’ll have to come out strong from the beginning.”O’Connor said the team has improved defensively throughout conference play, and emphasis has been placed on maintaining a cohesive back line.However, Lyon said one of the team’s main focuses this week was finishing.“It’s not just working with the forwards,” he said. “It’s the balls that are supplied in. It’s the balls played in on set plays.”Freshman midfielder Jessie Bujouves said the team has worked on several aspects of the attack, including one-on-one situations and getting the ball into the box.“It’s just that last step that I think we’re missing,” she said. “We’re getting closer, and I think this weekend, hopefully we’ll put some balls in the back of the net and get a win.”The attitude in practice has remained upbeat, Lyon said, and playing at home has been something the players have been looking forward to. “We finally get to play on our home field against another Big Ten team,” Bujouves said. “We’ll definitely have the advantage because we’re familiar with the field, and friends and family will be there to support us.”
(09/24/12 4:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It came down to one goal.The IU women’s soccer team committed a foul in its own box at Iowa on Friday night, resulting in the only goal of the game from a first half penalty kick and a 1-0 loss for IU.Despite what he called a disappointing result, IU Coach Mick Lyon said he was very impressed and pleased with his team’s performance.“I told the team afterward that it is an absolute pleasure to coach this team when they play with the kind of effort and creativity and put forth those great performances all over the pitch,” Lyon said in a press release.In their second conference game of the season, the Hoosiers held their own, maintaining movement of the ball and possession throughout, he said.However, Iowa drilled 21 shots throughout the game, compared to IU’s 13.Junior goalkeeper Shannon Flower registered a career-high 10 saves in the match.“If we continue to play like this, I have all the confidence in the world that we can win any of the remaining Big Ten games,” Lyon said in the release.Sunday afternoon, a 2-1 loss against Nebraska rounded out the weekend for IU, bringing the team to a 0-3 record thus far in Big Ten play.“The girls are very disappointed, not getting any wins from this weekend,” Lyon said. “From a coach’s side, I think we played a lot better this weekend than we did last weekend, so that’s positive.”The first half of the match ended scoreless, but Nebraska scored early in the second off a corner kick to bring the Cornhuskers into the lead. Another corner kick five minutes later allowed Nebraska’s Jaylyn Odermann to head the ball into the net, increasing the lead to 2-0.IU freshman defender Caitlin O’Connor scored the Hoosiers’ lone goal off a corner in the final minute of the match, which was the first goal of her career.Although IU took 13 shots to Nebraska’s 11, the Hoosiers struggled to optimize their chances and put forth the extra effort necessary when it comes to the Big Ten, Lyon said. “Unfortunately, we lacked that little bit to give the last 10 percent,” he said. “You need that extra 10 percent to go from a good performance to a good win.”Lyon said finding ways to maximize the team’s opportunities off of combinations will be the focus going forward, especially going into next weekend.“We’ve got to come out next week and throughout this week at practice and work on finishing chances,” he said. “We just need that extra focus to put it in the back of the net.”
(09/21/12 4:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It’s a time for redemption.After a shutout loss against Michigan in its first conference match, the IU women’s soccer team is ready to prove itself as Big Ten contenders in games against Iowa and Nebraska this weekend. Senior forward Orianica Velasquez said the main thing is bouncing back after this weekend’s shutout. “Right now, I think we’re working to improve the team, so it’s going to be pretty nice to show how we change our minds and our ideas about what we have to do now,” she said. “I think we’re just working on being confident and getting some goals, which is what we need.”The Hoosiers will face Iowa first at a Friday evening match in Iowa City, Iowa. With a 9-1-0 record and no losses at home, IU Coach Mick Lyon said the Hawkeyes will be another tough road game but nothing his team can’t handle.“Iowa has had a great start to the year,” Lyon said. “It certainly is a team we’re going to have a great battle with, but I’m feeling very positive with it. ... I think we’ll match up very well with them.”Nebraska will be quite a different opponent on Sunday, he said. The Huskers enter the weekend with a 4-4-1 record, very close to the Hoosiers’ 5-3-1 mark. “Nebraska has a little bit different style of play—a little more direct than most teams we play against,” he said. “Again, we’re very, very positive about playing them.”IU registered a loss and a win last season against Iowa and Nebraska, respectively, leaving room for improvement, Lyon said. This time around, he plans to come away from the weekend with two wins notched on the team’s record, he said.And past results aside, the team’s current season goal always remains etched in the players’ minds, Velasquez said.“One of our goals is to get in the Big Ten tournament,” she said. “I think this team is going to do everything that we can to achieve that.”Iowa and Nebraska are simply the next steps in reaching that goal, she said.“I want to get us off the ground,” Lyon said. “I want to get us our first win, and I want that to happen on Friday night. That’s what I’m looking forward to — winning that first game and preparing for Sunday.”
(09/17/12 3:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU women’s soccer team simply could not connect up top Saturday against Michigan, resulting in a 3-0 loss to kick off Big Ten play.Two Michigan goals in the first half came as blows to the Hoosiers, catching them slightly off guard. “It was a well-fought game,” IU Coach Mick Lyon said. “In the first half, they had two very good chances, and they converted them both. That made things difficult for us.”The plan was to get back into the game in the second half, but opportunities to retaliate were few and far between, Lyon said. “We didn’t as a team come out as fired up and committed as we were in the first half,” Lyon said. “That made it difficult to muster up many good opportunities. We didn’t rebound with the belief that we could get back into the game. It’s a team sport, and you’ve got to have 11 all gunning for it at the same time.”When Michigan scored yet again in the second half, IU failed to respond, with the Wolverines outshooting the Hoosiers 15-3 and all of IU’s shots taking place in the first half. “Maybe it was because we were nervous, since it’s Big Ten and it’s such a fast-paced, physical conference,” junior midfielder Lisa Nouanesengsy said. “I feel like it’s a different atmosphere than the games we’ve been playing.”The team’s defense remained solid, particularly in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to make things happen offensively, Lyon said.Both Nouanesengsy and Lyon said dwelling on the loss is out of the question.The key is to learn from mistakes that were made and work on the team’s mental approach throughout practice this week, Lyon said.As for now, the team needs to let the loss go, Nouanesengsy said. “We just need to move on,” she said. “I know a lot of the girls are disappointed about the score, but we just need to work on some things during the week and prepare for the next game.” Despite the loss, the upcoming Big Ten games remain on the team’s radar, Lyon said.“I’m looking forward to the next couple of games,” he said. “I know they’re on the road, but I’m not so worried about that.”