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(10/10/08 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>He is listed on the IU Athletics Web site as a midfielder, started the season at defensive back and is now attacking opposing goalies as a forward. While his position on the field may not always be consistent, the level of play for sophomore Daniel Kelly has stayed the same.After his change from defender to forward earlier in the season, the Hoosiers have been much more productive offensively. The team has won five of its last seven games, scoring at least two goals in every win. In IU’s 3-2 victory against Evansville on Sept. 30, Kelly netted his first goal of the season. He followed that performance with the Hoosiers’ first goal in a win against Butler on Tuesday night.Even after the Hendersonville, Tenn., native signed with the Hoosiers out of high school, IU coach Mike Freitag said he did not know where on the field Kelly would fit best.“I just knew he was a good player ... pretty versatile,” Freitag said. “He is a kid that, quite honestly, I could play in the back, as a midfielder and up top.”Position doesn’t matter to the sophomore.“It’s not really a big change for me,” Kelly said of his fluid position in the lineup. “I will do whatever is best for the team.”Last season, Kelly played primarily at the forward position for the Hoosiers. But after a successful stint as defender on the U.S. U-20 National Team last spring in New Orleans, Kelly made the switch from attacker to defender.Kelly played on the back line against Duke and Akron but was moved to the offensive side of the field when Freitag thought sophomore Rich Balchan would be a better fit at defensive back.Senior midfielder Brad Ring said Kelly’s move from defender to forward has been positive for the team.“Having him up there gives us a whole new dimension up top,” Ring said. “He is creative, holds the ball well, (is) fast and is good with both feet. Ever since he has been up there, he has created a lot of chances.”The idea of playing forward is not new to Kelly.From his earliest days in the sport through high school, he preferred to be used as a striker. Once he reached college, Kelly played almost extensively up top, scoring four goals while earning Freshman All-Big Ten honors.“I grew up playing forward before I ever started playing back, so I think it is a natural position for me,” Kelly said.The sophomore said there is a different mentality when playing the two positions.“In the back, you have to play simple, quick and know where you are going,” Kelly said. “There really is no room for error on defense. On offense, you can take more risks in the final third. I hopefully bring some creativity and chances on goal.”Freitag said Kelly’s all-around skills bring an aspect of play rarely seen at the collegiate level.“He is just a solid player for us,” Freitag said. “I think it is still taking him a little bit of time to adjust, but I know ‘DK’ could be a threat up top and secure in the back. We are just trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together, and he is a versatile piece that could fit in multiple places.”
(10/10/08 3:43am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Though the Michigan State men’s soccer team sports a lackluster 5-5 record, IU junior midfielder Lee Hagedorn promised that the Hoosiers are not taking their Big Ten foe lightly. “We have had games where we have taken teams too lightly and kind of gotten punched in the nose a little bit,” Hagedorn said. “We need to take every game seriously, whether we are playing the No. 1 team or a team that is not ranked. I expect a tough game.” IU, coming off a 2-0 victory Tuesday night at Butler, travels to East Lansing, Mich., for a 2:30 p.m. matchup Sunday against the Spartans. The Hoosiers are 6-3-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Big Ten.Their most recent victory over the Bulldogs showed the emergence of a new offensive threat.Sophomore forward Daniel Kelly, who Tuesday night scored the fastest goal ever by an IU player, scored twice in the last three games. In addition, Kelly has the highest shots-on-goal percentage on the team. IU junior midfielder Eric Alexander said Kelly’s recent play up top has been crucial to his team’s success.“Dan has just been playing outstanding,” Alexander said. “He has been working hard at practice and is a good finisher. He is taking his opportunities well and keeps improving every day.” But while the IU offense appears to be hitting full stride, the defense has been susceptible to goals of late. In the past six games, the Hoosiers have given up eight scores. “As a defense, we have not been playing up to our potential,” Hagedorn said. “We have been giving up goals in games we have won, and it definitely has not been cutting it. We stepped it up against Butler, and I think we are starting to turn it around.” For the past three games, Hagedorn has stepped into the starting role as outside defender in place of freshman Tommy Meyer. Against the Spartans, IU faces a team that has played well the last couple of weeks. Though Michigan State lost 3-0 to No. 15 Notre Dame on Wednesday night, it won its three previous matches, outscoring opponents 11-3. Senior forward Doug DeMartin, a first-team All-Big Ten player last year, leads the Spartans with 10 goals on the season. IU coach Mike Freitag said the Spartans are a talented team that will give the Hoosiers some difficulty. “They are kind of a seasoned group. ... I’m sure they are not happy of their results up to this point,” Freitag said. “I know what their players can do, and it will be a contest. This will be a very competitive game.”
(10/08/08 3:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This past weekend against unranked Michigan, the IU men’s soccer team was upset 1-0 after the lone Wolverine goal came less than two minutes into the match. But come Tuesday night, it was IU sophomore forward Daniel Kelly providing the early spark for the Hoosiers in their 2-0 win at Butler.Kelly scored his second goal of the season just 11 seconds after the opening whistle was blown, when a pass back to Butler junior goalkeeper Nick Hegeman was misplayed on the wet field. Kelly rushed in on the loose ball to put it in the back of the net and give his team a one-goal advantage. The score marked the fastest goal ever by an IU player.Kelly said the early put-in was a real momentum boost for his team the rest of the game. “This game, we wanted to come out with some intensity and bring it to them,” the forward said. “(The goal) really got the guys pumped up. We put them on their heels after that.” The Hoosiers had a couple of prime chances to increase their lead as the half trudged on. In the 23rd minute, sophomore forward/midfielder Andy Adlard nearly connected as his long-distance shot was blocked by a lunging Hegeman. Shortly after in the 27th minute, Hegeman denied another IU attacker as he kick-saved a breakaway shot from junior midfielder Eric Alexander.The second half brought a scoring opportunity for senior midfielder John Mellencamp, as he fired a shot just outside the top of the box at the goal in the 67th minute. Though the shot was blocked, sophomore forward Neil Wilmarth dove forward, got a leg on the rebound from six yards out and put the Hoosiers up 2-0.The Hoosiers demonstrated more of a defensive style of play for the remaining minutes of the second half and in the end, earned a much-needed road victory in Indianapolis.“Overall, I was very happy with our effort tonight,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “I didn’t think it was a pretty game, but it was one that we did what we needed to win. I will take that any day.”With five yellow cards earned on the season, senior midfielder Brad Ring was suspended for Tuesday night’s match. Senior midfielder John Mellencamp filled in for Ring at the defensive midfielder position while senior Billy Weaver started the match at outside midfielder.Kelly said even though their captain was absent, the team still played up to potential. “We were missing Brad (Ring), he is our leader,” he said. “But we were still able to knock it around and play the same way we are used to. Hopefully that will bring confidence to everybody.” Confidence will be key for the Hoosiers as they resume Big Ten play Sunday afternoon at Michigan State.“For us to go on the road and get a win at Michigan State is very important and will be good for our team,” Freitag said. “You have to be able to win games in the Big Ten. I am hard on these guys, but they know what needs to be done. This team knows how to win.”
(10/03/08 3:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The journey to the football game next month between the Hoosiers and Boilermakers will not be the only trip IU students will be making to West Lafayette this season. The third annual Bucket 100 Bike Tour, sponsored by the IU and Purdue University Habitat for Humanity chapters, is an event where cyclists from both schools travel from Bloomington to West Lafayette in hopes of raising awareness and money for their local chapters. The 122-mile expedition will begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Genesis Church across from Memorial Stadium.Both the IU and Purdue chapters will compete to see who can recruit the most riders. All of the funds will go toward rebuilding a Habitat for Humanity home. The registration fee to compete in the Bucket 100 is $45 per rider, with each participant separately collecting donations for the fundraiser. Riders will begin in Bloomington and pedal to Danville Community High School in Danville, Ind., for an overnight stay. At this location, about halfway through the trip, participants will be provided with food and will have the opportunity to relax and interact with other riders and event organizers. They will finish the ride to West Lafayette the next morning. At the finish line, there will be a large tailgate for the riders to celebrate their success. Junior Adair Ahlers, director of major events publicity for Habitat, said the fundraiser is a good way to raise money for those in need. “Bloomington is such a physically active community with events such as the Little 500 each year,” Ahlers said. “Riding a bike is something that everyone has in common, and it’s great to be able to give back to Monroe County.” But while the event is a contest between the two rival schools, senior Meghann Horton said the meaning behind the Bucket 100 is much more than that.“This event is a competition between the two schools to see who can raise more money,” Horton said in an e-mail. “The ride itself is not a race, but simply a group ride about raising awareness of the Chapters, both Indiana University and Purdue University of Habitat for Humanity.” During last year’s Bucket 100 Bike Tour, the IU chapter raised more than $4,000 after registering about 15 riders. One of those riders was Jessica Donaldson, an IU alumna who last year was president of IU’s Habitat for Humanity chapter. Donaldson said the feeling of riding for such a worthwhile cause was like no other.“This was my first time on a road bike and it was so much fun,” Donaldson said in an e-mail. “I enjoyed every minute, especially meeting the other riders and hanging out at our overnight location.” The IU Habitat for Humanity works each year to eliminate substandard housing in Monroe County. For more information about the cause, visit www.iuhabitat.org.
(09/30/08 3:42am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After the team’s 2-1 loss to UC-Santa Barbara on Saturday night, IU men’s soccer coach Mike Freitag said his biggest concern was the “casualness” his team displayed on the field. The Hoosiers hope to show a more aggressive approach today when they travel to Evansville for an 8 p.m. showdown against the Purple Aces.This weekend’s loss dropped the Hoosiers to a No. 17 national ranking and 4-2-2 on the season. The Purple Aces are 6-2 and coming off their largest margin of victory this year, a 6-0 win over Centenary. Against UCSB, the Hoosiers started out the match with little production offensively. While there were some attacking opportunities, the Gauchos primarily controlled possession in the first half and advanced the ball with more efficiency than the Hoosiers.Defensively, IU at times appeared to have communication issues, leaving UCSB forwards open near the goal. By the time the Hoosiers picked up their play in the second half, the deficit was too much to overcome.“It was mainly focus and intensity,” sophomore midfielder Daniel Kelly said. “We need to bring it 100 percent every game. They finished chances and we didn’t – that’s basically what it comes down to.”Rich Balchan, who helped assist on the Hoosiers’ lone goal against UCSB, said despite the loss, there were some positives to take away.“We completely dominated the second half,” Balchan said. “They only had a few chances, and we limited their shot count. If we come out and play like that, we should be fine.”In the Purple Aces, IU will take on a talented team that has played well thus far, though against a weak schedule. The Hoosiers’ defense will likely focus on sophomore forward Mike Luttrull, who already has 17 points on the season, including seven goals. Freitag said the road match-up will be difficult and help show how his team responds after a tough loss. “I think they probably have the strongest team they have had in a while,” Freitag said. “Evansville is very well-balanced and has some quality players. They are competitive with anybody right now. It will be a hostile environment that our guys will have to deal with.”Kelly agreed that the game atmosphere will be unlike other road matches this year.“I think they are putting in extra bleachers for all the fans that are coming out,” Kelly said. “I know most of the guys are pretty big, are aggressive, and it will be a tough, physical game.”Although the loss this weekend was tough mentally for the Hoosiers, the team is confident they will leave Evansville victorious.“We need to bring it 100 percent every game,” Kelly said. “Hopefully, our experience will show. We just have to play with concentration for the full 90 minutes and come out with the win.”
(09/29/08 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With three losses in their past four games, the UC-Santa Barbara Gauchos were supposed to be the team struggling on both sides of the ball Saturday night. Think again. The Hoosiers (4-2-2), who hoped to build on a three-game winning streak, fell to the Gauchos 2-1 after a lackluster first half put them in an early deficit too wide to overcome.The first shot of the game for UCSB (5-3) came after the Guachos’ Bryan Dominguez sent a corner kick into the six-yard box. Teammate Alfonso Motagalvan was able to get a foot on the ball and tap it in from two yards out to put his team up at the 11:46 mark.With only 12 seconds remaining in first half, UCSB forward Chris Pontius headed in a cross from defender Jon Curry. The goal capped a poor first half for the Hoosiers, who at times appeared lost defensively and showed little signs of firepower on offense.“We just lacked the intensity, fire and passion in the first half,” junior defender Kevin Alston said. “It was almost like we were conserving ourselves. They had so many people open, and it was a lack of focus. It was very frustrating.” Down two goals without time on their side, IU came out strong to start the second half. Multiple shots flew at the visitors’ goal in the first couple of minutes, including two from freshman forward Will Bruin, but to no avail.Play on the field was rather heated between the two teams that met in the 2004 College Cup Final, with hard fouls committed by both sides throughout the second half. In the 74th minute, Alston received a cleat to the head after getting tangled up with UCSB forward David Walker, who was given a red card for the illegal play. As Alston stayed down on the field in pain, junior defender Ofori Sarkodie and Pontius got into a verbal altercation that forced teammates to restrain them. By the end of the night, UCSB committed 23 total fouls.IU coach Mike Freitag said the aggressive play had no effect on the outcome of the game.“There was nothing more physical about this than any other game,” Freitag said. “It’s a soccer game. It is a physical contest. It is a contact sport. We have to go into situations prepared to battle, fight, put your body on the line and challenge for balls.”Desperate to score, the Hoosiers showed signs of offensive life late in the half with several scoring opportunities. In the 88th minute, sophomore midfielder Rich Balchan crossed a ball from the far right wing into the box. The ball skidded past Gaucho defenders, and sophomore forward Andy Adlard slotted home at the far post.The final minute of play was intense for IU, with various attacking chances barely missing their mark. With just less than 30 seconds left in regulation, an apparent handball by a UCSB defender in the penalty box was waived off by the referees. IU players and coaches pleaded the officials for the call, but play continued until the clock ran out.Still, Adlard said the aggressiveness his team showed in the second half should have been present for the entire match.“I think if we could have done that throughout the whole game – getting some crosses in, getting in the box – good things would have happened for us,” Adlard said. “We should do that right from the get-go and not have to have the other team score before we start playing.” Though clearly frustrated with his team’s performance, Freitag is confident his team will be more than ready for a match-up against Evansville on Tuesday night.“I know these guys are winners ... they just have to find a way to win for 90 minutes,” Freitag said. “I may have to get a big stick at practice, but we will make it happen. We will bounce back from this and be a better team.”
(09/23/08 3:44am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The financial crisis that took place on Wall Street last week can be summed up in one word: chaos.Lehman Brothers, one of the top investment banks in America, filed the largest bankruptcy claim in U.S. history after going $613 billion in debt. One of Lehman’s main rivals, Merrill Lynch, nearly suffered the same fate before being bought out by Bank of America. And in the largest government bailout ever, insurer AIG was given an $85 billion loan from the Federal Reserve after plummeting share prices and credit downgrades caused investors to sell shares. Now, President Bush is requesting that U.S. lawmakers pass a $700 billion bailout plan to help financial institutions holding large amounts of bad mortgage debt. The turmoil leaves students with plenty of questions.First: What happened? In an effort to make more money, large financial institutions lowered their standards and made bad loans to home owners who couldn’t afford to pay their mortgages, said David Hays, president of the Bloomington-based firm Comprehensive Financial Consultants. Companies that sold those loans then packaged them into investments called mortgage-backed securities, which were sold to investors to earn interest over time. Investors didn’t know what those assets were worth, which led to problems, said John Boquist, finance professor in the Kelley School of Business. “They reacted by selling their shares,” he said. “Basically the values reported were not trusted.”How did everything get so bad? Boquist said much of the turmoil last week came from a lack of trust in the financial system. “Some people lost confidence in big banking institutions and insurance companies,” he said, “and sold their stock as quickly as they possibly could, causing a severe decline in stock prices.” Should the government have bailed out these struggling companies? Who’s paying for this?Hays said there was no other option but a bailout. “My fiscal and conservative ways say ‘no,’ but my practical side says ‘they didn’t have any choice,’” he said. “If they didn’t do it, it would have been like the Great Depression ... people were making a run on the bank. It would have been a crash of our system.” Although he agreed the government was right in rescuing these companies, Mark Brostoff, an associate director of Kelley’s Undergraduate Career Service Office, said the American citizen will be the one helping out in the end. “Eventually the taxpayers are paying for it,” Brostoff said. “Whenever the government picks something up, ultimately the funds come from us. I would rather see the company allow the market correction to occur, rather than putting the billion-dollar burden on the taxpayer.”So, should you invest in the market right now? Boquist said with stock prices so low and other parts of the economy still growing, it could be a good idea to get into the market now. Still, he said that consumers need to be cautious. “Though most stocks have recovered nicely, it is still a very risky game,” he said. “I think if you are selective, it is a great time to buy.” How will all of this impact business students? The issue of greatest concern for college students studying business is the effect the recent market crash has on potential employment. Students geared toward finance may have a more difficult time finding jobs due to the uncertainty of companies and the stock-market turmoil. Junior Timothy Bowker, a student in the Kelley School of Business, said some of his classmates are talking about a possible change in their specific concentration. “I think that a lot of people who were considering doing finance, specifically investment banking, are considering changing their major or what they want to do in their future,” Bowker said. “I hear a lot of professors who were once high on investment banking are now trying to push consulting for finance majors.” Can you get a job on Wall Street any time soon? Though he thought there would be a drop in employment, David Haeberle, an investment-banking professor in the Kelley School of Business, said he is still confident students will be set for the future. “For the next year or two placements with Wall Street firms will be down relative to prior years, but by the time a freshman, sophomore or a junior graduate and start their full-time job on Wall Street, things will pick up,” Haeberle said. “Students are generally excited with the change that we are undertaking and encouraged to jump in and participate.”
(09/19/08 4:38am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With two decisive victories this past weekend in Los Angeles, the men’s soccer team for the first time this season will have momentum on its side. And with Big Ten play approaching, it could not have come at a better time. The Hoosiers (3-1-2) face conference foe Wisconsin (4-1-1) at 3 p.m. Sunday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. Junior midfielder Lee Hagedorn said he is finally starting to see the full potential of his team.“We were getting a little too confident without proving anything quite yet,” Hagedorn said. “Now that we are playing together as a team, it shows that we are good enough to go get some good wins. We know we have what it takes to go pretty far.” Before going on the West Coast trip, the team had three consecutive games without scoring a goal. But against UCLA and San Diego this past weekend, the offensive attack was suddenly effective, scoring five goals in the two games.Sophomore forward/midfielder Andy Adlard, who scored his first goal of the season against San Diego last week, said it was only a matter of time before his team started getting the ball in the net.“It was just a little phase, and every team has it,” Adlard said. “Those two games really gave us a lift. It was good for us to bounce back and get our team back on track.” The only negative aspect taken from the California trip was the status of senior midfielder Brad Ring, who went out with an injury six minutes into the San Diego game and did not return. But IU coach Mike Freitag said Ring “just tweaked himself a little bit” and will start on Sunday. In the Badgers, IU will face a tough conference team coming off of its first loss of the season. Wisconsin fell 1-0 to Binghamton last week in the UW-Milwaukee Panther Classic.Wisconsin junior midfielder/forward Pablo Delgado Inglada, with two goals and three assists on the season, will likely be the main focus for IU’s defense.Freitag said the matchup this weekend will be intense and highly contested, with both teams searching for their first Big Ten win.“Any time you play a Big Ten team, you know they are going to bring out their best,” Freitag said. “Wisconsin is a good team who will come into Bloomington and try to sneak (a win). We want to play to our potential and if we do that, I think we win.”Junior forward Darren Yeagle said the team will be ready to go come Sunday.“I’m sure it will be a challenge for us,” Yeagle said. “But with this being the first Big Ten game, we will be coming out really fired up. Hopefully we go out there, work hard and become 1-0 in the Big Ten.”
(09/12/08 3:59am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Heading into his weekend matchups against No. 24 UCLA and San Diego, both in Los Angeles, sophomore midfielder Rich Balchan said he feels good about his team’s chances. “We are moving forward and are confident going into this weekend,” Balchan said. “I’m honestly not too worried about (UCLA). If we just play our game, we will be fine.”The No. 19 Hoosiers, 1-1-2, are hoping to rebound from a 4-0 loss this past weekend against Dartmouth in South Bend. The outcome was the largest margin of defeat in the program’s history. Senior goalkeeper Chay Cain said the loss was “embarrassing” and is certain his team will respond strong.“The intensity is going to be there, and we will be aware of some of our weaknesses,” Cain said. “Going to (UCLA’s) place is going to be tough. We know that we need to go in there and play our best. Otherwise, we are going to be in trouble.” The ongoing problem for the Hoosiers continues to be a lack of offensive production. As a team, IU has netted just two goals in four regular-season games, leading to only one victory.Sophomore midfielder Daniel Kelly, a player who started at the forward position against South Florida and Dartmouth, said a positive attitude is what his team needs most. “Everybody needs to believe in themselves and have the mind-set to score,” Kelly said. “We need to get the ball wide more and cross the ball in. It would be really important for us to get a win away from home.”In UCLA, the Hoosiers will face a perennial top team with struggles of their own. The Bruins are 1-2-1 on the season after losing 3-0 to No. 1 Wake Forest and tying North Carolina 1-1 last week at the Wake Forest Classic.With two ranked teams in desperate need of wins, IU coach Mike Freitag said the matchup in Los Angeles will be tough.“Losing 3-0 to Wake Forest, they didn’t have the best weekend, either, so they are also going to be looking for a victory,” Freitag said. “I think they are young in some areas on the field and maybe we can expose that. It is going to be a great contest.”Earning a victory against San Diego on Sunday afternoon will also be crucial for the Hoosiers. Though they are a meager 0-2-2 on the season, Freitag said his team would not overlook the Toreros. “They are always a strong team and seem to be knocking off a top team each year,” Freitag said. “It will be a tough contest being the second game of the weekend on an afternoon in California. We will have to be at our best to win.”
(09/08/08 4:39am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU men’s soccer team hoped to leave the Mike Berticelli Tournament in South Bend this weekend with continued confidence defensively and a solution to its lack of scoring. Neither happened.The Hoosiers lost 4-0 to Dartmouth on Sunday after tying No. 5 South Florida 0-0 Friday night.“You can’t think you are going to get success just because you are Indiana,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “Some players have not played up to potential as of yet, and I am waiting for that to happen. Hopefully this is the shock to get them there.”Although IU (1-1-2) failed to score after two overtime periods, it started Friday’s matchup against the Bulls (1-1-1) with plenty of firepower offensively.Sophomore Daniel Kelly had the game’s first shot at the five-minute mark, but it sailed wide of the goal. By the time the game reached 25 minutes, the Hoosiers had already tallied six shots, none of which went in.It wasn’t until the 87th minute that IU senior goalkeeper Chay Cain was truly tested by USF’s offense. Cain blocked a hard shot by senior forward Jordan Seabrook to keep the game even at the end of regulation and into overtime. Despite a shot by senior John Mellencamp and two from sophomore Andy Adlard in the extra periods, the Hoosiers were unable to put the ball in the back of the net and settled for the tie.Cain said the end result was not what the team had wanted, but he will take the tie against one of the top teams in the country.“It is frustrating for the whole team,” Cain said. “We are expected to win every game, and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves from that aspect. At the same time, South Florida is a very good team so a tie is not a terrible result for us.”But while the defense was stellar Friday night, it was a whole different story Sunday against the Big Green (1-1-0).Cain went off his line to retrieve a loose ball 16 minutes into the game. But as he was about to pick it up, Dartmouth freshman forward Lucky Mkosana stole the ball and scored.With momentum siding with the Big Green, the offensive scoring attack did not relinquish. Big Green senior forward/midfielder Craig Henderson scored at the 63:31 mark after going one-on-one against Cain, and he headed in another off a throw-in only a minute later. Dartmouth freshman forward Maarten van Ess put the game out of reach for the Hoosiers when he headed in a free kick from Big Green defender Bryan Giudicelli in the 78th minute.The outcome was the third consecutive game in which IU was unable to score.“It is a little bit of a gut-check for us – we got dominated today,” senior midfielder Brad Ring said. “We played very well defensively the first three games, but this one was terrible. (Offensively) we have to create more chances, and when we create these chances we need to put them away.”Freitag said the only positives to take away from the tournament were weaknesses exploited that need to be worked on.“Hopefully, this is a wake-up call,” Freitag said. “All in all, it is a team loss that we need to look at ourselves, watch tape and see what we need to do to get better. We play a schedule as hard as anybody in the country, and if we don’t come with our A-game, as we didn’t today, we will lose.”With the weekend a disappointment for the Hoosiers, they look to improve Friday when they travel to Los Angeles for a crucial matchup against No. 14 UCLA.“I think we learned a lot about ourselves this weekend,” Ring said. “We found out that we are a lot more vulnerable in the back than we thought we were and that we may have trouble scoring goals. We will go in with all the confidence in the world against UCLA and are looking to have a great matchup against them.”
(09/05/08 4:15am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>At this point last year, forward Will Bruin and defender Tommy Meyer were about to begin their final seasons of high-school soccer. Today, the freshmen are both starting on a team with sights set on winning an eighth Division I National Championship.Talk about change in scenery. “I had a lot of jitters going,” said Meyer, referring to his first ever regular-season game in the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic last week. “The atmosphere was great. Everything is a lot faster and more physical than it was in high school, so it’s a huge difference.”But don’t let their age fool you – both freshmen came to IU with talent equivalent or better than most veteran college players. Meyer is a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American and played with the U.S. Under-20 National team. Bruin was also a two-time NSCAA All-American and the 2007 Missouri State Soccer Player of the Year. IU coach Mike Freitag said he is happy with the development of both players at this stage in the season.“I had expectations that both would be on the field for us. ... Right now they are proving my expectations correct,” Freitag said. “They are still adjusting, but I think they have gotten off to a good start. They will gain confidence and get used to the speed of play.”Both freshmen started the two games last weekend, and Bruin even had multiple shots on goal. Bruin said there is a major difference in style of play from high school to college, but knew what he was getting into.“I expected it to be as hard as I could imagine so I wouldn’t be a shocked when I got here,” Bruin said. “(Last weekend) was a lot of fun but tough. The first time you walk on that field, everyone said you would get chills, and I did.”Junior forward Darren Yeagle recalled what it was like when he first reached the collegiate level.“When I was a freshman, it took me a while to get used to the speed of play and physicalness of college soccer,” Yeagle said. “They are adapting to it well. I knew they would help us out tremendously during the season.”Another aspect that requires adjustment is balancing classes with daily practices, film analysis sessions and games. Meyer said it is sometimes hard to play at full speed after a long day of school. “You have to bring your energy back up when you get done with school and be at practice on time and ready to go,” said the freshman defender.For the second weekend in a row, IU will take on two top opponents when they travel to the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament in South Bend. The Hoosiers will play No. 14 South Florida at 5 p.m. Friday and Dartmouth at 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Freitag said the games may be two of the toughest matchups of the year, especially USF.“We have two very difficult games,” Freitag said. “South Florida is a team that could very easily be in the final four. If you let them get into rhythm, they will carve you up.”For Bruin and Meyer, this weekend will be just another test in their blossoming careers, something their teammates say will extend far beyond two games in South Bend.“Tommy, getting all this experience as a young player at center back, will be one of the vocal leaders of this team,” junior defender Kevin Alston said. “The same thing for Will up top. ... I see the program shaping around them.”
(09/02/08 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Having won its two exhibition games by a combined score of 6-1, the IU men’s soccer team entered the Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic this past weekend with high expectations for its offense. But it was the defense, allowing only one total goal for the tournament, that enabled the No. 7 Hoosiers to start the regular season undefeated.IU tied No. 12 Akron 0-0 on Sunday afternoon after defeating Duke 2-1 on Friday night. Both IU and Akron had a win and tie apiece, but the Zips took the title based on goal differential.Despite being named runners-up, IU coach Mike Freitag said he was pleased with his team’s effort. “It’s tough playing two games in a weekend,” Freitag said. “I think we showed our depth. At this stage, we will take a tie, move on and have things to get better at. It’s early in the season.”Offensively, the Hoosiers, now 1-0-1, started Friday night’s game slowly, not recording a shot on goal until nearly 15 minutes into the game. The deadlocked score was broken in the 58th minute when junior defender Kevin Alston took a shot outside the goalie box that deflected off a Duke player and sailed over the head of Blue Devil goalie Brendan Fitzgerald. Duke, now 0-2-0, responded moments later in the 61st minute when forward Mike Grella drove into the IU box before passing to an oncoming Kyle Bethel, who put the ball in the back of the net.It wasn’t until the 84th minute that the Hoosiers fully took control of the game. Senior midfielder John Mellencamp one-timed a pass 12 yards out from senior midfielder Brad Ring into the goal, securing the victory.“As the intensity picked up, I was hoping we would get one in,” Mellencamp said. “Ring played a perfect ball that allowed me to either slot a ball or hit it. It was just set up right, and I hit the luckiest shot of my life.” But while the IU offense may have started sluggish against Duke, the beginning of Sunday’s game against Akron had a different, more aggressive feel. It only took three minutes for IU to record a shot on goal and the team had multiple chances to score but failed to capitalize the remainder of the half.In the 70th minute, freshman forward Will Bruin had a scoring opportunity when he made a nice move to the goal, but sprawling Akron goalkeeper Evan Bush blocked his shot. The rest of the second half was a defensive stalemate, resulting in two sudden-death overtime periods. In extra play, Alston, Ring and senior forward Kevin Noschang each had quality shots on goal but were unable to score. “The toughest thing to do in the game is score goals,” Freitag said. “Sometimes when you’re tired, your lack of concentration and lack of technique fails you. That happened several times – too many balls over the bar.”Ring agreed with his coach, and said his team needs to improve accuracy when scoring opportunities are available.“I think we created some good chances, but we need to be more precise on finishing,” he said. “Nineteen shots (against Akron) is a lot without a goal, so we need to take our chances better.”IU players Ring, Alston and junior forward Neil Wilmarth made the All-Tournament team with Alston taking home defensive MVP honors.Zips coach Caleb Porter, a former IU player and assistant coach, said he tried to avoid getting nostalgic about being back at IU, but added the result was bittersweet.“This was the only game where I couldn’t cheer for IU,” Porter said. “I wouldn’t be the coach I am if it wasn’t for (IU soccer).” The weekend may have been more bitter than sweet for IU, but junior defensive back Ofori Sarkodie said it was still worthwhile playing two quality opponents.“It’s crucial because you have an understanding on where your team is at mentally, physically, where the depth is,” Sarkodie said. “It will help build the momentum for the season. If we continue to focus and keep each other accountable, we will be successful.”
(04/14/08 6:21am)
Sometimes, team strategy is more valuable than overall talent. Delta Gamma proved this Friday afternoon, as they out-smarted their opponents in the final five laps to win its first-ever Little 500 title.\n“It really is a dream come true,” senior Jessica Lander said. “My whole college career we have trained for this and we are finally able to do it our senior year. There is nothing more we could ask for.”\nThe team finished the 100 laps with an unofficial time of 1:12:20, beating second place Teter by two seconds. Delta Sigma Pi rounded out the top three with Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Delta in fourth and fifth.\nGoing into lap 96, Delta Gamma coach Ryan Knapp noticed both Teter and Kappa Alpha Theta preparing for a bike exchange to get their fastest sprinters onto the track. Rather than do the same, Knapp allowed junior Kristina Heath to continue for an extra lap in hopes of building a large lead for the team’s last rider, Lander. By the time Lander jumped on the bike the following lap, Delta Gamma’s lead was so far ahead that there was no chance for Teter, Delta Sigma Pi or Kappa Alpha Theta to catch up in time. \n“We got a good burnout from (Kristina) that gave our sprinter a gap on the rest of the field,” Knapp said. “She was able to go hard from the start and hold that gap. It is taking advantage of a situation when it comes up.”\nTeter senior Sarah Rieke said Delta Gamma’s lead in the final lap was too much to overcome in that span of time.\n“We knew that we could sit in for a sprint and have one of those good finishes again,” Rieke said. “But Delta Gamma got away and had too big of a lead. We couldn’t cut it much more than in half.”\nKappa Alpha Theta junior Brittany White said the race was very unpredictable in terms of who might come out of the final pack.\n“You blink and it’s gone,” White said. “One time you think you’re ahead, and then next thing you know you’re chasing with one lap to go.”\nWith its victory, Delta Gamma becomes just the fourth sorority – along with Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Delta – to win the Little 500. \nHeath said with her team not favored to win going into the race, it gave extra motivation to prove something on the track.\n“I think we definitely were the underdog going in, but we made it work,” Heath said. “This has been a three-year investment, and for our seniors, I think it is great. Everyone in our house is so excited.” \nFor seniors Lander and Julianne Ellis, winning the race was the best way to end their collegiate careers.\n“This is definitely something that is really special for Jess and I, being seniors,” Ellis said. “We have put in so much time, work and energy the past three years, and to come out on top is perfect. We could not have had it scripted any other way.”
(04/14/08 4:24am)
Alpha Tau Omega just wanted to gain back the respect it once had as a top cycling team. After a fourth-place finish Saturday in the 58th annual Little 500, they might have gotten it.\n“Everyone really just counted us out and didn’t think that we were any kind of force to be reckoned with,” junior Steve Ziemba said. “We just wanted to surprise people when we came out.”\nIn 2006, behind the legs of IU racing legend Hans Arnesen, ATO took home the Little 500 crown.The riders had everything going for them at the time and wanted to continue their success the following season. But during last year’s qualifications, ATO was unable to correctly complete the necessary bike exchanges, and as a result, were not allowed to participate in the race.\n“We use it as motivation,” junior Robert Perez said. “It was rough last year when we were a really good team in contention but just had a bad day at qualifications. We just trained our ass off this year to come back.”\nATO coach Norm Houze said the disappointment from the previous year helped give the team something to work for. \n“Last year was totally frustrating, so there was a lot of pent-up emotion in these guys,” Houze said. “It’s been two years since these guys were last on the track for a race, so they were ready to go.”\nDespite starting in 26th position, ATO was able to get to the front of the pack early and was able to stay there for a majority of the race. At various times, they were leading all competitors. Until about lap 180, when the Cutters began to break free from the pack, ATO looked as if they were going to be there on the final stretch for a chance to win.\n“The last few laps were hell,” Perez said. “Team Major Taylor burned out and we tried to stay on their tail as much as we could, and I did. After that I just pulled as hard as I could, and as soon as I saw a half lap left, I just gave it everything I had.” \nSenior Alex Malone said he liked the fact that few people gave his team a chance to win before the race. \n“We were definitely like an underdog,” Malone said. “I don’t think people mentioned us anywhere in the top 15, but we knew we were one of the top teams. We knew we had what it takes to win as long as we could stay out of wrecks, which we were able to do.” \nThe team’s success Saturday was also surprising because of the amount of riders competing. While most other teams had four riders, ATO was limited to three because sophomore Derek Bailey had dislocated his shoulder two nights prior and was unable to race.\n“We had only three riders so we knew that we needed to have one of our guys ride practically half the race,” Houze said. “Alex Malone did about 90-100 laps. I think we only had 11 exchanges so it was just trying to do lots of laps in a set and see what we could do at the end.” \nHouze said the top finish Saturday will help the team in future years. \n“Of course we would have loved to win, but you have to give the Cutters credit,” he said. “We are perfectly happy with where we are at, and we will be back next year.”
(04/14/08 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Sometimes, team strategy is more valuable than overall talent. Delta
Gamma proved this Friday afternoon, as they out-smarted their opponents
in the final five laps to win its first-ever Little 500 title.“It
really is a dream come true,” senior Jessica Lander said. “My whole
college career we have trained for this and we are finally able to do
it our senior year. There is nothing more we could ask for.”The
team finished the 100 laps with an unofficial time of 1:12:20, beating
second place Teter by two seconds. Delta Sigma Pi rounded out the top
three with Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Delta in fourth and fifth.Going
into lap 96, Delta Gamma coach Ryan Knapp noticed both Teter and Kappa
Alpha Theta preparing for a bike exchange to get their fastest
sprinters onto the track. Rather than do the same, Knapp allowed junior
Kristina Heath to continue for an extra lap in hopes of building a
large lead for the team’s last rider, Lander. By the time Lander jumped
on the bike the following lap, Delta Gamma’s lead was so far ahead that
there was no chance for Teter, Delta Sigma Pi or Kappa Alpha Theta to
catch up in time. “We got a good burnout from (Kristina) that
gave our sprinter a gap on the rest of the field,” Knapp said. “She was
able to go hard from the start and hold that gap. It is taking
advantage of a situation when it comes up.”Teter senior Sarah Rieke said Delta Gamma’s lead in the final lap was too much to overcome in that span of time.“We
knew that we could sit in for a sprint and have one of those good
finishes again,” Rieke said. “But Delta Gamma got away and had too big
of a lead. We couldn’t cut it much more than in half.”Kappa Alpha Theta junior Brittany White said the race was very unpredictable in terms of who might come out of the final pack.“You
blink and it’s gone,” White said. “One time you think you’re ahead, and
then next thing you know you’re chasing with one lap to go.”With
its victory, Delta Gamma becomes just the fourth sorority – along with
Kappa Kappa Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Delta – to win the
Little 500. Heath said with her team not favored to win going into the race, it gave extra motivation to prove something on the track.“I
think we definitely were the underdog going in, but we made it work,”
Heath said. “This has been a three-year investment, and for our
seniors, I think it is great. Everyone in our house is so excited.” For seniors Lander and Julianne Ellis, winning the race was the best way to end their collegiate careers.“This
is definitely something that is really special for Jess and I, being
seniors,” Ellis said. “We have put in so much time, work and energy the
past three years, and to come out on top is perfect. We could not have
had it scripted any other way.”
(04/14/08 12:35am)
According to Monroe County Jail records, shortly after midnight Sunday morning Cutters rider Sasha Land and coach Jim Kirkham were arrested on misdemeanor battery charges.
(04/13/08 3:56pm)
Going into the final four laps of the Women’s Little 500, the pack was as close as ever with Kappa Alpha Theta, Delta Sigma Pi, Teter and Delta Gamma stride for stride. That is when Delta Gamma senior Jess Lander decided to take over and ensure her team its first Little 500 victory.\n“It really is a dream come true,” Lander said. “My whole college career we have trained for this and we are finally able to do it our senior year. There is nothing more we could ask for.”\nThe team finished the 100 laps with an unofficial time of 1:12:20, beating Teter by two tenths of a second. Delta Sigma Pi rounded out the top three with Kappa Alpha Theta and Kappa Delta in fourth and fifth.\nDelta Gamma became just the fourth sorority to ever win the race.\nSenior Julianne Ellis said that she is ecstatic to be able to leave the race as a champion.\n“This is definitely something that is really special for Jess and I being seniors,” Ellis said. “We have put in so much time, work and energy the past three years and to come out on top is perfect. We could not have had it scripted any other way.”\nKeep checking idsnews.com for updated Little 500 coverage.
(04/12/08 10:02pm)
On a cold and rainy day, the Cutters pulled away late behind the legs of Sasha Land to win the 58th annual Little 500 race. The team--made up of Land, Paul Sigfusson, Erik Hamilton and Clayton Feldman-- started to speed away from the pack around lap 180 to earn the victory.
(04/11/08 9:22pm)
The months of intense training are now over. All of the series events have been completed. For riders, today is finally the day. The 21st Women’s Little 500 is here.\nThe much-anticipated event will begin at 4 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium with 32 teams competing for the crown. \nLast year, Kappa Delta won the race handily and became just the third sorority to take the title. Sophomore Jenna Cerone said riding as the defending champions will not add any extra pressure on this year’s team going into the race.\n“Since we are going to be wearing the yellow jersey, I feel like people will recognize us, but each year is different,” Cerone said. “Every team gets new riders and loses riders so I don’t really think that much extra pressure is on us. We put it on ourselves because we want to repeat.”\nBut while Kappa Delta is a strong contender again this year, the clear pre-race favorite to win is Teter. The veteran team was victorious at Team Pursuit and every member of Teter placed in the top 11 riders at Individual Time Trials. They hope to avenge last year’s second place finish. \n“We are four whole different riders from last year,” junior Jackie Moeller said. “We are going to be smarter, watch a lot of other teams and have fun. We want to be confident going into Friday knowing that we can do our best.”\nOther top teams to watch, based on Team Pursuit finishes, include Delta Gamma and Kappa Alpha Theta.\nDelta Gamma senior Julianne Ellis said to be successful, working well as a team is vital.\n“You need clean exchanges, avoid wrecks and a little bit of luck,” Ellis said. “A safe race is very important.”\nOne factor that could affect riders is the weather. Unlike last year, when race day was sunny and warm, reports call for strong wind and rain throughout Friday and Saturday. Poor weather conditions could increase the possibility of wrecks on the track.\n“The last two years, I have been in wreck situations, so you just have to go with what you got,” Kappa Alpha Theta senior Liz Pallotta said. “If you are chasing for a few laps, just do that and get back on. You kind of plan for the worst to happen and hope for the best.”\nDelta Zeta senior Amanda Marquet said the weather will not have a very significant impact on how teams ride in the race.\n“If it is pouring, it will be a little bit harder because the rain may make the track a bit faster,” Marquet said. “But we will not really be focused on the rain, we will be focused on the race and what is going on around us.”\nPallotta said the rain will not affect her team, and in the end, will help make the race more balanced.\n“I am going to love it ... it’s going to be great,” Pallotta said. “I think it will be a completely different race and even out the field a lot. It will be anyone’s game.” \nThousands of screaming fans will pack the bleachers to cheer their favorite teams and riders on to victory.\nCerone said she expects the environment of Little 500 race day to be like nothing she has ever participated in before. \n“All of my family is coming in and they haven’t experienced Little 500 at all,” she said. “It is nice to have people come out and support you. I’m very excited to show people what we have done.”
(04/11/08 3:26pm)
Today is finally the day...the 21st running of the Women's Little 500. Check in before, during and after the 4 p.m. race for updates and news on the bikers.
