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(11/08/01 5:40am)
Some may look at the four Final Four appearances and two national championships the men's soccer team has produced during the past four years and speculate that the squad's senior class must be spoiled rotten. \nBut backs Josh Rife and Ryan Hammer, midfielders Bobby de St. Aubin and Tyler Hawley and goalie Colin Rogers have paid their dues, and they do not take anything for granted.\n"What makes this group (of seniors) unique is that all five of them had to prove themselves here," head coach Jerry Yeagley said. "They didn't come in as stars."\nRife and de St. Aubin both put in time at smaller, less successful college programs before transferring to IU for the 2000 season. Rife made the move from Texas Christian University while de St. Aubin relocated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Both said the move was because of the desire for a challenge.\n"TCU was a good opportunity when I started out, but I was looking for a higher level," Rife said. "Indiana just came off winning back-to-back national titles, and I had played against them. They were kind of familiar with me, so it seemed like a good fit."\nAs soon as Rife obtained his release from TCU, he was picked up by the Hoosiers and added immediate depth to their defense. Although he had been a midfielder for most of his career, he was shifted to sweeper and achieved All-Big Ten second team last season.\nDe St. Aubin said he felt like he was in a "stalemate" at UW-Milwaukee. He credited his move to IU to the program's winning tradition and dedication to excellence. \n"(At IU) you have to prove yourself every day, and that's why guys decide to come here, because they want to get better," de St. Aubin said. "They want to be the best player they can be, and it helps having people push you everyday."\nHammer and Rogers redshirted their freshman years at IU. Although this is their fifth year on the roster, neither of them saw significant action until last year.\nRogers backed up T.J. Hanning his sophomore and junior years and played in only four games. He acquired the starting goalie position in September of last year after Hanning sustained a season ending injury. He went on to post a 9-2 record with a .72 goals against average.\nThis season he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week twice, improving his GAA to .40. He said his time on the bench has helped him to value his current starting status.\n"It's made me appreciate my playing time now a lot more," he said. "Every game that I get to play now I go out and play as hard as I can, because I had to work so hard to get to where I am."\nHammer participated in only three games before the 2000 season, in which he made 14 appearances. This season he is a consistent starter.\nYeagley said although Hammer and Rogers did not play regularly until last year, they never became discouraged.\n"Hammer and Rogers definitely paid their dues for a long period of time, and they worked hard and stayed focused and didn't get disgruntled," Yeagley said. "That's very gratifying for me to see (players) who have had to take the tough route and can raise their game, and they have."\nHawley has seen his playing time escalate in each of the past three seasons. As a redshirt freshman, he played in 14 games, starting in five; as a sophomore he appeared in 24 games with 17 starts; last season he saw action in 20 games, making 16 starts. \nYeagley said Hawley has been a jack-of-all-trades for the Hoosiers.\n"(Hawley) has played up top, he's played in the back, he's played in the center of midfield and he's played wide at midfield," Yeagley said. "He's made the adjustment each time and done what's best for the team."\nThese seniors are now nearing the final chapter of their collegiate soccer careers. All that is left is the Big Ten Tournament, which takes place this weekend at the University of Wisconsin, and the NCAA tournament. \nAlthough they are nearing the end of their final season, they say it is not something they've spent a lot of time thinking about.\n"I guess, just like everyone, you want to take it a game at a time and just enjoy every game, every minute, every second you're out there, because you never know if it could be your last," Rife said. "So you just enjoy the moment."\nHammer said his accumulated experience over the past four years would benefit him in his final postseason.\n"The difference from the (previous) postseasons is that I'm more experienced," he explained. "I still get the butterflies going into it, but I think with more experience I'm more confident and know what's expected, what it takes to win."\nHawley said only one thing will make his last postseason completely satisfying.\n"I think the saying goes, 'You always want to win your last game.' If I can win my last game I'll be happy," he said. "That will be another national championship"
(11/05/01 5:47am)
The men's soccer team found its offense Sunday with a 6-0 shutout of the IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis Jaguars at Bill Armstrong Stadium, marking the end of IU's regular season.\nThe No.4 Hoosiers (12-3-1) had struggled to score in their previous four outings, losing 1-0 to Notre Dame followed by two 1-0 wins against Ohio State and Rutgers and a 1-1 tie with Princeton. \nJunior forward Pat Noonan, who has been IU's most consistent offensive performer, tallied two goals against the Jaguars. The Hermann Trophy Candidate finished the regular season with 12 goals, eight assists and 32 points. Freshman forward Mike Ambersley is a distant second to Noonan on the IU stat sheet with five goals, four assists and 14 points.\nNoonan credited Sunday's win to a balanced offensive attack.\n"Everybody contributed. It wasn't just one or two people," Noonan said. "We had a couple guys get their first goals. Now we need to focus on the Big Ten Tournament and hopefully keep the offense going."\nSenior midfielder Bobby de St. Aubin said it is important for other players on the Hoosier squad to step up and score, because most defenses gear their efforts towards stopping Noonan.\n"(Noonan) has seen so many double teams and gotten so much attention from other teams that it really leaves a lot of guys with good opportunities," de St. Aubin said. "We're finally starting to finish our opportunities and take some of the pressure off (Noonan's) back."\nDe St. Aubin helped relieve Noonan of some of the offensive load at the 19:43 mark of the first half. Noonan crossed the ball to him at midfield, which he took to the top of the goal box and sent past senior IUPUI keeper Armando Famia.\nIt would be to be a long afternoon for Famia.\nAt the 40:28 mark, Noonan received the ball on a pass from junior midfielder Marcus Chorvat just inside the goal line. He utilized his ball handling skills to get a wide open look at the net and sent the ball into the lower left corner. \nThe Jaguars made a dangerous scoring threat in the first half but were unable to capitalize on the attempt.\nIUPUI freshman forward Jason Noyan sent a header toward the goal deep in the box, which senior goalie Colin Rogers dove to retrieve. Before he could do so, another IUPUI player's foot found the ball and sent it toward the wide open net. Junior back John Swann reacted quickly while Rogers recovered from the dive, stopping the shot. Rogers then collapsed on the ball for the save.\nThe Hoosiers instigated their offensive attack in the second half, scoring four of their six goals. \nNoonan started the rally at the 48:45 mark with a score on a free kick. \nWith 59:59 played in the game sophomore midfielder Vijay Dias took the ball into the box, dribbling through two defenders before sending it in for a 4-0 lead. \nFreshman midfielder J.D. Johnston dribbled into the box and crossed the ball to freshman forward Trey Meek, who put the ball in the net for his first goal of the season.\nHighly touted freshman forward Ned Grabavoy scored his first goal of the season Sunday as well. He has been slowly recovering from a foot injury that he sustained in the preseason and started for the first time against IUPUI. \n"(To score) felt really good, almost relieving," Grabavoy said. "I'm just getting back in there, that was the most I played all year. It's been a real long season and I'd say it wasn't until the end of this week that I felt like I was almost 100 percent."\nHead coach Jerry Yeagley rested many of the starters in the second half. He said the most positive aspect of the win was the play of the reserves.\n"It was an excellent team effort," Yeagley said. "Our reserves played the way they play in practice when they beat (the starters). The guys who came in off the bench didn't play scared. They played to the level that we see everyday in training and we're going to need that"
(10/15/01 5:34am)
Evanston, Ill. -- IU (9-2-0, 5-0) used two gritty defensive performances to their advantage this weekend, defeating conference foes Wisconsin 4-0 and Northwestern 3-0. \nIn their last 717:38 minutes of play, the Hoosiers have allowed only one goal, which came against Penn State Sept. 28. IU's shutout total for the season now stands at eight as they head into the homestretch of the 2001 season. \nDefensive dominance continued this weekend as the Hoosiers held the Badgers and Wildcats to a combined four shots on goal, while IU tallied 31.\nSenior back Ryan Hammer said that the defense is so effective because they are comfortable with each other on the field.\n"I think we know each other, how we play," Hammer said. "Chemistry-wise, we play well together, we make sure we're matched up well. I think we just hold each other to a high standard."\nIn Friday's game against Wisconsin, the backs added offense as well, netting three of the Hoosiers' four goals. At the 31:31 mark, junior back John Swann scored on a header off an assist from freshman Mike Ambersley. Two minutes later, another back got into the offensive action. Noonan crossed a pass to Hammer, who headed the ball in to put the Hoosiers up 2-0 at halftime. \nTen minutes into the second half Swann cushioned IU's lead with another goal. Sophomore midfielder Vijay Dias sent a corner kick into the box, which Swann headed in for a 3-0 Hoosier advantage.\n"As the season goes along, our defense just keeps getting better and better," Swann said. "We realize that we can't just sit back and wait for (Mike) Ambersley and (Pat) Noonan to score goals. Tonight we managed to put ourselves in positions to score."\nWith less than 10 minutes to go in the game, freshman defender Greg Badger sent a long pass into the box from midfield. The ball found senior midfielder Tyler Hawley who put it in the back of the net for IU's final score of the game.\nCoach Jerry Yeagley said he was happy with IU's play, but he gave Moriba Baker, Wisconsin's goalie, his due as well.\n"I thought we had some of the best ball movement of the year in this game," Yeagley said. "All four of our goals came in the air. We had more opportunities than we took advantage of and I credit (Baker) for that. He came up big."\nAfter one day of rest the Hoosiers rolled into Evanston, Ill., to take on a Northwestern squad that had yet to manage a victory. IU kept the Wildcat's unfortunate streak alive with a 3-0 win.\nFirst-year Northwestern head coach Tim Lenahan said that his team's goal for this season is simple.\n"We've got to win a game this year," Lenahan said. "This is my first go at this and I'm learning as each Big Ten game passes. We'll be a good program down the road. Indiana's the measuring stick and there's a large gap between where they are and where we are."\nThat gap was evident Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats came out playing aggressively, but the Hoosiers were too much for them to handle.\nA mere five minutes into the game, senior midfielder Bobby de St. Aubin tallied his first career goal off a deflected shot by Ambersley.\n"I was actually running across the box and (the ball) kind of went of my stomach and went in," de St. Aubin said. "It's not the way you imagine it or draw it up, but it went in the back of the net so you've got to be happy with it."\nFour minutes later Noonan dribbled down the right side of the field and blasted it past the out stretched arms of Northwestern keeper Adam Grossman to put the Hoosiers up 2-0. \nIU's defense kept the ball out of Hoosier territory for much of the first half, which gave the backs a chance to produce offensively. De St Aubin sent a pass deep into the box where a waiting Hammer headed in his second goal of the weekend.\nWith 2:34 to play in the first half, the game was delayed due to lightning as heavy rain passed through Northwestern's campus. The teams re-entered the field about 20 minutes later and resumed play, foregoing halftime.\nThe Hoosiers failed to score in the second half as Yeagley rested most of his starters, but their defense held off the Wildcats for the shutout. \n"We're coming out and doing our job," senior back Josh Rife said of the defense. "I though we played well not only defensively, but (Ryan) Hammer and (John) Swann both did a great job this weekend and got a couple of goals a piece."\nYeagley said he was disappointed the reserves were unable to score in the second half, but was happy that the Hoosiers struck early.\n"I was pleased that we got on the board early," Yeagley said. Northwestern) is a very well-organized team, they defend very well, so getting two goals early was big.
(10/12/01 5:31am)
The men's soccer team will face two conference opponents on the road this weekend. Today, IU (7-2-0, 3-0) travels to the University of Wisconsin to battle the Badgers (6-4-1, 0-1). Sunday, they face the Northwestern Wildcats (0-8-2, 0-4) in Evanston, Ill.\nWhen the No. 6 Hoosiers travel to Northwestern, they will find a Wildcat team hungry for a win. The Wildcats have yet to win a game this year and have never beaten the Hoosiers, who have outscored them 87-6 in their 17 meetings. Northwestern returns only six starters from last year's squad.\n"It's the kind of game that we should win," coach Jerry Yeagley said. "But we have to be careful because as long as they can keep us off the score board they have a chance. Hopefully our offensive production will continue."\nThe Hoosiers have been very successful against Wisconsin in the past as well. They have not lost a game to the Badgers since 1995, holding a 23-3-3 overall record against them. \nLast season, at Bill Armstrong Stadium, the Hoosiers defeated Wisconsin 3-1. But junior forward Pat Noonan said that past dominance should not give the Hoosiers a false sense of security.\n"It's a Big Ten game and it's going to be a battle," Noonan said. "If we let down our guard and don't come out with some intensity, it's going to bite us." \nA Wisconsin player who may pose a threat for the Hoosiers is senior forward Nick DaPra. He leads the Big Ten in scoring with 11 goals and will go head to head with Noonan and Mike Ambersley, the Hoosiers main offensive weapons.\n "(DaPra) can beat a team by himself," Yeagley said. "He's a senior, he's strong, he's fast, he has very good moves, and he can shoot with either foot at any time. He's as good a forward as we'll face in the conference all year."\n The Badgers squad is laden with upperclassmen, which is in sharp contrast with IU's, which currently has two true freshman and a red shirt freshman in the starting lineup. Ambersley, who is coming off an impressive hat trick performance against Michigan last weekend, may be a source of offense again this weekend. \n "I can't be worried about (scoring)," Ambersley said. "I'll try to get my teammates involved as much as I can...if we win, that's all that matters."\nNed Grabavoy, who along with Amberlsey is part of IU's highly touted freshmen class, has been out all season with a broken foot. After participating in two team scrimmages this week, Yeagley has decided he's ready to play. \n"He's far from 100 percent but he still can do some things that very few players can do," Yeagley said. "His mobility right now in terms of covering the ground and movement off the ball is what's holding him back. When he has the ball good things happen." \nAlthough Grabavoy won't start, Yeagley said he will see minutes at the forward and possibly the midfield position. Sophomore back David Prall will also see his first minutes of the 2001 season this weekend. He was a vocal part of last year's defense and led all backs in scoring with three goals and six points.\nIU's defense has been solid this year, posting five shutouts. The defense will look to continue its success this weekend. Senior back Josh Rife said shutouts are not just a credit to the defense, but aggressive play by the offense as well. \n"(Shutouts are) not really our main focus," Rife said. "It's a nice product of good work, but it doesn't just start with us in the back. It starts all the way up top with guys like Pat (Noonan) and Mike Ambersley...it's a collective effort."\nYeagley said although the Hoosiers may appear superior on paper, they can't take Wisconsin or Northwestern for granted. \n"Going on the road for two conference games, anything can happen," Yeagley said.
(10/08/01 6:08am)
On a cold day in Ann Arbor, Mich., freshman forward Mike Ambersley was red hot. He became the first IU player to post a hat trick this season, tallying all three of the Hoosiers (7-2-0, 3-0 Big Ten) goals in their shut out of the Michigan Wolverines.\nThe last time a hat trick was achieved by a Hoosier was last season against the Wolverines by Matt Fundenberger, who has since graduated.\nThe Hoosiers shot conservatively, but were effective when they went at the goal. The game began with Michigan displaying their offense. The Wolverines got off a few unsuccessful shots before the Hoosiers took control. \nJunior forward Pat Noonan initiated the Hoosier's first offensive attack when he sent the ball down the left side of the field to redshirt freshman Josh Reiher. Reiher fed the ball to Ambersley, who knocked it into the lower left corner of the Michigan net for his first goal at the 10:22 mark.\n"The first goal was all my teammates," Ambersley said. "Josh made a great run and gave me the chance to put the ball in the net."\nAt the 20:36 mark, Ambersley would get his second score on his second shot. Ambersley rebounded the ball off of a blocked shot and sent it right back at Joe Zawacki, the Michigan keeper, who could not make the save. \nThe Hoosiers came out in the second half and continued to dominate the game on both sides of the ball. Behind strong defense from IU's backs, the offense (and Ambersley) was able to come through with their third and final goal. \nThe Wolverines took the second-half kickoff and pushed into the Hoosier box, looking for their first score. The ball was intercepted by senior midfeilder Tyler Hawley, however, who pushed it back towards Michigan territory. As Hawley took the ball over the midfield line, he passed the ball up to Ambersley who blasted it past a diving Zawacki to complete the hat trick.\nIU's defense played strong throughout the game as well, holding the Wolverines at bay. Senior Colin Rogers contributed another solid performance at the goalie position for the Hoosiers. He grabbed four saves on the game. Redshirt freshman Jay Nolly also saw some action at keeper for the Hoosiers, tallying one save.\nHead coach Jerry Yeagley said he was glad to see Ambersley contribute a solid offensive game.\n"It is good to see our young players stepping up and creating opportunities," Yeagley said. "(Mike) Ambersley did a nice job taking pressure off (Noonan). It was encouraging to see players other than Noonan scoring goals."\nNoonan and Ambersley have combined for 12 of the Hoosiers 19 goals.
(09/27/01 4:44am)
Junior forward Pat Noonan is a top candidate for the Hermann Trophy, which is awarded to collegiate soccer's National Player of the Year at the end of each season. \n"He's a proven player after two years," head coach Jerry Yeagley said. "But with (senior midfielder Ryan) Mack and (freshman forward) Ned Grabavoy out, I think he was pressing a little bit (at the beginning of the season). Now he's playing his game. He has a special ability to change the game by himself." \nNoonan was named Big Ten Player of the Week for the second consecutive week, he also received the Fox 59 College Athlete of the Week.\nLast Thursday against Louisville, Noonan tallied two goals in a 4-0 shutout by the Hoosiers. It was his second career double-goal game, the first coming last season against Northwestern. \nThree days later, in IU's Big Ten opener against Michigan State, he netted another goal and was credited with an assist in the 3-0 victory over the Spartans. His offensive accuracy was on display in the two games, as he scored on 50 percent of his shot attempts. \nHe received his first player of the week award when he scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the No.2 Washington Huskies September 8th. \nThus far in the season, he has chalked up 10 points on four goals and two assists. The No.6 Hoosiers will look for him to continue this productivity as they head into Friday's Big Ten showdown with No.8 Penn State. \nDespite his personal achievements, Noonan deflects any individual attention.\n"It's not something that's that important," Noonan said. "Obviously I couldn't get it done without the guys up top. I give (Mike) Ambersley a lot of credit. He's a big reason why I got (Big Ten Player of the Week) two weeks in a row."\nAmbersley, a freshman forward on the Hoosiers, knows Noonan well. The two grew up in Ballwin, Mo., where they played together at DeSmitt Jesuit High School. Their familiarity with each other on the field is evident in the statistics. Ambersley has assisted Noonan on two of his four goals.\nYeagley said he is beginning to see results on the college level from the high school teammates.\n"They had an understanding to begin with in high school, and now they're building on that," he said.\nAs IU's young team featuring three freshmen starters has gelled, Noonan's offense has come to life. In three of the Hoosiers past four games, Noonan has scored at least one goal. \nJunior midfielder Phil Presser said as long as the team continues to play well, Noonan will get plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills. He explained that the achievements of the team will most likely reciprocate any personal achievements awarded to Noonan.\n"As long as our team plays well, the higher chance he has of getting (the Hermann Trophy)," Presser said. "If we play poorly this season then he won't have a possibility of getting it. But if we keep playing the way we have in the past couple of years and like we're starting to play now then there's a better chance he'll get it"
(09/20/01 4:50am)
This week, as America has attempted to return to some semblemce of normal routine, athletes have returned to the playing fields. The men's soccer team will resume their schedule Thursday as they head to the University of Louisville. \nHead Coach Jerry Yeagley said the fact that many people are trying to get on with their lives, in spite of last week's tragedy, makes an important statement. \n"We want to show the world that we can go about our business," Yeagley said. "People are getting back to work on Wall Street and other businesses and it's no different here."\nJunior forward Pat Noonan agreed.\n"I don't think (last week) was a time to worry about sports," Noonan said. "Now (the games) have got to resume, but (the tragedy) is still in the back of everyone's mind."\nThe Hoosier's, who are ranked No.9 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, will be back in action tonight. They face an unranked Louisville squad at Cardinal Stadium at 7:30 p.m. \nSenior goalie Colin Rogers said the team is anxious to get back on the field.\n"We are ready and excited to play," Rogers said. "We have been playing ourselves (in scrimmages) for about two weeks now, so we are more than ready to get back on the field for a new challenge." \nIU will have a Big Ten Player of the Week on both sides of the ball to help them face that challlenge. Rogers was honored as co-Defensive Player of the Week. He received the award after posting a shutout against No.2 University of Washington two weekends ago at the Portland Classic. Noonan, who posted one goal and nine shots in Portland, was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. \nThe Hoosiers (2-2-0) have compiled an 8-0 record against the Cardinals over the years, outscoring them a combined 37-3 in those eight meetings. IU shutout Louisville 2-0 last year at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington. The Cardinals have begun the 2001 season with a 1-2 record.\nRogers said despite Louisville's shaky start and history against the Hoosiers, they are not a team to be taken for granted.\n"I haven't personally seen (Louisville) play yet this year but this is always a big game for us." Rogers said. "Louisville is one of our rivals and they are always ready to play us"
(08/31/01 5:22am)
Wednesday night, Pat Noonan was not in the best of moods. \nThe junior is a candidate for the prestigious National Player of the Year award, a result of his work at the forward position for the men's soccer team. \nHe has been praised by coaches and peers alike as an athlete of special talent and ability, a type of player that doesn't come along very often. \nBut these honors were not at the forefront of his mind. What he was thinking about was the fact that his scrimmage team had just lost in the Hoosiers "tune-up" practice in preparation for this weekend's IU Credit Union Classic. \n"The second team won, and the first team players (the starters), whoever it may be at the time, are ticked off when they're walking off the field," Noonan said. "You want to win at all times."\nOn a team that is incredibly focused and competitive, Noonan doesn't have much time to think about himself. \nAlthough he is one of the most highly regarded players in the country, he disregards personal praise and shifts any conversation about his personal achievements back to the team concept. \nHe hates to lose. He knows that in order to win, he needs his team. He said he wants the national championship a great deal more than the Hermann trophy, which is awarded to the national player of the year at the end of the season.\n"(Being a candidate for national player of the year) is a great honor, but at the same time, I just have to go out and do the same thing I've been doing every other day," Noonan said. "I think that with the players I have behind me this year, we've got a good cast out there and if I'm double-teamed at any time, whatever happens, I know these guys can step up and finish it off."\nHead coach Jerry Yeagley said he agrees with that philosophy. He is anticipating those double teams to come at Noonan often. He said he realizes that for Noonan to be successful and do well, the other Hoosiers on the field will also need to contribute.\n"He can't carry the load himself," Yeagley said. "To make him effective, we have to have other players step up…to keep the defenses honest so Patty can do what he needs to do for us. It's just as much his teammates as it is him as to how effective he's going to be."\nYeagley said that this year, things will be tougher for Noonan than they have been in the past. \nLast year, talented and experienced midfielders Matt Funderberger and Ryan Mack were able to provide him with some protection from stifling defenses. Funderberger has since graduated and Mack, a senior this year, went down with a torn ACL over the summer that will most likely force him to red-shirt this season. Noonan is now surrounded by freshmen with talent, but who are nonetheless newcomers.\nNoonan said he has tried to make the incoming freshman as comfortable as possible in a system that is new to them. He said he has been impressed by their confidence up to this point.\n"I think so far they have shown that they're not afraid to take defenders on…and that's what we need, we can't have them coming out here timid," Noonan said.\nMidfielder Danny O'Rourke is a freshman who will most likely see a lot of playing time alongside Noonan. He said Noonan has helped to instill that all important confidence.\n"I knew about him before I came (to IU's program)." O'Rourke said. "I always knew he was a great player. I saw him on my recruiting visit and I was extremely impressed. \n"He's a great guy. He doesn't treat us like freshmen, he treats us like we're part of the team. Just being able to play with him is great out there."\nThis weekend marks the beginning of what the Hoosiers hope will be a long and successful season for the Hoosiers. Senior goalie Colin Rogers said as a fellow leader, he is looking to Noonan to help the Hoosiers achieve the goal they set for themselves every year: bringing another national championship to Bloomington.\n"We both have the same goal, as the whole team has the goal, to win the national championship," Rogers said. "We know that Pat's going to be our main offensive tack up there, so we're looking for him to lead us offensively and hopefully win the national championship again"
(08/27/01 6:04am)
The men's soccer team found itself deadlocked in two exhibition games last weekend at IU-Purdue University at Fort Wayne's Soccer Showcase.\nThe Hoosiers matched up with No. 17 University of South Carolina on Friday. The first of four yellow cards was handed out 14 minutes into the game, setting the tone for the match. The teams combined for a mere eight shots and both were held scoreless for all 90 minutes. \nSenior midfielder Bobby de St Aubin took the Hoosiers' first shot. It bounced off the crossbar and set the tone for what would be a game-long offensive drought for IU. Later, de St. Aubin would record one more shot. Junior forward Pat Noonan made two failed attempts as well and freshman Cliff Ellsworth took the last of the five shots. Although the Hoosiers' offense left something to be desired, coach Jerry Yeagley was encouraged by what he saw.\n"Defensivley both teams played very well," Yeagley said. "South Carolina is a very experienced team; they return most of their team from last year. We're trying a lot of new things. We had four freshmen in the game. (Freshmen) Danny O'Rourke and J.D. Johnston did a great job in the midfield and out wide. We need to keep on finding ways to score because offensively we struggled a bit." \nIU's second game of the weekend put them against the No. 19 University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers on Saturday. Once again IU played an even match with their opponent ending in a 3-3 tie.\nThe Hoosiers finally found their offense in the game thanks in large part to the play of their freshmen. Freshman midfielder Mike Ambersley got rolling in the first half with a shot past the Blazers goalkeeper into the opposite corner of the net. The game remained 1-0 until midway through the first half when another new face for the Hoosiers scored. Redshirt freshman Josh Reiher took a shot off a goalkeeper save that richocheted off the far crossbar and into the goal.\n"(The shot) deflected off the (goalkeepers) hip and went in," Reiher said. "In my second game I'll definitely take that."\nIU kept up its agressive offensive play with eight shots in the early period --three more than they had in the entire South Carolina game. One of UAB's three shots in the first period got past senior goalkeeper Colin Rogers on a shot from junior Martin Rey that pulled the Blazers wihin one. With two minutes remaining before the break, yet another freshman came through for the Hoosiers. This time it was redshirt freshman Greg Badger's time to shine as he put the Hoosiers back up by two with a goal off an Indiana corner kick.\nRogers was impressed with what he saw from the teams young talent.\n"It's a big positive for us everytime you get one freshman to step up, let alone three or four to step up and play well right away," Rogers said. "It really helps."\nBoth IU and UAB opted for new goalkeepers in the second half, and they both had some hard work ahead of them. Indiana racked up another seven shots but was unable to capitalize on any of them. UAB goalie Clint Baumstmark posted five saves in the final period. UAB's offense also came alive as the team got off eight shots. IU freshman goalie Jay Nolly posted three saves in the second period. UAB midfielder Jose Rayo sent a shot past Nolly at the 74-minute mark to bring the Blazers within a goal. Both teams showed signs of fatigue as the game wore on. With less than 10 minutes to go in the game, UAB junior Bubba Garcia deflected a shot off a Hoosier which hit the back of the IU net for the 3-3 tie. Neither team could rally for another score and the game ended in another draw for the Hoosiers.\nRogers said fatigue was a factor against UAB after a physically challenging contest against South Carolina.\n"Defensively we weren't as sharp as we were Friday," Rogers said. "We were mentally and physically fatigued from playing such a hard game Friday night. We'll have to have good hard training sessions this week to prepare for next weekend's games."\nNext weekend marks the beginning of the regular season for IU as they play St. Johns and Kentucky in the IU Credit Union Classic in Bloomington.
(08/24/01 4:27am)
Not many programs in college sports are as successful as IU men's soccer. Head coach Jerry Yeagley has taken the Hoosiers to the College Cup 14 times in 28 seasons and has led them to five national championships. They consistently rank in the top five in the country and have produced some of the most talented athletes in the sport. \nSenior goalkeeper Colin Rogers said the team takes the winning tradition very seriously.\n"Being a part of IU soccer is a great honor and great responsibility. I feel that everyone that plays here has deep respect for people who made the program what it is," Rogers said. "We all came here to contend for a national championship each year and set that as our goal each year." \nThis season looks to be one that will carry on that long streak of success, but many challenges will be found along the way. The No. 4 Hoosiers will step onto the field this weekend to face the first of those challenges as they travel to IUPUI-Ft. Wayne to play a pair of exhibition games in a weekend event that will be full of elite teams. But because they are exhibition games, none of the statistics or results will count toward the regular season. \n"These exhibition games are always a good opportunity to continue making changes and sorting out the mix of returning players and newcomers," Yeagley said. "We will face some good competition as each of these teams finished in the top 25 last year."\nFriday night, the Hoosiers will battle No. 17 South Carolina. The series between the two teams has been evenly matched during the years. IU has posted a 3-3-2 record against them. Saturday's game will be no easier as they face No. 19 University of Alabama-Birmingham. The Hoosiers have faced UAB only once before, in 1996. The teams scrapped to a 1-1 tie. \nThese games would be tough for any team, especially as a prelude to a highly competitive regular season, but the Hoosiers said they feel prepared for the challenge. Junior forward and National Player of the Year candidate Pat Noonan described the team's confidence.\n"This team has shown great potential thus far in two-a-day (practices)," Noonan said. "Without three key players in the lineup, we still have shown that we will be a top team in the nation throughout the year."\nThe three missing players will be a bit of a problem. During a ball handling demonstration at IU's annual youth summer camp in Bloomington, the Hoosiers' top returning senior midfielder Ryan Mack went down with a torn ACL and is questionable for the season. \nWhile participating in IU's first day of practice, highly touted freshman recruit Ned Grabavoy broke three bones in his foot and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks of action. Sophomore defender David Prall also suffered a broken foot. He had successful surgery last week and the Hoosiers hope to see him back in 4-6 weeks as well.\nDespite these setbacks, Senior back Josh Rife said he feels the team still has plenty of talent and depth.\n"I have seen a lot of positive things throughout the pre-season so far," Rife said. "I think that the team this year has a very solid starting 11, but, just as important, a strong group of players off the bench. I think that as the year goes on, the depth of the team will be a big asset"
(05/07/01 1:55am)
The 2000-2001 season was one of high expectations for the women's swimming and diving team. And those expectations were met and exceeded, said team members.\nThe Hoosiers' tough regular season schedule had a lot of competition, with the Big Ten Conference boasting six nationally ranked teams, including IU. The Hoosiers matched up well with their opponents, going 7-1, 4-1 in the Big Ten. \nOne aspect of the successful season coach Dorsey Tierney said was the unity of the team. She said swimming is a sport where much of the emphasis falls upon personal accomplishments and to have a team without egos was something that gave her swimmers an edge. \n"Our entire team places a tremendous amount of emphasis on the relay events," Tierney said. "We are fortunate to have a group of individuals who are focused on the same goal, winning as a team."\nTierney's efforts to instill this mentality into the team during the season did not go unheralded. At the Big Ten Championships, which were held at IU's Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center in February, Tierney was honored as the Big Ten coach of the year. \nShe said she was happy to have received the award in such a highly competitive conference.\n"It's always a great honor," Tierney said. "We have such a good conference all around. It's hard to single out one person, but I'm very honored to be that person."\nThe award capped off a successful championship meet for the Hoosiers. The team broke 36 personal records and 16 school records en route to a third-place finish. The meet was highlighted by senior Jenn Cristy's consistent performances in the sprint events. \nDuring the second day of competition, she broke her own 50-yard freestyle school record three times and won the event. She also claimed the championship in the 100-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle relay.\nSophomore sprinter Anne Williams, a member of the Big Ten Champion 200-yard freestyle relay, had nothing but praise for her teammate.\n"Jenn is like no competitor I've ever met," Williams said. "When she get the fire inside of her, there is absolutely no stopping her." \nThe Hoosiers continued their momentum as they traveled to Long Island, N.Y., for the NCAA championships. They were ranked 16th in the country going into the meet. Another slew of impressive performances by the Hoosiers earned them 13th place at the meet, their best finish since placing 12th in 1981. \nTierney said she sensed something special about the team from the beginning.\n"This year we had a group of leaders," Tierney said. "From the first day of practice, I knew we had a highly motivated group. They're all on the same page. If one is down, they will go and pick them up. Our captains did a great job of motivating the team."\nCristy credits Tierney to much of her success in and out of the pool.\n"She has never given up on me and always has done everything she could to take me to the top," Cristy said. \nAlthough the season is over, the swimmers who will be returning next year are still practicing hard. Backstroker Susan Woessner, who holds the record for the 100-yard and 200-yard backstrokes, will be swimming the 100-meter backstroke at the World University Games in Beijing. \nBut Cristy, who will be graduating this summer, is headed down a new path. \nWhile performing the National Anthem at an IU basketball game, she caught the eye of a spectator. That spectator was singer John Mellencamp. He was impressed with her voice and immediately added her to his group. \nCristy is working with him on his upcoming album and has a solo on the first single from the album. She will showcase her musical talents by playing the conga and bongo drums, piano, keyboards, organ and will sing back-up vocals during his upcoming tour.
(02/22/01 5:15am)
The men's swimming and diving team has experienced some inconsistencies this year. This weekend it will face its biggest test -- the Big Ten Championships at the University of Minnesota. There, the team hopes to redeem this season's disappointments in a good showing in the conference's most important meet.\nThe meet starts at 11 a.m. today and runs through Saturday night. \nCoach Kris Kirchner said individuals have had good showings all season, but the Hoosiers (3-5) have had a difficult time combining those efforts into one solid performance.\n"We've had a season that if you put everything together all at once could be a great season," Kirchner said. "No matter what sport you're playing you're always trying to put it together. We haven't done that yet."\nSenior backstroker Will Bernhardt said the shortcomings of the season don't matter now.\n"As the season went by this year, we were always focused on (the Big Ten Championships)," Bernhardt said. "We might not have won that many meets this year, but that wasn't our focus. The Big Ten meet is the most important meet of the year for us."\nThe Hoosiers said they are in a competitive mindset. During the past few weeks, Kirchner has implemented the taper, a method of training is usually used just before the season's biggest meet. The practices become considerably less intense, allowing the swimmers to rest and store their energy. \nSenior freestyle sprinter Don Gold said he expects this to improve the team's output. Gold was sleeping in his hotel room at 6 p.m. the night before the championships began.\n"A lot of it comes down to the last meet of the year, and you don't see your best results until after taper," Gold said. \nKirchner has encouraged an element of competitiveness among teammates in practice. Thus, he has created a constant racing atmosphere, Gold said.\n"We've always been a team that has raced each other in practice," Gold said. "So when we're in a meet, (racing) is nothing new to is. We practice as hard or harder than anyone in the Big Ten. We've put a lot of hard work in all season."\nThe Hoosiers will be looking for that hard work to pay off this weekend. They will face the immense talent that exists in the Big Ten, one of the most storied and successful swimming conferences in the country.\nOf the 11 teams in the Big Ten, five are ranked, three in the top 20. The favorite to claim the Big Ten title this year is defending champion, No. 9 Michigan. The Wolverines are a perennial powerhouse. They will be on the hunt for their 31st title when the guns sound this morning. \nThe Hoosiers will represent a rich tradition, as well. They won 23 consecutive Big Ten titles in an improbable run that began in 1961. But they have not claimed the title since 1985.\nKirchner said the team has the potential to do well this weekend and has set goals for the team he said are reachable.\n"I would like to come out of here with everyone swimming fast, at their best and scoring in every event," Kirchner said. "In order to do that they'll have to swim fast. They have swum really well at times … the three days in Minnesota is where we put it all together"
(02/19/01 6:54pm)
Jenn Cristy called it. The senior said she was going to block out the Olympic and All-American caliber athletes surrounding her. She did. \nShe said she was going to swim the best she ever has this weekend. She was off to a good start Thursday night.\n"I know I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be like, 'Wait, it's Thursday, I have to do the 50,' because I feel like I'm dreaming right now." Cristy said.\nThursday morning in her preliminary heat of the 50-yard freestyle, Cristy broke her own school record with a time of 22.54 seconds. That was just the beginning. \nThe night's finals began with the 200 freestyle relay. Cristy led off for the Hoosiers. In doing so, she was in the position to break her record once again. According to NCAA rules, the first leg of any relay can count as a personal time as well. \nOnce again Cristy came through, breaking her record for the second time in a day by .9 seconds. IU's team of Cristy, sophomores Anne Williams and Sarah Bowman and junior Susan Woessner shocked the top-seeded Wolverines from the outside lane to claim the top spot with a school record time of 1 minute, 31.07 seconds. Afterwards, the air in Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center was filled with amplified cheers of approval from the crowd.\n"I'm ecstatic," Cristy said. "I'm with the best sprint group (Williams, Bowman, Woessner) in the country by my terms. I love my relay."\nCristy would take this incredible momentum into the finals of the 50-yard freestyle. Her name was announced to the approval of the many fans in the stands. She smiled and waved to the crowd in a gesture that communicated the laid back yet focused demeanor she has been so intent on having this weekend. \nIt was especially important for Cristy to block out the other talent around her in this particular event. She had Wolverines stalking for the kill on either side of her. On one side was Olympic gold medalist Samantha Arsenault, on the other side was the favorite coming into Thursday's competition, long-time rival Jennifer Crisman. Everyone else noticed this, but Cristy didn't seem to.\nShe stepped onto the starting block and the crowd went silent. As the horn sounded to signify the start of the race, the entire Natatorium erupted. On the first and only flip turn, Cristy had a slight lead on both Arsenault and Crisman. As they sprinted back for the finish, Cristy gained ground and hit the wall first. \nHer time registered on the scoreboard and the mayhem ensued. She had done it once again. For the third time in one magical day, she had broken her school record and done much more. She ensured an automatic bid to swim in the NCAA championships in March and now has the best time in the country thus far. When asked what her goals were for this meet, she said it is too far off to think about.\n"I'm taking this one step at a time," she said.\nWilliams, who swam in the consolation heat of the 50-yard freestyle, broke her personal best time by a tenth of a second and has a chance for the NCAAs. Depending on whether or not the 200 free relay is called to the championship meet, she might be swimming the 50 free there as well. Williams said the momentum they gained from prelims Thursday morning and the 200 free relay helped her focus on the 50 freestyle.\n"I was totally pumped after that relay," said Williams, "and it just carried over to my 50."\nOn Cristy's final race, Williams had nothing but praise.\n"It's her last meet and she is determined to go out with style," Williams said, "It doesn't matter what she's done or anybody else has done. She is completely zoned in."\nCoach Dorsey Tierney said one key to Cristy's success was forgetting about everything and concentrating at the task at hand.\n"She's had her ups and downs and she's managed to pull through all that," Tierney said. "Because of that, she's just stronger. Nothing gets to her anymore really. She has managed to get in her own little zone and focus on herself."\nThis has been tough for Cristy to do in the past, but it wasn't Thursday as she picked up two Big Ten Championships.\n"I've always had a problem with (worrying about the competition)," Cristy said. "But now I've got nothing to lose. Being in here, in my pool, this is the way to go out. That was my plan -- to go out with a bang. I told Dorsey all year, wait for Big Tens"
(02/19/01 5:55am)
When the Hoosiers stepped onto the pool deck of Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center for the first day of competition in the Big Ten Championships Thursday, they weren't sure what to expect.\nThey knew they had the ability and drive to do well. In one of the strongest swimming conferences in the nation, it was difficult to predict any definite outcome, but IU was determined to swim to its fullest potential.\nBy Saturday, the Hoosiers had met and exceeded their expectations, breaking 36 personal records and 16 school records. Senior Jenn Cristy claimed first place in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles in the last Big Ten meet of her career, breaking school records in both races. Cristy was named Swimmer of the Big Ten Championships. The 200 yard freestyle relay of Cristy, sophomores Anne Williams and Sarah Bowman and junior Susan Woessner also claimed the top spot at the meet. \nThe Hoosiers finished in third place overall with 460.50 points, behind champion Michigan and runner-up Penn State. \nCoach Dorsey Tierney, who had set the goal of scoring 450 points before the meet began, credited the team's cohesiveness and leadership to the weekend's success.\n"This year we had a group of leaders," Tierney said. "From the first day of practice, I knew we had a highly motivated group. They are all on the same page. If one is down, they will go and pick them up. Our captains do a great job of motivating the team."\nAt the end of the meet Saturday night, Tierney received Big Ten Coach of the Year honors to the loud approval of her team and fans in the stands. She said she was happy to have received the award in such a tough and highly competitive conference.\n"It's always a great honor," Tierney said. "We have such a good conference all around. I thought this was a great meet. I thought every single team stepped up and did a great job. It's hard to single out one person, and I'm very honored to be that person."\nTierney also credited her assistant coach, Greg Earhart, for helping her develop the team.\nSophomore Megan Geers said she was impressed by IU's performance.\n"I think everyone has been swimming to the best of their ability," Geers said.\nIn a conference in which six teams were ranked going into the meet, IU was considered somewhat of a dark horse. Cristy said the fact that no one was sure of what her team would be able to accomplish at the meet motivated them to prove they were capable of success.\n"(The team) is amazing. I have no other word for us," Cristy said. "We're surprising everybody, breaking every single record. We're pretty excited"
(02/19/01 5:45am)
Indiana distance swimmer Sarah Fiden wasn't quite sure what to expect coming into this season's Big Ten Championships. She decided to try for finishing in the top three in the 500-yard freestyle and the mile -- pretty lofty goals, especially for a freshman.\nFriday and Saturday, she was able to accomplish those goals. She placed third in the 500 and second in the mile. Not only did she place well in the meet, she broke two school records that were 20 years old. The records Fiden snapped were previously owned by IU Hall of Fame swimmer Jennifer Hooker, who was at the meet and was glad to see her old records go.\n"It's about time," Hooker said of her records. "They were up there way too long."\nFiden said she was satisfied with her performances, but is aiming higher.\n"I don't think I could have expected anything better; first place would have been nice, but you can't get everything in the world," Fiden said. "It's a great place to start. I only can move up in the next three years."\nFiden came from Kettering, Ohio, to swim for the Hoosiers. She considered Ohio State and a few other programs before committing to IU. Fiden swam with junior backstroker Susan Woessner -- another Ohio native -- on her YMCA club team. Having a close friend like Woessner already swimming in Bloomington influenced her decision, she said. Fiden also said she was drawn to the close team atmosphere and motivated coaching staff.\nFiden directly attributes her choice to swim for IU to her success and improvement during the course of this season.\n"My training has been so much more intense," Fiden said. "It's been proven in the pool that what I'm doing (in training) is working."\nCoach Dorsey Tierney praised Fiden's performance in the Big Ten meet.\n"Boy, she's a gutsy kid," Tierney said. "I think Sarah trained outstanding this year, but she also endured some training that she had never experienced before. She learned a lot this weekend, and she was not afraid to step up and put it out there." \nFiden earned provisional cuts for the NCAA Championships in both the 500 and the mile and is now looking forward to competing in that meet next month.\n"Our main focus was Big Tens all year," Fiden said. "Now I have to refocus, think about NCAAs, and see what happens. It's kind of an honor."\nAs far as long term goals go, Fiden said that the 2004 Olympics is the level of competition that she would ultimately like to experience. She will be working toward this accomplishment during the next three years. Until then, she has quite a bit of Big Ten competition to look forward to.\n"Once she (Fiden) comes into her own and learns different types of racing strategies and becomes more confident at this level, she's just going to take off," Tierney said. "I'm so proud of her and the way she (performed), but it's not a total surprise"
(02/15/01 6:14am)
The time has come. \nAfter a year of training and constant preparation for 11 teams, the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships begins today at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center in the Student Recreational Sports Center. \nThe Hoosiers have had this weekend in mind all season, and now it is finally here, coach Dorsey Tierney said. \nThe first round of preliminaries will begin 11 a.m. today and run through Saturday night. \nAfter two years at IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis, the conference clash returns to Bloomington. The last time IU played host to the meet was 1998. Senior All-American Jenn Cristy was a freshman that year and said she remembers the energy and excitement in the air as nothing short of electric. Cristy tied for first at the 1998 Big Ten Championships in the 50-yard freestyle.\n"I remember all of the parents (of swimmers) fighting for seats," Cristy said. "There's not enough room up there, so it was standing room only, if that. It's amazing how many people were here. It was so loud and so intense. I love that meet atmosphere."\nThe fact that a majority of the cheering section will be wearing cream and crimson will provide the Hoosiers with helpful momentum, Cristy said. \nThis season's Big Ten Conference is one filled with depth and competition -- all culminating at this weekend's meet, Tierney said. Of the 11 teams participating in the meet, six are ranked among the nation's top 25, including IU, who sits at No. 21. \nOther ranked teams include Wisconsin (No. 13), Penn State (No. 14), Michigan (No. 16), Northwestern (No. 18) and the two-time defending Big Ten Champions, Minnesota (No. 19).\nIU has faced two of these teams, Northwestern and Penn State, and went 1-1 in dual competition. IU upset Northwestern but fell to the Lady Lions in the final dual meet of the season. It was the Hoosiers' only loss. \nThe amount of talent supporting each of the 11 teams could make the three-day competition wait until late Saturday night to crown a champion, Tierney said.\nThe relays might be the deciding factor in such a close competition. These events are worth the most points and will give the teams an opportunity to pool their individual standouts in a group effort that stresses team output.\nTierney has been stressing team unity by trying to limit any outside distractions that could compromise the focus on the meet. Aside from the team concept, she said she is encouraging her swimmers to think about their own personal approach.\n"We're talking more about strategy as opposed to winning or losing, just focusing on themselves and their own strategy in racing and trying to keep any outside influences away from them," Tierney said.\nSophomore Coleen McCracken said Tierney has been helping to calm the nerves of any anxious swimmers.\n"If you're getting antsy about the meet, you can talk to her and she'll relax you," McCracken said. "She's really good about keeping us calm and not getting us too excited about the meet, because getting too excited right now is kind of shooting yourself in the foot."\nThis idea of remaining relaxed yet focused and confident is important, Tierney said. As the first swimmers spring off the starting block today, all of the energy built up during the year will be released in the Hoosiers' wake, as they swim for a conference title.\n"It's going to be so awesome," McCracken said. "I don't want to jinx anything, but I can't wait. It's going to be special"
(02/15/01 6:04am)
Senior Jenn Cristy, IU's most-decorated swimmer, will start her last Big Ten Championship today with the 50-yard freestyle.\nBut Cristy, an All-American, has decided to use a different method in preparing for this meet. \nShe doesn't want to think about the wealth of talent swimming beside her. She's ignoring the Olympians and All-Americans with whom she'll be traversing the 25-yard pool. Instead, she'll focus on how fast she can go when competition begins today at the Counsilman Billingsley Aquatic Center.\nThe meet runs through Saturday night.\nDuring the past three years, Cristy found herself gazing around the starting blocks, sizing up the conference's elite beside her. Now, in her final Big Ten meet, it's time to forget about them.\n"This will be the first year that I focus on myself," Cristy said. "I know (other talented swimmers) are there, but instead of worrying about them I'm determined to come into the meet with blinders."\nFor Cristy, blinders wasn't a cliche -- she meant it.\nCoach Dorsey Tierney and Cristy discussed painting the sides of her goggles so she couldn't see past her lane while racing. The two decided against it because the fumes were nauseating, Cristy said.\nBut ignoring the overwhelming talent of the nation's top swimming conference might prove to be a whole challenge in itself. Michigan is especially strong in the sprints, Cristy's forte. Among the talented Wolverines, Cristy will square-off against perennial rival Jennifer Crisman. The likeness between the two doesn't end with their similar names. \nThey first swam against each other as underclassmen in high school at the Junior Nationals Meet, in which Crisman edged out Cristy by one place. In college head-to-head match-ups, Cristy has had Crisman's number consistently, but going into this weekend's all-important meet, Crisman has the advantage in the 50-yard freestyle by .3 seconds.\nCristy doesn't mind being the underdog. \n"I enjoy being the chaser much more that being the chasee," Cristy said. \nAnother talented Wolverine sprinter will be prowling the pool deck this weekend. Freshman Samantha Arsenault, is swimming in her first Big Ten Championship. Although she is new to the pressure of the Big Ten conference, the Hoosiers know not to be fooled by her collegiate inexperience. \nArsenault has competed in the world's biggest swim meet -- and won. She is fresh off a gold-medal performance at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games in the 800-yard freestyle relay. \nCristy and Arsenault are right with each other in the 100-yard freestyle. Arsenault's best time thus far is 50.71 seconds, Cristy's top effort is 50.88. Although the order of swimmers in the relays is yet to be determined, it is a safe bet that Cristy and Arsenault will meet in the 800-yard freestyle relay as well. Cristy will most likely lead off the relay because she has set the goal of breaking her old 200-yard freestyle record. According to NCAA rules, only the first leg of a relay can count as an individual time.\nCristy said she saw Arsenault swim in the Olympics this summer, but it didn't make too much of an impression.\n"I saw her in the Olympics, but I didn't think twice about it," she said. "That's what my problem is, I get worried about people. Right now, I'm gung-ho. This is my last meet here, and it's going to be everything or nothing."\nCristy is already an accomplished swimmer: three-time All-American; three-time All-Big Ten; three-time NCAA qualifier; school record holder in nine different events and 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier. But she is confident she can add a couple more notches to her portfolio. Tierney agrees.\n"This could be (Cristy's) most rewarding year as a collegiate swimmer," Tierney said. "She has had to endure many inconsistencies and uncertainties related to being a senior with which she is unaccustomed."\nSophomore sprinter Anne Williams, who will also be competing against Michigan's talented sprinter corps, echoed Tierney's confidence in IU's top swimmer.\n"Jenn is like no competitor I've ever met," Williams said. "When she gets the fire inside of her, there is absolutely no stopping her"
(02/12/01 5:51am)
There's a different pace at the Counsilman and Billingsley Aquatic Center this time of the year.\nThe women's swimming team has moved into the final phase of its training for the season, a more relaxed series of practices know as the "taper."\nThe physically draining practices that challenge the team throughout the entire season began to wind down a couple of weeks ago, progressively becoming less intense as the the Big Ten Women's Swimming and Diving Championships nears. The tournament will be at IU Feb. 15-17.\nThe taper method is used by many coaches and is valued by swimmers as a time to rest and store up their valuable energy as well as focus on their upcoming events. They use this time to concentrate on their technique and the small details that can make or break a race, like starts and turns -- areas in which there is little room for error. \nSophomore backstroker and butterflyer Colleen McCracken said the taper helps the team focus more on these details.\n"When you get tired, you have the tendency to go back to your old habits," she said, referring to the more difficult workouts the team goes through earlier in the season.\n"Repetition is key in swimming. Once you start feeling those starts and turns and you get into the taper, and your body's not tired, you can do them much quicker than you could before."\nIn a sport where a race can be decided in one-hundredth of a second, these small aspects can make a huge difference and can determine the winner.\nCoach Dorsey Tierney said the intense training is over now. She has cut the workload down to about one-third of what the team is used to.\n"Conditioning work is over; we don't need to worry about that," Tierney said. "But sometimes through that conditioning, you become a little tired, little things tend to slide a bit. So when you get to this point in the season, it's important to be really sharp."\nAside from physical sharpness, it is also important for the team to be mentally prepared. Tierney is encouraging the team to stay inside its "bubble." She is trying to limit the amount of outside distractions to maintain a common goal and focus for this weekend's meet. \nOne method she will use is having the team stay at the hotel in the Indiana Memorial Union for the entire weekend. Tierney said staying there will create a "championship atmosphere" in which everyone's mind will be on the task at hand.\nSenior Jenn Cristy said it's important for each swimmer to have her own focus on her personal events as well. She said she plans to watch tapes of her races at last years Big Ten Championship meet and visualizing her races to mentally prepare. She said although practices are easier now, the anticipation of this huge meet is on everyone's mind.\n"We're just trying to get into racing mode," Cristy explained. "There's a more competitive feel now. They're fun, less-intense practices, but when it comes to racing we're all serious"
(02/06/01 5:39am)
Some athletes begin swimming when they are young, competing and improving as they grow. Through years of hard work and practice, some become good and some become great. Others have natural talent and athletic ability that goes untapped until it explodes in a display of broken records and conference honors.\nJunior Susan Woessner is the latter.\nGrowing up, she swam with a summer club and during high school. But she exploded onto the swimming scene when she joined the YMCA club team in her native Ohio.\n"Swimming was always what I liked to do the most, but I didn't really start to improve until I started swimming with the club team," Woessner said.\nWhen she joined the YMCA team, she began a more aggressive practice regime than her high school team offered, helping her improve, she said. Freshman Sarah Fiden was one of Woessner's club teammates in Ohio.\n"Susan's drop in time and success in the pool inspired so many people on our club team," Fiden said. "She is proof that you don't have to swim year-round from age 8, and you can still be strong in college."\nWoessner walked onto IU's swim team her freshman year as a freestyle sprinter, not sure what to expect. She made it her goal to continue to improve and help the team as much as she could. During the team's winter break training camp last season, she found a new event -- the 100-yard backstroke.\n"At the end of the training trip, we had a meet," Woessner said. "You could pick whatever events you wanted, and I chose the 100 back because I swam it a little bit in high school."\nHer first times in this event hovered around one minute. Three months later at the Big Ten Championships, she placed fourth overall, breaking the school record with a time of 55.8 seconds. \nCoach Dorsey Tierney said Woessner's achievements last year have carried over to this season.\n"A little bit of success can go a long way," Tierney said. "Last year, Susan experienced competing and succeeding at a much higher level in swimming. It is a feeling that is addictive.\n"She made a decision to maximize her opportunities in the sport of swimming, and she has maintained a consistent work ethic and dedication throughout."\nThis season, Woessner continues to succeed. At the Purdue dual meet in West Lafayette, she broke her own record in 100 back -- also shattering the Lambert Pool record -- and was named co-Big Ten Swimmer of the Week for the first time. \nShe said the team atmosphere this year has been beneficial to her success.\n"Everyone just trains harder, and I think the level that we train at helps everyone succeed at a high level," Woessner said. "It's a very cohesive unit."\nShe also is an standout student. This semester, she received the Alpha Beta award, given to the individual that has the highest GPA on the team. She said she hopes to continue to improve in swimming and plans to stay in Bloomington to continue her training after graduation next summer. \nShe finished in the top 20 at the Olympic Trials last year and said it would be nice to compete against the nation's best again in the 2004 trials. \nTierney said she only sees Woessner getting better.\n"Susan has the ability to elevate her level of performance to provide the team a needed boost," she said. "She will continue to mature in the sport as she gains and develops racing experience"
(01/30/01 5:14am)
In swimming, first place finishes do not ensure victory. Depth is a very important element of a team's success. The swimmers who finish second through sixth score valuable points that usually dictate the victor at the end of the meet. \nPenn State displayed such depth this weekend beating IU 207-163. The Hoosiers did beat Michigan State in the three-way meet, 251-118.\nThe Hoosiers (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) hung tough with the Lady Lions Friday. \nSenior Jenn Cristy won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.48 seconds, topping her previous season best by one tenth of a second. Cristy also took part in the 400-yard medley relay winning team of Cristy, sophomore Megan Geers, sophomore Tina Gretlund and junior Susan Woessner, capping off the evening with a win. \nAt the beginning of Saturday's competition, IU was trailing Penn State by a mere ten points and was leading Michigan State 74-36.\nThe Hoosiers struggled early Saturday, placing third in the 200-yard medley relay. Gretlund reacted by taking first in the 400 individual medley in 4:26.53, but Penn State's ability to consistently place a number of swimmers in the top six proved too much for IU. \nFollowing Gretlund's win, the Nittany Lions answered with first through fourth place finishes in the 100-yard butterfly. This lopsided race gave Penn State a larger lead margin, making it more difficult for the Hoosiers to catch-up.\nCristy and freshman Sarah Fiden made up some ground when they finished first and third respectively in the 200-yard freestyle. But Penn State again dipped into its talent pool and pulled out another first through fourth place to blow the Hoosiers comeback hopes in the 100-yard breaststroke.\nWoessner came through with big wins in the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes, but Penn State took places three through five in the 100, which supplied them with more of the all important lower place points.\nIU then took second to Penn State in the 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 7:39.83 and the window of opportunity to claim the lead began to shrink. \nCristy again came through with a win in the 100-yard freestyle and sophomore Anne Williams' third place finish in the event gained some ground in the pursuit of the lead. But the Hoosiers only placed one person in the following two events, making a comeback run less probable. \nGretlund swam a season best 2:02.51 in her winning 200-yard butterfly, and the Hoosiers were able to end the meet on a high note with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay. \nBut that victory wasn't enough, and Penn State handed the Hoosiers their first loss of the season.The Hoosiers were victorious against Michigan State, and the confidence on the team is still very high.\n"It was a really good meet," Woessner said. "We wanted a win, but we just didn't have the depth that Penn State did. We put forth a great effort, and I don't think this is going to bring us down."\nGretlund agreed and explained that now the Hoosiers are focusing on the Big Ten Championships.\n"I think we did pretty well (this weekend)," Gretlund said. "We have a really good feeling going into Big Ten's, which has been the focus all season."\nCristy said that although they lost during the weekend she has a lot of faith in the team and what they are capable of doing in the postseason.\n"This is the best team I have ever been on," she said. "It would have been nice to beat Penn State, but that doesn't say anything about what will happen in the Big Ten Championships"