I'm really looking forward to seeing FC Dallas product, Jack Coleman, in a Cream & Crimson jersey. I've watched this kid play quite a bit and I think Hoosier fans will be very happy to have him with us and not against us. http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/socc...hernandez-named-to-developmental-academy-team
Tommy Meyer is a very solid player. Assuming he has another good year, he will definitely be drafted. Big fellow, good on the ball, and a good defender. Just needs to be a bit faster but otherwise is solid all around. Has been starting from day 1.
It will be interesting to see how much playing time he gets. I'm sure you know more about him, but from last year, we really have one, maybe 2 spots open in the back 4. Based on Spring Ball im guessing here is the starting lineup GK Soffner DF: (from left to right) Matt McKain, Tommy Meyer, Caleb Konstanski MF: Estridge, Petts, Corrado, Bushue (DM), Kotlov FW: Purdie, Wylie Definitely could see Joe Tolen into the lineup too, as well as any of the freshman, providing they look good in the summers. And who knows about this guy from Greece they signed...may be a good player off the bench for us. All i know is that there is alot of talent on paper, but we'll see how it transfers to the field.
Aris Zafeiratos will 99% start at IU, he's that good. Seen him live a couple of times and kid is a real difference maker
You can get a sneak peek of Coleman today (7/15) at 1 ET on ESPNU when FC Dallas U-17/18 plays in Academy championship game.
Not sure about GA, but Nick Blevins was selected as a recipient of the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. Impressive for anyone in competing in a varsity program. BRF
Has anyone been to practice or heard any scuttlebutt to now how the team is performing? Posssible lineups?
Will be up in Ft. Wayne tomorrow to watch them play against Duke. That match along with Denver (Mike Freitag is a volunteer Assistant) against Wisconsin (Trask, Presser) before hand ought to provide a quality night of soccer. I wish Oldguy was there to watch it with me.
Branko, your thoughts on last night's game? Report on IU site seems to point to more quality chances being created in first half. Missed PK would be costly if the game counted. Soffner look solid between the posts? BTW, what was Denver v. Wisconsin result?
IU - Duke match was a quality match - for a preseason affair. Very good chances early on for IU that were narrowly missed. Soffner looked his usual self - only had to come up with one save. New kid Souderlund is still a little timid for my liking (and seems small in net). Meyer saved him, heading a ball off the line late. Zavaleta didn't factor in as much as I had heard he was doing in pre-season scrimmages. Duke was the better team from 70 minutes on. The #10 player Wegner was good for player of the match in my opinion. I think everyone in the beer garden knew where Purdie's pk was headed and it was easlily saved. I believe both teams will have a lot to look forward to in the regular season.
I saw the Xavier lineups, no Kotlov or Petts. I assume just trying different combos in preseason and not injury issues. Any guesses on the starting lineup in the first game that counts?
No, Kotlov didn't play against ND. It was a hard game to watch. Their midfield was mediocre and our offense was (at least) mediocre. We looked clueless in our offensive third. There were times when I thought I'd never again see either team complete a pass to a teammate. Despite this, there were some good chances for each team. ND bounced one off the post. Sofner came out and came up empty, but ND put the ball just outside the post. Purdie made an effective nuisance of himself and took the ball away in the area, eventually forcing a save by the ND keeper. We missed a header which went over and Petts missed a sitter. The nil-nil outcome was deserved. That said, there were a few standouts. Estridge has come back motivated, quick and strong. He took the ball away from ND players time and again and moved forward effectively. Excellent anticipation. He reminded me of Kevin Alston but with even more quickness. Meyer was very solid in the back - never lost his cool, and played very well. IU played very young (lots of freshmen) and that may be why things looked so disjoint. However, there were lots of mistakes made by upper classmen, too. Happily, back to the friendly confines of Armstrong Stadium next weekend. BRF
yep. i was there too. it didn't look like we had any interest in scoring for the most part. bushue and corrado sat deep with petts in front of them and a guy out on each wing. our single striker couldn't do much against their back 4. he was out numbered the entire time, and we weren't really going forward in numbers. estridge did play well, but vollmer got beat time and time again on the other side. that's a worry for me. soffner's play also seemed sketchy. without bruin, they look like they have no idea what to do going forward. maybe when kotlov is back and in shape that will change. he looked really rusty in the few minutes he did get last night. i think a draw was a good result for us last night. nd had several opportunities that they should have buried. if we'd won, i would have felt like we stole the game.