New soccer coach makes difference
The University of Indianapolis men’s soccer team began the season with a 4-2 start in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) and currently stands in fourth place in the GLVC standings.
The Greyhounds opened conference play on Sept. 5 with a come from behind 3-1 victory over the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL). At the time, UMSL was ranked ninth in the GLVC and UIndy was ranked tenth.
They followed with two key victories against conference opponents Kentucky Wesleyan and Southern Indiana Universities on Sept. 10 and Sept. 12. Both were 2-0 shutout wins, which boosted the team considerably in the GLVC rankings.
After going up 1-0 against top-ranked GLVC opponent and nationally ranked #6 Northern Kentucky University, the hounds lost 5-2 on Sept. 17.
The following Sunday, they fell 3-1 to Bellarmine University.
They faced another GLVC foe on Sep. 24, Saint Joseph University, and fell behind 1-0 before half. Junior Tom McGuire and sophomore Bobby Adkins each tallied a second half goal to pull off the 2-1 win.
Sophomore Bobby Adkins leads the team with four goals, sophomore Max Marsh has three while Roger Lee and Corey Nelson, also sophomores, have two goals apiece.
Justin Roberts, goal keeper who has tended the net for all five games thus far, attributes this season’s early success to how hard the teams had worked in preseason.
“Early success has come from the hard work in the off-season and the desire to get better and ready for the season. The difference from last season is more fitness and better focus at practice,” Adkins said.
Last season, the men started 2-3-1 against the same six opponents.
The Greyhounds were considered a young team last year with five freshmen starters and only one consistent senior starter. This year there are only two seniors, leaving a core group of juniors and sophomores to carry the team.
“We still have the same core group of players out on the field that have a good history of playing with each other,” Roberts said.
Another change from last season has been in the head coaching position. John Higgins, former standout UIndy soccer player and last year’s assistant coach, was promoted to Interim Head Coach last spring season.
Some of the changes Higgins has brought to the team include an increased amount of fitness at practice, more emphasis on team bonding and a focus on the team rather than the individual.
It is not uncommon when the men score a goal to see them run to the sidelines and celebrate with Higgins rather than congratulate the individual who scored.
Adkins added that not only has the team bonded well, but there is a different attitude with the team and coaching staff.
“There is a lot you don’t realize as an assistant coach that the head coach does. There is a lot of off the field stuff,” Higgins said. “You have to worry about the budget, traveling itinerary and other things. As an assistant, you just worry about practice.”
Looking ahead, the Greyhounds hope to keep their winning record, finish strong in the GLVC.
“It’s the same reoccurring goal every year but we all believe in ourselves this year,” said Roberts, “some of our biggest challenges will be to show the rest of the conference and our school that we are a good team and can win the conference tournament.
The Greyhounds continue conference play with Lewis University, who made the NCAA final four last season, on Oct. 1 and University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Oct. 3. Both games will be held at Key Stadium.
