Indiana Hoosiers
Overall Rank: #10
Conference Rank: #1 Big Ten Conference
Indiana Team Page
Todd Yeagley was named head coach of the Hoosiers in December of 2009 and he didn’t disappoint. His first season (2010) as head coach, Yeagley took the Hoosiers to a Big Ten regular season title and to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA tournament and did so again in 2011. Coach Yeagley has some big shoes to fill being the son of legendary head coach for Indiana Jerry Yeagley who literally built this program. Jerry Yeagley came to IU in 1963 and worked with the program until it became a varsity sport in 1973. He led the Hoosiers as they grew into one of the most successful programs in NCAA division one men’s soccer until he retired in 2003. During that time, Coach Jerry Yeagley mentored a large number of winning teams, one of which included son Todd who graduated and then returned to bring back another Yeagley legacy of wins and titles to Indiana.
2011 Record: 13-4-5, 3-1-2
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Todd Yeagley
Strengths:
Indiana welcomes back a handful of talented players and has added just as much talent with the recruiting class. Eriq Zavaleta returns in the forward position after leading the team last season with 10 goals. Zavaleta is joined on the front line by transfer TJ Popolizio. Popolizio comes to Indiana as a graduate student from Brown where he led the Bears last season with eight goals. The offense also has returning Nikita Kotlov as a midfielder who was able to contribute nine goals for the Hoosiers last season. The IU offense, led by these three accurate shooters, teamed with the rest of the front line will be a major threat to any defense they come into contact with during the 2012 season.
Weaknesses:
The defense took the biggest hit with the new roster welcoming back only one true defender, Michael McKain. Jamie Vollmer, Caleb Kontanski, and Patrick Doody are listed as midfielders and defenders as well so they will be able to help fill some defender spots, but the rest will be up to the recruiting class to fill. Transfer defender Alex Hadley is a hopeful for one of the starting spots. Hadley comes from Cincinnati where he started every match both his freshman and sophomore season. Filling spots with freshmen who haven’t yet played at the collegiate level is always a disadvantage no matter how good the talent is. With the transfer Hadley and returning defender McKain, Coach Yeagley will be looking to them for help in getting the new boys situated.
Final Projection:
The Hoosiers’ offense is prepped and primed with the new and old players going into the 2012 season but the defense will be working hard in the preseason to get ready. The IU back line will also have keeper Luis Soffner who finished last season with an impressive 75 saves and only allowed 18 goals in his 21 matches played. He is a definite cornerstone to build the young defense around. As long as the offensive stars continue to dominate the ball and the defense finishes rebuilding their wall in time, then Indiana will be, yet again, a threat to all opponents this season.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Eriq Zavaleta, Sophomore, F, 10
Assists: Eriq Zavaleta, Sophomore, F, 5
Shots: Eriq Zavaleta, Sophomore, F, 55
Saves: Luis soffner, Senior, GK, 75
Madness 2012 MLS Draft Rankings:
#1 Eriq Zavaleta
#51 Andrew Oliver
Madness 2012 Men’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#9 Andrew Oliver
#47 Derek Creviston
