Coach tries out for pro league

Women's soccer assistant coach and former IU standout, Wendy Dillinger, is about to receive a rebirth in the sport she loves. Dillinger was one of 200 nationwide invitees to try out for the Women's United Soccer Association in December.\nThe WUSA is the first U.S. women's pro soccer league and will begin play next year with eight teams -- six in the East and two in the West. Each team has already selected three players from the U.S. women's national team. Two slots on each team went to foreign players. \nThe remaining slots will be filled after a five-day tryout Dec. 5-9 in Florida where the 200 players invited will practice and then be selected in a 12-15 round draft Dec. 10-11.\nDillinger played for IU during the 1993-95 and '97 seasons, missing the '96 season because of appendicitis. During her tenure at IU, Dillinger set school records for career goals (37), assists (24) and points (98).\nAfter graduating in 1998, Dillinger had a brief stint with Fredricksburg in Denmark of the European soccer league and continues to play semi-pro soccer for the Indiana Blaze in the summer.\nAlong with playing in semi-pro leagues Dillinger continuously practices with the women's team and plays in the men's league at the Sportsplex. She receives help from strength and conditioning coach Geoff Eliason.\n"I work out with Geoff three days a week to help me stay fit," Dillinger said. "It also helps playing in the men's league because they are quicker and faster. They play the game at a high pace and that really helps my game."\nHead coach Joe Kelley, who coached Dillinger, said she has what it takes to compete against the players in the new league.\n"There's not a lot of players like Wendy," Kelley said. "Wendy is a lightning rod player from the point that when she's on the field, everybody knows it. She does exceptional things with the ball. She can hit the ball as hard as any guy."\nKelley said her speed, ball handling and passing skills are just as exceptional.\n"She's a real hard worker," Kelley said. "She's somebody that when she's on the field, she makes the team go. She really generates the level of play of everyone around her and the team herself."\nFreshman midfielder Emily Hotz said the qualities Dillinger displays as a player have helped her in her role of assistant coach.\n"Wendy is a great player as well as a coach. She has an amazing understanding of the game," Hotz said. \nHotz, who was named second team all-Big Ten this year, said Dillinger's understanding and leadership set a great example for the Hoosiers to follow.\n"In practice, she helps us become better players when she plays with us, because she is such a strong and solid player," Hotz said.\nDillinger said the team and staff have had an effect on her.\n"Everyone has been real supportive," Dillinger said. "My teammates, the staff has all said to 'just relax' and 'don't worry about the tryouts.' I have to just play how I usually do. I'm very nervous, but I have made a lot of progress."\nBecause Dillinger received a tryout invitation doesn't mean she is going to be drafted to a team. But Kelley said he feels she has a great chance to play in this league and even somewhere better.\n"I think she can play even at a higher level," Kelley said. "She's a little hardheaded but that's a character trait that all good competitive athletes have. I wish we had her on our team again"