Midfielder provides versatility, strength to team

In the final 27 minutes of the IU-North Carolina men's soccer game Saturday, the Tar Heels sent practically their entire team at the Hoosiers' goal in an attempt to tie the game. At one point, junior goalkeeper Colin Rogers moved toward the far post, exposing an open net when North Carolina had the ball.\nAt that moment, junior midfielder Tyler Hawley sprinted to the near post just in time to clear a ball that landed centimeters from the goal line.\nOn the play, Hawley earned a save and kept the Tar Heels scoreless for IU's 1-0 win in the NCAA quarterfinals.\nWith his talent for being in the right place at the right time, Hawley acted as a goalkeeper. After playing as a forward, midfielder and defender in his three years with the IU men's soccer team, Hawley could add "goalie" to his list of positions as a utility player.\nTwo weeks ago, Hawley became the Hoosiers' emergency backup goalkeeper for IU's game against Washington after senior keeper T.J. Hannig injured his knee and had only Rogers to man the net.\nThe Hoosiers haven't played Hawley as a goalkeeper, who last played goalkeeper when he was 12, but with Hannig still injured and Rogers having pulled a hamstring Monday, coach Jerry Yeagley said he plans to have Hawley prepared.\nHawley has already been practicing his goalkeeping skills for the past two weeks. Yeagley said he likes Hawley's quick reflexes, confidence and agility.\n"He made some saves, I'll give him that," Yeagley said. "But he's got the arrogance for it. When he gets in that goal, he hops around and he's a lively lime."\nRogers has started the past two games for Hannig. Yeagley said he'd want Hannig to get in two days of training before starting a game.\nYeagley said he would rather not start the inexperienced Hawley as goalkeeper, but Hawley is ready if needed.\nHawley has gotten used to filling in where needed. As a redshirt freshman, he came off the bench at forward. Last year, he often started as a defender. He now primarily plays as an outside midfielder, a position that requires him to run on offense and defense throughout a game.\n"I like forward the best, but I think I'm best at wide midfield for this team just because that's where I can fit in," said Hawley, who scored one goal in 19 games this season. "We have a lot of guys that can play up top, and our marking backs are doing pretty well this year. (Sophomore marking back) John Swann's coming along real well, so wide midfield's where I think I can help out most, be the biggest threat to the opposing team."\nHawley's experience in two final fours and in cool climates could also provide a threat to IU's opponents.\n"As the cold weather comes now, he's a Wisconsin guy, and he knows how to play in the cold weather," Yeagley said. "He's going to be strong and tough, and we're going to need him on the late-season run."\nHawley's defense could also come in handy in Friday's final four match against Creighton, which has scored 55 goals in 24 games. Hawley didn't play the full 90 minutes in the Hoosiers' 4-1 loss to the Bluejays earlier in the season because of an ankle injury.\nDuring his senior year of high school, Hawley was one of Wisconsin's top scorers. But in his first year at IU, Hawley was redshirted and then benched as a forward his second year -- playing more as a defender, showing versatility that has almost guaranteed him playing time.\nHe also used his tenacity to get his fifth career goal against Kentucky in October. In a highly physical, foul-laden match, Hawley headed the ball into the net past a crowd of defenders after a corner kick. \nIn Saturday's game against the Tar Heels, Hawley had his best play in the final 30 minutes of the game, when North Carolina packed into IU's penalty box. Hawley used his 6-foot-2 frame and athleticism to head and kick balls away from the net. \n"The key to Tyler is his athletic ability," senior forward Matt Fundenberger said. "He's not the most technical player, but his athletic ability helps him make up for that. He can play at virtually any part of the field."\nMaybe even goalkeeper.