Forwards have big shoes to fill

As each season starts, priority No. 1 is filling the voids left from the year before. And most of the time it is simply the matter of bringing up the anxious bench player to replace the lost senior. Most of the time.\nThis season, the IU men's soccer team has the responsibility of replacing an All-American who led the team to its sixth national title. \nNed Grabavoy wasn't just any graduating senior; he was a junior that left early to play professional soccer. When the Los Angeles Galaxy drafted Grabavoy with the 14th pick in the draft, they drafted 33 points worth of IU's offense.\n"Each year, you have different pieces of the puzzle, and you try to take those pieces and make a masterpiece out of it," IU coach Mike Freitag said. "Losing a nice piece of the puzzle like that changes the picture, but that doesn't mean other pieces can't fit in and make the picture a little bit different and maybe just as successful or even more."\nLast season, Grabavoy led the team with 11 goals and 11 assists and was one of just three unanimous selections to the All-Big Ten Team. He was selected as an All-American by the National Coaches Association of America, College Sports Television and College Soccer News, and was one of just 15 candidates for the Missouri Athletic Club's Herman Trophy. \nWith Grabavoy, the list goes on and on, but for junior Mike Ambersley, the task isn't so much replacing Grabavoy, but rather making his own impact. After redshirting last season, Ambersley is expected to step into a starting role with the Hoosiers.\n"(Grabavoy) liked to get everyone involved and make everyone feel like a part of the team," he said. "I've got a little ways to go before I can do that, but right now I am just focusing on what I need to do and helping get the ball in the net."\nHad it not been for last year's effort from then-freshman Jake Peterson, Freitag's new picture may have looked a little more bleak. Peterson netted seven goals last season, three of which came in the postseason, including one in the National Championship game.\n"I think I'm going to have to step it up a little more like I did in the postseason last year," Peterson said. "But I think with Mike (Ambersley), it's basically going to be the same thing as last year."\nIn just his second year with the team, Peterson will seemingly become the biggest draw for opposing defenses, but Freitag remains optimistic.\n"(Peterson) will draw attention," he said. "But the thing about Jake is he's the Energizer Bunny -- he can run all day long. He makes great runs off the ball and as a defense you have got to be aware of a kid like that getting behind you."\nWith Peterson's speed, Ambersley's passing ability and the return of junior midfielders Brian Plotkin and Pat Yates, there is a definite ability to score plenty of goals this season, Freitag said.\n"(Ambersley) is a great passer and can score goals," Freitag said. "I'm hoping he and Peterson can make a great tandem because (Peterson) can make the runs and (Ambersley) can get him the ball. I don't think they've clicked yet completely, but you can see the signs."\n-- Contact staff writer Brian Janosch at bjanosch@indiana.edu.