Young team sets high goals for season

Don't be surprised if IU women's soccer coach Mick Lyon is seen sporting a diaper bag this season.\nAfter all, with seven true freshmen, three redshirt freshmen and nine sophomores, Lyon isn't blessed with a wealth of experience.\n"We've got a lot of babies," Hoosier coach Mick Lyon said. "The spirit of youngsters, they're so excited to play, they're so excited to be here -- to be part of IU."\nLyon's excitement for the upcoming season shows in his attitude toward the team.\n"Everything is just so, so positive," Lyon said. "We're pushing them really hard and their response to it has just been wonderful so far."\nLyon came to IU following a coaching stint at Evansville, with many honors and conference wins for the Purple Aces' women's team. He finished his nine years there with an overall team record of 107-65-18 and said he is looking to do similar things this season at IU.\n"Our initial goal is to win the Big Ten championship," Lyon said. "The preparation for that is that we want to go throughout the non-conference season undefeated."\nAn undefeated non-conference record would be a big jump for the Hoosiers this season, who finished last season with an overall record of 8-10-1.\nLyon said the Hoosiers' success this season greatly depends upon leadership from within the team; a role that will be forced into the hands of young players on a team consisting of just one senior and four juniors.\n"We're a really young team this year, so I'm just going to look to step up and lead a little bit more now that I'm a little older and have more experience," sophomore Ali Brown said. \nBrown, a midfielder, kicked off her IU career leading the team in assists last season and tied for third on the squad for most points. Brown said she has nothing but confidence in this year's team.\n"I think that we are an extremely fit team, we've been working really hard at practices," Brown said. "We're looking to outrun teams and just wear them down and use that as our strength." \nSenior captain Kim Grodek said she also has high hopes for the Hoosiers this season.\n"My major goal is to get to the NCAA tournament," Grodek said. "I want to have a good season, end it off well so that these girls have something to look forward to next year."\nTournament play is an underlying goal among the entire team, from the wide-eyed freshmen to the team's lone senior. Making the tournament is a lofty goal considering the Big Ten conference is full of talent, Lyon said. \n"Illinois, Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, they've got a lot of senior players," Lyon said. "But what's really great is it's a conference that has the ability to put almost half of these teams in the NCAA tournament. That's awesome to have that kind of strength."\nLyon is planning on running a similar formation to last season, only making slight changes to compensate for a few injuries.\nThe Hoosiers started the year off with a 2-1 win versus Kentucky in their preseason game Aug. 20. Grodek and junior midfielder Kristen Zmijewski led the team to a win with one goal each. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Fabbro saved three shots on goal.\nFrom their industrious start with intense training and successful games, coach Lyon and his young team look forward to the upcoming season, which starts off Aug. 27 with the Wisconsin-Milwaukee Invitational. \nAll home games will be broadcast live on WIUS starting with the opener against Ball State Sept 9.\n-- Contact staff writer Meredith Paris at meparis@indiana.edu.