Soccer team staying busy in offseason

In preparation for a possible three-peat, many of IU's top players have joined The United Soccer's Premier Development League giving four of the league's 53 teams a bit of a Hoosier flavor.\nThe Chicago Fire Premier, Fort Wayne Fever, Kalamazoo Kingdom, and Toledo Slayers combined feature 13 Hoosiers. \nThe Premier feature starting midfielder John Michael Hayden and defender Jed Zayner. Zayner, a junior, said playing in the league is a great experience. \n"I enjoyed playing with the top college players," Zayner said. "I was also very well taken care of." \nAdditionally, Zayner feels the experience will benefit him equally in the future at IU or in the professional ranks.\n"I think it will help me get scholarships in the pros," Zayner said. "However (the PDL) made me much better in touch with the college game."\nThe Fort Wayne Fever feature four IU players while the Kalamazoo Kingdom boasts three. Leading the Fever are goalie Chris Monroe, defenders Kyle Schwartz and Greg Stevning along with midfielder Josh Tudela. The Kingdom have three Hoosiers including midfielder Charlie Traylor, forward Billy Weaver and starting forward Jacob Peterson who played on the United States' Under-20 team in June.\nThe Slayers are led by a slew of Hoosiers including defender Kyle Brabender, forward Kevin Noschang, and midfielders Doug Reisingerand John Mellencamp. \nWhile Noschang and Mellencamp both played on the same team they have differing views about how playing in the PDL will benefit them in the future. Both did agree however it has been a good experience, but Noschang was a little more enthusiastic about playing on one of the leagues worst teams. \n"It was a great experience," Noschang said. "It was the first time I ever did (played in the league) and it helped me stay in shape." \nOn the contrary, Mellencamp felt the experience benefited him, but he was more pessimistic about playing with the Slayers. \n"It was a good experience but I did play on one of the league's lower caliber teams," Mellencamp said. \nHowever despite there differences on the benefits on playing in the PDL they agreed the experience will greater benefit them at IU in the future. \n"The experience will definitely improve my college game," Mellencamp said. "I'm not sure I'll even go pro, but if I do this experience will help."\nNoschang offered a similar viewpoint on the matter. \n"This league is a much bigger benefit for the college game," Noschang said. "It keeps us fit for the college game that is much more physical and fast paced." \nThe players will continue playing in the PDL through July 24 before joining up with their IU teammates and IU men's soccer coach Mike Freitag in preparation for the upcoming season, which begins with an exhibition game Aug. 19 against UCLA in Fort Wayne.