Hoosiers looking to avenge close losses

Mick Lyon has a recipe for scoring goals.\n"You start with talent," the IU women's soccer coach says. "You've got to have talented players to score goals. There's no doubt about it. And then that talent has to be fit and motivated. And I think you put those three things together, and that's what we have this year that we didn't have last year."\nLyon hopes his three key ingredients, when mixed together, will produce more goals and more wins in Big Ten play than last season.\n"I think this year we have a lot more team chemistry, and we want to work more for each other and have a little more experience," said senior midfielder Carrie DeFreece. "I think we're going to push over and get it done."\nThe Hoosiers went 3-6-1 last season in Big Ten play, finishing sixth and earning a trip to Ann Arbor, Mich., to play in the Big Ten Tournament, where they lost to Michigan State 3-0. Five of IU's six Big Ten losses last year were by one goal, so getting more balls into the net will be key for the Hoosiers this season.\n"First of all, we need to not concede any goals," said senior defender Lauren Lamping. "And second step is finishing our chances. I think that's ultimately going to be the main improvement for our game in the next coming weeks is just scoring goals."\nLyon said he has seen some improvement from last year's team into this year's.\n"I think we had some talent last year, but I don't think we were motivated," Lyon said. "And I certainly don't think we were fit enough to go all the way. So when we dominate Minnesota for 65-70 minutes, and they come away with a 2-1 overtime win, that ain't good enough. That will be the difference this year I think; this is a group that's very fit, well-motivated and the skill level of the group is certainly better."\nIn the Big Ten, the Hoosiers will see some of the best teams in the nation, five of whom appeared in last season's NCAA Tournament. One of the teams, Penn State, was a No. 1-seed and advanced to the Final Four, before eventual champion University of Portland knocked it out in penalty kicks.\n"Every time you show up, you know you're going to have a cracking game," Lyon said about the competition. "That's why I came to this school to coach. That's (one of the reasons) why these players came to this University, because they want to play with and against the best players in this country. When you're playing schools with the names Ohio State and Michigan and Penn State, I mean how can you not get excited about that?"\nThis weekend the Hoosiers travel north to take on Michigan State on Friday and Michigan on Sunday. While Lyon says the Hoosiers need to take care of their home matches, he said that they can't leave road trips empty-handed.\n"Any time you go on the road, Michigan-Michigan State, Iowa-Illinois trip, you got to get a result somewhere," Lyon said. "Whether it's a couple of ties or a win and a loss ... get a result. Get some points."\nThe Hoosiers regular season closes Oct. 27, when the Hoosiers travel to West Lafayette to take on Purdue. \n"We can always finish up by going over to those people we hate down in Lafayette on 65 and tearing it up over there," Lyon said. "That would be the best part"