No. 14 IU returns for home opener

It's been three weeks since the No. 14 Hoosiers played their first game of the season, but Friday afternoon's game against Central Michigan University will mark their first at home.\nIU will take on the Chippewas (3-1) Friday and follow up with another match against the University of Maine (3-3) Sunday. The Hoosiers will play their first game at home this season riding a five-game winning streak, That doesn't mean they aren't excited to come back to Bloomington.\n"We're all ready to go," junior forward Kate O'Connell said. "I think everyone is so excited that there won't be any pump-up speech needed."\nDespite playing on the road all season so far, the Hoosiers have maintained a steady level of success and have gathered valuable experience, said IU coach Amy Robertson.\n"I think it was good for us to be on the road at first as a test and a challenge," Robertson said. "Now that we are at home, we are going to appreciate it 10 times more than we would have."\nMuch like O'Connell, Robertson said she doesn't expect the team to need much rallying before the game.\n"I anticipate that there will be some extra excitement," Robertson said. "If anything, in pre-game we'll probably have to relax a little bit."\nThis week provided valuable practice time for the Hoosiers to organize themselves and work on some of the technical aspects they've been hoping to improve.\n"We're doing a whole new press, thanks to Pietie (Coetzee)," O'Connell said. \nCoetzee is IU's new assistant coach who arrived from South Africa a week ago to join the Hoosiers. Coetzee, who is considered one of the best strikers in the world, has been working with the Hoosier forwards in improving their attacks.\n"She has such good ideas that are so simple, it just clicks," O'Connell said.\n"We've had some really interesting and educational discussions behind the scenes," Robertson said of Coetzee. "I love some of the ideas that she brings in terms of perspective and changes that can be made."\nAlso aiding the Hoosiers offensive attack is Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week senior forward Lydia Schrott. The All-American currently leads the Hoosiers in goals (seven) and points (16).\nThe offense isn't the only side of the ball the team has been working on this week. After leaving its man-to-man identity at the start of the season, the Hoosiers have altered their defense, which has shown improvements.\n"Switching to a zone defense is completely different," senior back April Levins said. "It's all about the defense communicating with one another and organization."\nIn practice Wednesday, the Hoosiers also received help from a different kind of leader: a mental coach. A sports psychologist came to the Hoosiers' practice and "discussed and stressed setting goals, energy management, visualization and relaxing," said senior goalie Haley Exner.\n"I think in all sports, you hear about people working in the weight room and injuries," said Exner. "But I think 90 percent of sports is mental"