Zavaleta hopes to avoid sophomore slump

Eriq Zavaleta announced his arrival in his second career collegiate game last season, scoring a goal and assisting on the game-winner in the Hoosiers’ 3-1 victory against Saint Louis on Sept. 2, 2011.

The Westfield, Ind., native, now a sophomore forward at IU, led the team in goals, points and shots in his freshman campaign and collected an abundance of individual awards, including Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

In the offseason, Zavaleta worked to help avoid a sophomore slump.

Zavaleta said what he learned last season gave him something he could build on.
“Freshman year, I came in a tad uncomfortable,” he said. “I didn’t really understand the college game. I think I have a better sense of what the game is and what kind of team we want to be. I know this year, whether the stats don’t go on the table, I will make my team better.

IU Coach Todd Yeagley said he is also unconcerned his forward will slump.
“(There’s) no indication that he’s going to drop at all,” Yeagley said. “Not only do I see him getting goals and assists, but he’s going to make teams have to adjust. That’s
going to create other opportunities, whether it shows up on a stat sheet.

“Eriq’s going to have a really nice sophomore year. I’m not concerned one bit. Numbers aren’t the only thing that he provides to our group.”

Junior midfielder Nikita Kotlov, the team’s second-leading scorer  with nine goals from 2011, also returns to the team.

Zavaleta said if defenses make a concerted effort to shut him down, he will be ready.
“It was no secret last year that I put up numbers,” he said. “I accept that challenge of trying to do it amongst more people.

“But I also think it might be best for our team, because other guys can step up and it’s easier for them because the numbers are in their favor. That’s an opportunity that we relish.”

Yeagley said if his counterparts game-plan to stop Zavaleta, his teammates will have opportunities to score.

Zavaleta said he learned about the physicality of college last season and used the offseason to prepare for it.

“It’s something that’s really hard to prepare for,” he said. “The physicality was something different. I took that into this offseason and I got stronger. I was able to work on my post-up game and things of that nature.”

He spent a month in Los Angeles, training with Chivas USA, an MLS team.
Zavaleta said his time spent in Southern California was important.

“It’s vital,” he said. “I’m playing with guys of that caliber and playing under coaches like (assistant coach) Greg (Vanney) and (head coach) Robin (Fraser). I think it’s really important in my learning. I think it’s definitely something that helped me in the physicality. Those are all big guys, but they’re all savvy, smart soccer players.

“Coming in here this year after playing with them for a month, I wasn’t so concerned or scared by coming here. I was ready to come here and deliver.”

Zavaleta said he also gained a greater appreciation for delivering on his chances because they’re infrequent.

“When you get ‘em, you gotta put ‘em away,” he said.

Senior defender Caleb Konstanski said Zavaleta will thrive on the increased
attention.

“He’s a different kind of forward,” he said. “He’s a big guy, but really good with his feet. You don’t really know what he’s going to do because he uses his body so well.

“The big thing for him is to keep his head when people try to get chippy with him. He fuels off stuff like that. I’m not too worried about him.”

Yeagley said Zavaleta’s ability to handle adversity this season is improved.

“I think he’s getting stronger mentally,” Yeagley said. “He’s a very confident young man. But when things weren’t going right, he could get affected a bit.

“I think this year, he’s learning how to handle that.”