Berbary to make IU coaching debut

With a staff led by first-year IU Coach Amy Berbary, the IU women’s soccer team is looking to revitalize its program and establish itself as a Big Ten Conference powerhouse.

The next chapter in Hoosier soccer begins Friday when the team kicks off its regular season in Athens, Ohio, against Ohio­­ before opening 1 p.m. Sunday at home against Georgia Southern.

“I think everyone is extremely excited right now,” Berbary said. “It is hard for me to describe with words. You get a sense that they really want to do something special this year.”

The road to accomplishing something special starts with the Bobcats, who are coming off of an 8-10-1 season last year, including a 4-2 road loss against IU. Both teams debut new coaching staffs with new systems, which could result in an entirely different game.

“It will definitely be different this year because of the new coaches,” senior forward Rebecca Candler said. “We can’t really play off of anything we did last year. We just need to come out fresh and focus on attacking.”

Offense has been a key point in preseason practice for the Hoosiers, who averaged 1.68 goals per game last year.

“We are going to be more offensive-minded and put our focus on scoring more goals,” Candler said.

Georgia Southern went 10-7-5 last season to earn an NCAA Tournament bid. The team’s core stayed intact, returning four of its five leading scorers who will test the Hoosiers.

“One of the most important things that we have is a strong defense that can slow them down,” Candler said. “We just need to play strong as a team.”

IU went 9-9-1 last year, but struggled in Big Ten play, finishing 4-7, tied for seventh place. Senior defender Lara Ross is looking forward to beginning the season Friday with a clean slate.

“We just need to take it one game at a time,” Ross said. “We get to go into the season with a fresh start.”

Today’s game marks Berbary’s first as head coach of the Hoosiers, though her staff has been working with players since forming in February.

“We have taken huge steps since the new staff got here,” Berbary said. “Now we get a chance to play a game that counts. It is just a matter of seeing if we can put it
together.”

Although Berbary and her staff have had limited time to work with the team, she has already established herself as a familiar presence.

“Amy did just get here, but she feels familiar already,” Ross said. “She has been very intense and brings such a good intensity to practice every day and to every meeting.”

Another significant change will be the absence of one of last year’s leading scorers Orianica Velasquez, who was named Second Team All-Big Ten and finished fourth for
points (64) in IU school history and fourth in career goals (26).

Her absence and those of other graduates leaves returning players to find new roles.

“It isn’t about replacing,” Candler said, “it is about finding and focusing on our strengths. We have had people step up this year that haven’t in the past.”

The team returns eight starters who have stepped into leadership positions including Candler, who set the IU single-season record in assists with 10 last season.

“The leadership from our upperclassmen has been phenomenal,” Berbary said. “That is something you can’t teach or cultivate. They have been very good in bringing in the new players and helping the young players.”

With a lot of questions surrounding the new-look team, Berbary pointed out one thing she does expect.

“I have no doubt that our team will compete,” Berbary said. “The question is, can we capitalize on the details in the game to get the win?”