Indiana University Athletics
LAVRINENKO MAKES HIS MARK
10/14/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
By Sarah Melton
The Indiana soccer program has proven it has what it takes to be the best team in the nation. Whether it is a pure scorer, a great distributor, or a aggressive defender, Indiana is loaded with talent. When these characteristics are combined, it sums up junior midfielder Yuri Lavrinenko.
Lavrinenko has proven time and time again he is one of the most versatile IU players ever to step onto the field. Both his defense and his offense are highly acknowledged every time he competes.
As a result, Lavrinenko has been awarded numerous honors since becoming Hoosier. Last season, he earned first team All-Big Ten honors after leading the Great Lakes Region and the Big Ten Conference in assists. With 14 total assists in 1997, he was ranked sixth in the nation and second in players returning for the 1998 season. That number was also the fourth-highest single season mark in IU soccer history. To crack into the top ten on IU all-time career assists list, the midfielder needs just five more.
Scoring is also no problem for the Ukraine native. Each season, Lavrinenko has scored six goals. With four goals through 12 games, he is on pace to better that mark this season. Lavrinenko has also come through in clutch situations scoring both game winning goals in the College of Charleston and the Penn State overtime thrillers.
But when Lavrinenko talks about his personal success, he is very humble. It is easy to see his unselfishness.
"I set personal goals every season, but they come way after the team's goals," Lavrinenko said. "Whether they need me to assist or score, I know that defense is the key to a good game."
This season Indiana is known for its defense. Limiting their opponents to just four goals in 12 games, the Hoosiers have also shut out nine teams. That task rests heavily on Yuri Lavrinenko.
After going undefeated until the UCLA loss in the Final Four during the 1997 campaign, Lavrinenko credits the loss as one of the hardest times the team has gone through and one of the greatest triumphs.
"Getting the the Final Four has been one of the most rewarding times for our team, but losing that game has been the greatest motivation for us to work harder during the off season," Lavrinenko said. "We do not want to go through that again."
Although the 1997 and 1998 team mimic similarities, Lavrinenko is quick to point out this team has its own goals and expectations.
"In some aspects this team is better, and some aspects it is not. We have just been trying to get our own image and establish ourselves from last year's team," Lavrinenko said. "Last year there was a lot of pressure on us since we went undefeated, and this year we have already lost once. The pressure is off us now. This is a different team."
Although this team is in fact different, their goals still remain the same. The only thing that has eluded Lavrinenko and the rest of the IU soccer team is a NCAA title. That is what pushes them everyday. Lavrinenko feels that is one of the most attractive aspects of the IU program.
"Everyone is so professional here," Lavrinenko said. "All the coaches work us to be the best trained players. We all are very determined."
Whatever Yuri Lavrinenko does on the field, he is noticed. Whether he is directly involved with a goal, Lavrinenko is at the middle of every attack. His unselfish play and style is hard to forget.
© Indiana University Athletics, 1998
