Indiana University Athletics
PARRISH HAS HIS OWN STORY
9/15/1998 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
PARRISH HAS HIS OWN STORY
by Sarah Melton
Every collegiate athlete has their own success story. Some are paved for greatest and others have to fight for their glory every day. But senior marking back Andrew Parrish has a story all of his own.
Last week, Parrish received an email from his father with the word 'Congratulations' on it and a web address. He punched in the address and found the Soccer America page. Looking down the page he noticed for the first time in his career he was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week after receiving the Defensive MVP of the adidas Classic. What is even more spectacular is how Andrew Parrish reached the pinnacle he is at today.
Recruited by numerous Division-III schools, many did not give Parrish a chance to play Division-I collegiate soccer, especially for a top ranked Division-I team. So Parrish decided to come to school here totally based on academics.
"I wasn't recruited, but I came here and gave it a shot because of the school itself," Parrish said. "It made that great of an impression on me."
During his freshman year, the Mathematics major actually played on the IU club team. Since Indiana was loaded with depth, there were no slots for Parrish. But Parrish did not get discouraged.
However, head coach Jerry Yeagley noticed his talents. Yeagley suggested coming back in the spring so he could take one more look. One more look was all Yeagley needed before Parrish made the team.
"The spring of my freshman year I started training with the team," Parrish said. "Next fall, they invited me back out to see if I made the cut, and I did. Half way through my sophomore season, I was starting. It's been a crazy ride."
But once the Worthington, Ohio native made the team he had to grasp an entire new position. For four years Parrish led St. Charles high school in scoring as a forward. Now he had to learn to be a marking back almost totally a defensive position. But after one year Parrish became comfortable with the position.
"Sophomore year I felt solid at back, but we entered a whole new level playing top-ranked opponents and playing against the best players in the country," Parrish said. "I had to come out and guard the best guys in the country on a day to day basis and be able to shut them down."
The once club team star now is considered one of the top marking backs in the Big Ten Conference. Last season Parrish helped the IU defense in allowing just 14 goals and posted a combined 0.56 goals against average. But Parrish insists that having the background of playing forward in high school has helped him read the game more effectively.
"I think one of my strengths is having the experience of playing forward, same with Gino (DiGuardi), we know all the little tricks of the trade. We can guess what they are going to do next since we have been in same situation before, " Parrish said.
The first team All-Big Ten selection still wants the only thing that has eluded him during his stellar career- a national championship. Last season the Hoosiers put together one of the greatest soccer seasons ever in collegiate soccer. Ranked No. 1 throughout the entire season and only losing their final game, Parrish believes this team could be just as strong.
"This team talent-wise is probably equal if not better than last years team. I like our chances. The guys are older and a little bit more mature. We know what we want and we're starting to work for it now. Our attitude is to take advantage of the time we have now and get ahead of some of the other teams," Parrish said.
From IU soccer club star to team captain, Andrew Parrish has impressed all who know him. He still has one more chapter of his story to write as he focuses on playing professionally.
"That is my ultimate goal," Parrish said. "It's hard to push individual goals when soccer involves so many players, but I also want to make myself as solid as I possibly can because it only makes the team better. I don't want people to think I have ulterior goals from the team, but getting drafted is definitely up there."
From the guy who did not even make captain as a high school senior Parrish has accomplished more than he ever dreamed. Indeed, what a crazy ride it has been.
© Indiana University Athletics, 1998
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