Indiana University Athletics
Men's Soccer Quotes Following the NCAA Pairings
11/14/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 14, 2005
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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Following the NCAA Selection Show on ESPNEWS, Indiana head men's soccer coach Mike Freitag and some of his Hoosiers sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to discuss being the third seed in the NCAA Tournament and the road ahead.
Indiana Head Coach Mike Freitag
Opening Statement:
MF: "I am happy to have the number three seed. We were hoping through our performance during the year with only two losses that we were deserving of a top four seed and to get it is very satisfying."
On the road ahead:
MF: "With college soccer today, there is so much parity. All these teams can beat any body on any given day. We will go to work to prepare for the game next Tuesday. We will see who comes out between Notre Dame and Western Illinois. Against Notre Dame last time we had a good outing. We will just be ready."
On Western Illinois:
MF: "I know they had a good win on Sunday over Oakland. That is a tough opponent to score four goals against and win 4-3 in their conference title game. I don't know a whole lot about them, but I will find out a lot."
On the loss against Penn State on Sunday taking the wind out of the Hoosiers' sails:
MF: "I think the loss put wind in our sails. Our guys walked off that field frustrated. They didn't like to lose in a game that I don't think we deserved to lose. Hopefully, it gets them refocused and reenergized for the task we have ahead."
On the team:
MF: "I feel very confident with this team. I haven't seen a team yet that I fear, but I respect a lot of teams out there. I know the capability of my team. I know individually and collectively what they can do. I feel very confident that we can have a good run."
On what the Maryland game showed the team:
MF: "I think it showed that there are good opponents. Maryland scored three goals on us and we know there are good teams out there. I know the championship character of my team. We showed it to be down 3-0 in a tough environment, to comeback, tie the game and in fact, we probably should have won it."
Senior Midfielder Brian Plotkin
On the feeling after Sunday's game against Penn State:
BP: "Every one was a little upset about it. I think the fact that the bracket came out today helped. It gave us something else to focus on and get our heads away from that game. Now that we know we are going to be home throughout the tournament, it kind of helps. Obviously, we will learn our lessons. We have to finish our chances when we get them especially during tournament time. I think that is a lesson we really learned on Sunday with the chances we had and the amount of play we had against Penn State. Just knowing that one chance against us can kill our season if we don't finish our chances."
On being as confident as last season going into the tournament:
BP: "I am definitely as confident as last season. Last season, we didn't win a game in the Big Ten Tournament. This weekend we went out and played two good games against Wisconsin and Ohio State. And we even played well in the third one against Penn State, we just didn't get the result we wanted. Coming in playing either Western Illinois or Notre Dame, we are definitely confident."
On knowing how to win in the NCAA Tournament:
BP: "With the way we play, all the hard work and effort; it pays off. If you do it right all year long then come tourney time it will pay off for you. It is like Coach Freitag said about Penn State on Sunday. You kind of make your own luck sometimes. Usually when tournament time comes around our luck starts to turn around because we have been doing things right all year long."
Senior Midfielder Jordan Chirico
On the Maryland game:
JC: "I think that was a big turn around in our season. It showed everyone how much we believe in our team and what we can do if we all work together. When we put it together, we can accomplish anything, even coming back from three goals behind."
On Notre Dame being a turning point in the season and possibly playing them in the second round:
JC: "It was a turning point. They will be gunning for us. We know what to expect from Notre Dame. They know us real well. First round games in the past have always been one of the toughest of the whole tournament. I know that would be a tough game."
Junior Back Jed Zayner
On his feelings:
JZ: "We are so happy. It is nice to know that we will be back at home. We play our best at home, especially during the tournament. I have a good feeling about playing at home."
On the team defensively compared to this year and last year:
JZ: "This year I feel like we click more together. It really hasn't come together on free kicks so much, but we click more together because we have been playing together year after year. Greg is a new back, but he has been with us the last few years. He moved into Drew's (Moor) spot like it was nothing. Julian and I have been playing the past few years together. We have been doing great, especially the past eight games. We have been reading each other like the back of our hands."
Mike Ambersley
On having a different feeling from last season going into the tournament:
MA: "It is pretty much the same. You just take one game at a time, and you don't want to look past your next opponent at all. It is really no different. I have been through this. This is my fourth year, so I am just going to try to add some experience to the younger guys and try to be a leader on the field."
On having a week off:
MA: "It is real nice after having three games in four days. I think this week off is really going to help us. We just have to get back to working hard in practice. We need to try and keep our momentum that we have had for the last few weeks of the season. We look forward to our first round game."
On the game against Penn State in the Big Ten Championship:
MA: "We just didn't finish our opportunities. I know I had a few that I could have finished. You just have to learn from your mistakes and try to get better. The wind was difficult to play in. I thought in the second half when we were going against it, we played better soccer because we kept it on the ground and that is the kind of team we are. It was a frustrating day when it came to the final third of the field. Defensively, I thought our team looked great. We just need to take that momentum into the tournament."
On gelling at the forward position with Jacob Peterson and Lee Nguyen:
MA: "I think playing with a guy for two years you get to know his tendencies. I had the opportunity to play with Pat Noonan for three or four years, so when I came to school here we already know how we played. That was a big key for us. I think now Jake and I understand and know how each of us plays. Lee and I are getting to that point as well. Playing with a guy like Lee, you know he will find you if you are open. I think we are starting to gel. It is pretty easy to play with Lee."
