Indiana University Athletics
Men's Soccer Opens 2010 Preseason Camp
8/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 18, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana men's soccer team put on its cleats and it the field Wednesday morning as it kicked off its 2010 preseason training camp with a pair of workouts.
The day began at 7 a.m. with a two mile run before hitting the practice field adjacent to Armstrong Stadium for a two-hour workout. The team split off into groups, going through a variety of drills including those which focused on 1v1 defending and finishing. Head coach Todd Yeagley, who is entering his first season at the helm of the historic program, and assistant coaches Brian Maisonneuve and Ernie Yarborough also brought the team together at various points during the workout to offer detailed instruction and examples of the purpose of each drill.
The afternoon practice focused more on game situations with the veterans taking on the newcomers in a scrimmage situation. Yeagley then mixed the teams for the final 11-on-11 play with everyone getting a chance to take the field.
Indiana returns six starters from a team that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009 and posted a 12-10-1 record. Leading the charge is junior forward Will Bruin, a preseason All-America pick by College Soccer News and a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2009. Bruin was the team's leading goal scorer a year ago, tallying nine scores to go along with four assists.
Senior Andy Adlard, a second-team All-Big Ten honoree last season, was the team's second-leading scorer a year ago with five goals and four assists (14 points). Senior Daniel Kelly (20 starts in 2009) and junior Tommy Meyer (22 starts in 2009) anchor Indiana's back line, with Adlard a senior Rich Balchan (second-team All-Big Ten in 2009) taking command in the midfield.
Fans will have a chance to get their first look at the Hoosiers this Sunday as they play host to Xavier in an exhibition match at 7:30 p.m. at Armstrong Stadium. Indiana will take part in the ShinDigz National Soccer Festival in Ft. Wayne, Ind., Aug. 27 and 29, facing ACC power Duke on Friday and Denver on Sunday.
The 2010 season officially kicks off on Sept. 3 with the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. IU faces California at 7:30 p.m., before taking on UCLA on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to "Fill the Bill" for Sunday's match against the Bruins in an effort to top the attendance record of 7,423 set against UCLA in 2007. The match will also be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, one of four regular-season appearances on the Network for the Hoosiers.
