Indiana University Athletics
IU Looking To End Season With Six Points
10/24/2015 12:41:00 PM | Women's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – With Big Ten Tournament hopes dwindling, head coach Amy Berbary posed a question to her senior class:
What do you want to get out of this season?
"They said, 'We want to finish as high as we possibly can in the Big Ten so that we can look back when you guys do well next year and say we were a part of that process,'" Berbary recalled them deciding.
"I can't ask for much more than that."
Indiana's (3-8-6, 0-5-4) practice hasn't changed much since being mathematically eliminated from qualifying for the Big Ten Tournament last weekend. The Hoosier seniors have done all they can to make it clear that they want to finish their careers with two wins against Sunday opponent Michigan State and Purdue next Wednesday.
Indiana currently stands in a three-way tie for 12th place with Maryland and Iowa in the conference standings. The Hoosiers can jump as high as 11th with two wins and a Purdue loss to Michigan on Saturday.
"We're doing everything we possibly can to get six points and finish as high as we can," senior midfielder Kailee Feinstein said. "Everyone here knows how important it is to get six more points. We as seniors especially want to go out with two wins."
Rebuilding Indiana women's soccer into a perennial Big Ten power was going to be a process, and Berbary knew that when she accepted the job three years ago.
Her first season's NCAA Tournament run was a reflection of the talent on the team, Berbary said. It was natural that there were going to be growing pains eventually.
Berbary said her players understood that, especially the veterans. She said they've embraced the challenges of building a program from virtually the ground up, implementing a new coaching staff's philosophies and playing through the ups and downs of the transitional seasons.
"My seniors are still pushing the younger ones because they want to look back at this program and see this program succeed," Berbary said. "We're really trying to get something established here. It just takes time."
Junior Veronica Ellis—who's played in the midfield, defense and forward at times this season due to IU's injuries—said it's important to close the year strong and head into the offseason with confidence.
Players will look back at the season and see missed opportunities, she said, but the remaining two games are a chance to start building momentum for next year. A pair of wins to close out a frustrating season can make the first few weeks of offseason workouts more enjoyable.
"We take a lot of pride in this school and this program," Ellis said. "Regardless of if we can go through or not, we still have something to prove."
Indiana won't be in the postseason for a second consecutive year, but Berbary believes her team isn't far off. The combination of injuries, inconsistency on offense and a few other loose ends have kept Indiana from turning six ties into wins.
Too often, the Hoosiers have left valuable points on the board. With only six left to claim, Berbary expects her team to leave with all of them.
"We've still got something to play for," Berbary said. "As a team, we're committed to closing out this season with two wins."
