Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Eager to Kick Off New Season
8/13/2015 1:54:00 PM | Women's Soccer
The date Oct. 31, 2014 still stands out in head coach Amy Berbary's mind.
A piercing wind and mix of snow and rain fell at Bill Armstrong Stadium on Senior Day. Indiana went on to defeat Michigan State 2-0, but that's not why Berbary remembers it so well.
She remembers the season ending too soon. The Hoosiers won, but they failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament just one year removed from advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The abrupt end to the season stung, Berbary said. But she urged her team not to repress the memories from that day.
She wanted it to motivate them.
"We have not forgotten October 31st, 2014 being our last game," Berbary said. "Ever since that day, we've been working. Our preseason really began on November 1st, 2014, and that's the attitude our kids have had. We never want to go back to that. We don't want to ever have a season end that early again."
The 2015 season began the day after the 2014 season ended. The Hoosiers refocused and headed back into the training room, doing all they could to be ready for a preseason camp that, at the time, was still nine months away.
With the offseason now behind them, Indiana finally had the chance to see their offseason work pay off last week.
The Hoosiers posted the best results in their fitness test that any current players has seen during their time in Bloomington. Berbary called her team the fittest she has ever seen and said it was a direct testament to the commitment the players had in the offseason of getting better.
Nowhere was that more evident than during the summer when about 10 players stayed in Bloomington to train together.
Every day began with a 7:30 a.m. workout. Then it was off to class before playing pickup games and working on some technical skills in the afternoon. Then they'd study, relax and call it a day.
"Then we'd repeat that again the next day," senior midfielder Jessie Bujouves said. "I think it was great having everyone here together to work, and it really paid off."
Indiana's fitness has allowed the team to jump ahead of schedule early on in fall practice.
Instead of spending time conditioning, the Hoosiers have been able to focus their energy on soccer-specific training. With a limited amount of practice time available before the season begins, which is an advantage Indiana hasn't had in recent seasons.
"It's nice that we don't have to focus on fitness because that's something we've already checked off," Bujouves said. "Just kind of finding a starting lineup and getting personnel set and working that all out is crucial before our first game. So we're starting on a good note."
With a preseason game against Louisville scheduled for Sunday, the Hoosiers don't have much time to find their footing in preseason before being tested. But Berbary said that's just fine when considering how long the team has been waiting for the start of a new season to come.
The entire coaching staff is once again back and Berbary said she feels as comfortable as ever entering her third year with the team.
She said she's seen the best of both worlds having seen an NCAA Tournament run and a season cut short, and she feels those experiences will both help drive Indiana throughout the season.
There's still a few lineup questions left to be answered, but Berbary said she likes the competition she's seen so far. She said senior goalkeeper Sarah Stone is looking as good as she ever has and that more than a few offensive players have a chance to have special seasons.
All that's left to do is hit the playing field. And for Indiana, the start of a new season couldn't come soon enough.
"I think in year three, we've finally got it figured out," Berbary said. "I'll tell you, I've been the happiest coach so far. Everyone has bought into our style, our system and are really acting and training like professionals. I can't wait to see us play."
