Indiana University Athletics
Ellis Transitioning Well to Defensive End
9/11/2015 11:57:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – There was always a scenario in place where Veronica Ellis could end up playing defense—she just never expected it to play out.
Ellis started training with the defense last spring to give Indiana more depth at the position. If a few players were moved around or the Hoosiers suffered a few injuries, Ellis could be slotted in at defender as what Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said was more like a "Plan C or D" scenario.
Two weeks ago, Plan C or D became the reality. A pair of injuries opened up the field for Ellis to move to defender late in the first half against Missouri, and since then, she's embraced the change.
"Amy always told me that it was a possibility just depending on what happened," Ellis said. "When I found out I was moving, I sort of just embraced it. I'm still learning, but I've managed to figure it out."
Saying she "figured it out" may be an understatement. Since moving from midfielder to defender, Ellis has been named to two all-tournament teams and has been receiving high marks from teammates and the Indiana coaching staff.
After being named to the all-tournament team in the Boilermaker Cup—the same weekend she switched to defender mid-game—Berbary jokingly asked Ellis if she was liking her new position.
Ellis didn't even have time to come up with an answer before Berbary had one for her.
"Well, you made the all-tournament team, so I guess you're fine," Berbary joked. She said Ellis' transition has been more seamless than anyone could have expected for someone who last played defensive outside back as a freshman in high school.
"I thought Vee did a really good job stepping in back there," Berbary said. "She's always been a good, physical player who's always giving 100 percent effort whether it's in training or in games. She's really helped us out when we needed someone to step up."
The transition hasn't been perfect, Ellis cautioned, but she's adjusting as she goes. She said the hardest part has been learning the team's defensive formation and shape from the opposite end of the field she's used to being on.
Ellis has worked closely with assistant coach and defensive specialist Sergio Gonzalez on the road watching film and studying her new position. With Gonzalez's help and the guidance of veteran teammates around her, Ellis managed to play a key role in Indiana's second-longest shutout streak in program history.
"The biggest thing for them is you don't have to be perfect 100 percent of the time," Ellis said. "The fact about it is if you get beat, you drop back and help everyone. I just make sure if I make a mistake and get beat that I'm not hanging my head. I just get back and try to fall in line to support them behind the ball because I know they'd do the same for me."
Berbary said she's joked with Ellis that they'd have to put a leash on her because of her tendencies to get too high up on the field.
Years of being a goal-scoring midfielder and forward have made some habits hard to break, Ellis said, but she's been able to use her time as an offensive player to her advantage.
Ellis said she has a better understanding for where the midfielders and forwards want the ball in transition because she knows where she liked it.
She's been able to make stronger passes out of the back and get Indiana's transition offense rolling more quickly than some defenders are typically used to doing because of her offensive background.
When she does get the chance to run up top, Ellis is more comfortable transitioning into the attack and taking advantage when Indiana has numbers moving forward.
"Vee's done an awesome job for us," redshirt junior defender Marissa Borschke said. "She's aggressive, so she wins the ball easily. She can get up and attack and she cuts like crazy…It's easy for her to get into attack and find something and get us a dangerous look."
Ellis said although she never planned for it until this year, she's enjoying her time as a defender and thinks she still has room to grow. Her comfort level is increasing with every practice and every game, and she expects to be an even bigger factor as the season goes along.
Ellis and the rest of her teammates will have two more chances to play this weekend. The Hoosiers are on the road to play No. 13 Notre Dame on Friday at 7 p.m. before returning home Sunday to play Ball State at 5:30 p.m.
"I always tell myself when I switch positions, like, 'You've played soccer since you were five years old,'" Ellis said. "Some things always still stick to the same. Take a good touch. Find a good pass. Keep your feet when you're defending. Just transfer the main things over, and if you do that, you can figure it out wherever they need you to be."
Ellis started training with the defense last spring to give Indiana more depth at the position. If a few players were moved around or the Hoosiers suffered a few injuries, Ellis could be slotted in at defender as what Indiana head coach Amy Berbary said was more like a "Plan C or D" scenario.
Two weeks ago, Plan C or D became the reality. A pair of injuries opened up the field for Ellis to move to defender late in the first half against Missouri, and since then, she's embraced the change.
"Amy always told me that it was a possibility just depending on what happened," Ellis said. "When I found out I was moving, I sort of just embraced it. I'm still learning, but I've managed to figure it out."
Saying she "figured it out" may be an understatement. Since moving from midfielder to defender, Ellis has been named to two all-tournament teams and has been receiving high marks from teammates and the Indiana coaching staff.
After being named to the all-tournament team in the Boilermaker Cup—the same weekend she switched to defender mid-game—Berbary jokingly asked Ellis if she was liking her new position.
Ellis didn't even have time to come up with an answer before Berbary had one for her.
"Well, you made the all-tournament team, so I guess you're fine," Berbary joked. She said Ellis' transition has been more seamless than anyone could have expected for someone who last played defensive outside back as a freshman in high school.
"I thought Vee did a really good job stepping in back there," Berbary said. "She's always been a good, physical player who's always giving 100 percent effort whether it's in training or in games. She's really helped us out when we needed someone to step up."
The transition hasn't been perfect, Ellis cautioned, but she's adjusting as she goes. She said the hardest part has been learning the team's defensive formation and shape from the opposite end of the field she's used to being on.
Ellis has worked closely with assistant coach and defensive specialist Sergio Gonzalez on the road watching film and studying her new position. With Gonzalez's help and the guidance of veteran teammates around her, Ellis managed to play a key role in Indiana's second-longest shutout streak in program history.
"The biggest thing for them is you don't have to be perfect 100 percent of the time," Ellis said. "The fact about it is if you get beat, you drop back and help everyone. I just make sure if I make a mistake and get beat that I'm not hanging my head. I just get back and try to fall in line to support them behind the ball because I know they'd do the same for me."
Berbary said she's joked with Ellis that they'd have to put a leash on her because of her tendencies to get too high up on the field.
Years of being a goal-scoring midfielder and forward have made some habits hard to break, Ellis said, but she's been able to use her time as an offensive player to her advantage.
Ellis said she has a better understanding for where the midfielders and forwards want the ball in transition because she knows where she liked it.
She's been able to make stronger passes out of the back and get Indiana's transition offense rolling more quickly than some defenders are typically used to doing because of her offensive background.
When she does get the chance to run up top, Ellis is more comfortable transitioning into the attack and taking advantage when Indiana has numbers moving forward.
"Vee's done an awesome job for us," redshirt junior defender Marissa Borschke said. "She's aggressive, so she wins the ball easily. She can get up and attack and she cuts like crazy…It's easy for her to get into attack and find something and get us a dangerous look."
Ellis said although she never planned for it until this year, she's enjoying her time as a defender and thinks she still has room to grow. Her comfort level is increasing with every practice and every game, and she expects to be an even bigger factor as the season goes along.
Ellis and the rest of her teammates will have two more chances to play this weekend. The Hoosiers are on the road to play No. 13 Notre Dame on Friday at 7 p.m. before returning home Sunday to play Ball State at 5:30 p.m.
"I always tell myself when I switch positions, like, 'You've played soccer since you were five years old,'" Ellis said. "Some things always still stick to the same. Take a good touch. Find a good pass. Keep your feet when you're defending. Just transfer the main things over, and if you do that, you can figure it out wherever they need you to be."
Players Mentioned
Defender
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder
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