Indiana University Athletics
Hollinger-Janzen’s Confidence a Needed Boost for IU
9/24/2015 12:21:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Femi Hollinger-Janzen didn't hesitate. Not even for a second.
The Hoosiers earned a penalty in the 7th minute of Wednesday's game against Evansville, and someone needed to take it. Indiana trains a rotation of penalty takers, each allowed to take the shot when they see fit.
Hollinger-Janzen wasn't going to mess around deciding who should take it. He immediately gathered the ball, placed it and lined up to take the shot without ever looking to the sideline.
It was his shot.
"He never looked over," head coach Todd Yeagley said. "He just went and got the ball."
Hollinger-Janzen's confidence was rewarded. He buried the penalty shot, giving IU an early lead in a 3-0 win against Evansville. Later in the half, he added a second goal on a header, netting his fifth goal in six games.
"My teammates are just playing me great balls," Hollinger-Janzen said. "I'm just taking a few more chances as well. They're bound to go in."
While Hollinger-Janzen is quick to pass off credit, his recent hot streak has been a welcome addition for an IU offense that needed a spark.
After a self-described disappointing 4-1 loss to Rutgers last Sunday, Hollinger-Janzen was there to help IU bounce back emotionally and in the record book.
"After Sunday, we just had to pick up the group as a whole," Hollinger-Janzen said. "We had to get a positive mindset going into this game, and we did a great job.
The energy before this game was just phenomenal. It just carried into the game."
Hollinger-Janzen's scoring outburst coincides with a slight position change.
He moved from the midfield to forward last week against Butler and has since found success playing closer to the goal. He said playing up top allows him to be more offensive-oriented and seek out opportunities to put shots on frame.
"It just allows me to attack a little more," he said.
Hollinger-Janzen's play—and confidence—has rubbed off on his teammates, Yeagley said. The senior's leadership after a poor performance was exactly what the Hoosiers needed out of him.
"If we had to get someone on the scoresheet tonight, Femi was one of them," Yeagley said. "He's carrying a lot of responsibility with the team...I thought his performance tonight was good outside of the two goals. That's what we need from Femi. A lot of confidence."
A confident Hollinger-Janzen could help prompt a similar attack in Sunday's Big Ten matchup against Northwestern on the road.
The Hoosiers find themselves slightly behind after failing to pick up points in two conference matches to date, but there hasn't been any sign of panic.
Responses like Wednesday's gives Yeagley all the reason to stay confident.
"Teams can go south quickly if they don't respond (to adversity) in a positive way," Yeagley said. "Our energy and the positivity of this team is fantastic. That spirit came through tonight."
The Hoosiers earned a penalty in the 7th minute of Wednesday's game against Evansville, and someone needed to take it. Indiana trains a rotation of penalty takers, each allowed to take the shot when they see fit.
Hollinger-Janzen wasn't going to mess around deciding who should take it. He immediately gathered the ball, placed it and lined up to take the shot without ever looking to the sideline.
It was his shot.
"He never looked over," head coach Todd Yeagley said. "He just went and got the ball."
Hollinger-Janzen's confidence was rewarded. He buried the penalty shot, giving IU an early lead in a 3-0 win against Evansville. Later in the half, he added a second goal on a header, netting his fifth goal in six games.
"My teammates are just playing me great balls," Hollinger-Janzen said. "I'm just taking a few more chances as well. They're bound to go in."
While Hollinger-Janzen is quick to pass off credit, his recent hot streak has been a welcome addition for an IU offense that needed a spark.
After a self-described disappointing 4-1 loss to Rutgers last Sunday, Hollinger-Janzen was there to help IU bounce back emotionally and in the record book.
"After Sunday, we just had to pick up the group as a whole," Hollinger-Janzen said. "We had to get a positive mindset going into this game, and we did a great job.
The energy before this game was just phenomenal. It just carried into the game."
Hollinger-Janzen's scoring outburst coincides with a slight position change.
He moved from the midfield to forward last week against Butler and has since found success playing closer to the goal. He said playing up top allows him to be more offensive-oriented and seek out opportunities to put shots on frame.
"It just allows me to attack a little more," he said.
Hollinger-Janzen's play—and confidence—has rubbed off on his teammates, Yeagley said. The senior's leadership after a poor performance was exactly what the Hoosiers needed out of him.
"If we had to get someone on the scoresheet tonight, Femi was one of them," Yeagley said. "He's carrying a lot of responsibility with the team...I thought his performance tonight was good outside of the two goals. That's what we need from Femi. A lot of confidence."
A confident Hollinger-Janzen could help prompt a similar attack in Sunday's Big Ten matchup against Northwestern on the road.
The Hoosiers find themselves slightly behind after failing to pick up points in two conference matches to date, but there hasn't been any sign of panic.
Responses like Wednesday's gives Yeagley all the reason to stay confident.
"Teams can go south quickly if they don't respond (to adversity) in a positive way," Yeagley said. "Our energy and the positivity of this team is fantastic. That spirit came through tonight."
Players Mentioned
Forward/Midfielder
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