Indiana University Athletics
Behind the Goals: Victor Bezerra
4/29/2021 1:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
By: Jared Rigdon
IUHooisers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – When the Indiana men's soccer team reported back for an extended fall camp, the coaching staff and sophomore forward Victor Bezerra wanted to work on one thing above all: consistency.
They had seen what he could do in spurts during his freshman campaign. He tallied eight goals in his first year in Bloomington, including a hat-trick in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament against Kentucky.
Now it was about putting it all together.
He scored at an unbelievable clip in the preseason that left both him and the coaching staff believing it could translate to a condensed, conference-only regular season.
"It's been a consistent theme within my game to have a lot of goals," Bezerra said. "To help the team with goals and assists, I think that that's something that I bring to the table."
After an exit in the Sweet 16 in 2019 and losing a handful of key players like Joshua Penn and Aidan Morris, there were some questions surrounding IU's returning talent heading into the spring of 2021.
There was hardly an adjustment period for IU once the season began. The Hoosiers began by playing their first three games indoors and suffering an early setback in a 1-0 loss to Northwestern. After scoring four goals in his first two games, Bezerra wasn't fit enough to start the Northwestern game and played just a handful of minutes in the second half.
It became clear how important Bezerra was to the IU offense.
"I think my teammates know, they trust me at this point that if we're in trouble, and we get the ball to Vic, he's going to make something happen for us," Bezerra said. "Whether it's scoring, whether it's assisting, creating plays, injecting creativity within the front line, I think that's something that definitely I have embraced."
Since that loss to Northwestern, IU has run rampant through the Big Ten Conference. IU is 7-0-1 in that timespan, allowing just two goals enroute to a third-straight Big Ten Double and the No. 3 Overall Seed in the NCAA Tournament.
During that stretch, Bezerra has been a consistent offensive presence. He scored seven goals including five in the Big Ten Tournament. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Tournament.
"It's all about executing, being confident, doing the right things," Bezerra said. "It's been a long road since we got knocked out in 2019. It's been a long road, but all of us are very excited and very confident that we have what it takes to get the job done."
Along the way, Bezerra has found a knack for the spectacular.
He was inches away from beating the Penn State keeper for goal from the halfway point of the pitch. During last year's NCAA Tournament, Bezerra unleashed a smashing ball from roughly 30 yards out for a goal.
No greater moment was Bezerra's curling free-kick that snuck under the Maryland wall and into the bottom corner of the net to give IU a commanding 2-0 lead over the Terrapins in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
After that kick, he ran right to IU head coach Todd Yeagley to give him a vote of confidence.
"He loves the big occasions and I know how much it means to him to beat Maryland," Bezerra said. He likes to get fired up. So as soon as I scored I just went over to him and I told him, 'everything's gonna be okay, like, we're gonna get this done.'"
The next objective for Bezerra this season comes after IU gets off the plane in North Carolina.
There, IU will begin the journey for its long-coveted ninth star at the NCAA Tournament.
With sophomore goalie Roman Celentano, a sound midfield and Bezerra leading the line, IU's journey to the NCAA title will begin Sunday night.
Players like Bezerra know what it means to bring success to IU's program. He's won four trophies during his two seasons in Bloomington.
He's been consistent in his play all year and his message remains the same.
His next goal is his fifth trophy.
"We come to IU specifically to win championships," Bezerra said. "The national championship is the one that we want the most. That's our target at the end of every season. We know we can do it. It just brings out much more confidence and energy because we know we have it in ourselves to do so."
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
IUHooisers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – When the Indiana men's soccer team reported back for an extended fall camp, the coaching staff and sophomore forward Victor Bezerra wanted to work on one thing above all: consistency.
They had seen what he could do in spurts during his freshman campaign. He tallied eight goals in his first year in Bloomington, including a hat-trick in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament against Kentucky.
Now it was about putting it all together.
He scored at an unbelievable clip in the preseason that left both him and the coaching staff believing it could translate to a condensed, conference-only regular season.
"It's been a consistent theme within my game to have a lot of goals," Bezerra said. "To help the team with goals and assists, I think that that's something that I bring to the table."
After an exit in the Sweet 16 in 2019 and losing a handful of key players like Joshua Penn and Aidan Morris, there were some questions surrounding IU's returning talent heading into the spring of 2021.
There was hardly an adjustment period for IU once the season began. The Hoosiers began by playing their first three games indoors and suffering an early setback in a 1-0 loss to Northwestern. After scoring four goals in his first two games, Bezerra wasn't fit enough to start the Northwestern game and played just a handful of minutes in the second half.
It became clear how important Bezerra was to the IU offense.
"I think my teammates know, they trust me at this point that if we're in trouble, and we get the ball to Vic, he's going to make something happen for us," Bezerra said. "Whether it's scoring, whether it's assisting, creating plays, injecting creativity within the front line, I think that's something that definitely I have embraced."
Since that loss to Northwestern, IU has run rampant through the Big Ten Conference. IU is 7-0-1 in that timespan, allowing just two goals enroute to a third-straight Big Ten Double and the No. 3 Overall Seed in the NCAA Tournament.
During that stretch, Bezerra has been a consistent offensive presence. He scored seven goals including five in the Big Ten Tournament. He was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Tournament.
"It's all about executing, being confident, doing the right things," Bezerra said. "It's been a long road since we got knocked out in 2019. It's been a long road, but all of us are very excited and very confident that we have what it takes to get the job done."
Along the way, Bezerra has found a knack for the spectacular.
He was inches away from beating the Penn State keeper for goal from the halfway point of the pitch. During last year's NCAA Tournament, Bezerra unleashed a smashing ball from roughly 30 yards out for a goal.
No greater moment was Bezerra's curling free-kick that snuck under the Maryland wall and into the bottom corner of the net to give IU a commanding 2-0 lead over the Terrapins in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals.
After that kick, he ran right to IU head coach Todd Yeagley to give him a vote of confidence.
"He loves the big occasions and I know how much it means to him to beat Maryland," Bezerra said. He likes to get fired up. So as soon as I scored I just went over to him and I told him, 'everything's gonna be okay, like, we're gonna get this done.'"
The next objective for Bezerra this season comes after IU gets off the plane in North Carolina.
There, IU will begin the journey for its long-coveted ninth star at the NCAA Tournament.
With sophomore goalie Roman Celentano, a sound midfield and Bezerra leading the line, IU's journey to the NCAA title will begin Sunday night.
Players like Bezerra know what it means to bring success to IU's program. He's won four trophies during his two seasons in Bloomington.
He's been consistent in his play all year and his message remains the same.
His next goal is his fifth trophy.
"We come to IU specifically to win championships," Bezerra said. "The national championship is the one that we want the most. That's our target at the end of every season. We know we can do it. It just brings out much more confidence and energy because we know we have it in ourselves to do so."
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Midfielder/Defender
/ Men's Soccer
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