2009 Indiana State Soccer Season Preview
2009 Indiana State Soccer Season Preview After a 2008 season that saw the Indiana State women’s soccer team make an improbable run to the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game, excitement and anticipation for the 2009 season began as soon as the offseason began. That excitement undoubtedly began on February 10, with the announcement that Indiana State would welcome Erika True as the head coach for the 2009 season. True comes to Indiana State after spending four seasons as the assistant coach at Indiana University. Prior to her four-year stint with the Hoosiers, True served in multiple coaching capacities at MVC rival Creighton from 2003 through 2005. True completed her time on the field as a player in 2002 after spending four years at Bowling Green State University, where she still holds the majority of the school’s goalkeeping records. Joining True on the sidelines this season will be a pair of talented assistant coaches. True’s top assistant for the 2009 season will be Justin Ruetz. Along with working on the field, Ruetz will assist in the recruiting process for the Sycamores, where he has quickly shown his ability to bring high quality talent into the program. “Justin is a great asset to the program,” said head coach True. “He understands the game very well and has a great ability to connect with the players. Every program that he has been a part of has seen success follow and I believe that his knowledge and expectations will help take our program to great heights.” Also assisting True this season will be Erin Murray. Murray will begin her second year with the Sycamores and her primary focus will be to work with the goalkeepers, but head coach True sees her taking more of an on-field coaching presence this season.
Head coach Erika True with junior Natasia San Cartier
“Erin had a very successful career at Valparaiso and her knowledge and experience will benefit our pair of young goalkeepers immensely,” said head coach True. “She has spent tons of extra time and effort working with our goalies to minimize their weaknesses and I look forward to her assisting me on the sidelines this season.” For any soccer team, the players that defend the goal play a very important role for their team. The 2009 Sycamores have the luxury of having two young, talented goalkeepers on their roster in sophomores Emily Lahay and Taylor Nelson. Both players saw action in 15 games last season and have been locked in a contest since the end of last season to claim the starting position for the fall. “Emily and Taylor are both great goalkeepers,” said head coach True.” They have both played in big games for ISU and bring a diverse set of skills to the table. It will be a great battle this fall to see who will ultimately earn that spot.” Look into the defensive half for the Sycamores and you will find an area comprised mostly of young talent. Sophomores Morgan Wendlandt and Katie Geyman, who will switch to defense from an attacking position last season, will lead the young group this season. Alongside these two second-year players will be senior Noelle Carusillo, junior Sarah Tretter and fellow sophomores Melisa Spisak and Laura Terry, giving Indiana State plenty of talent to choose from. The Sycamores will also be adding a pair of defenders with the incoming freshman class in the form of Hayley Alden and Kourtney Vassar, who both will have the opportunity to earn playing time.
Sophomore Katie Geyman
“The defense will be young this year,” said head coach True. “With the addition of Katie Geyman to an already strong defensive core, we should be a solid team that will continue to focus on our defensive principles throughout the fall.” The midfield for the 2009 Sycamores will be laden with experience and game changing abilities. Seniors Katlin Owens and Erin Bianchi will be looked upon to control the flow and pace of the game this season. Alongside these seniors in
2009 Indiana State Soccer Season Preview the midfield will be juniors Claire Gibbons and Natasia San Cartier and a talented young core of sophomores Seyma Erenli, Alison Gasparovich, Laura Hall and Monica LaPlant. Joining the returning Sycamores this season will be four freshman who will all battle for playing time this fall. They will be twin sisters Natalia and Tatiana Ariza, Caitlin Boger and Taylor Hancock.
Sophomore Seyma Erenli
“I see a lot of potential in our midfield this season, “said head coach True. “You will find some of our top returning players on our team in the midfield and we hope to surround those players with others that will immediately impact the whole of our midfield line. All the midfielders that we have this season have the capability to create a major impact on the game with the ability to attack, finish and individually defend.” The 2009 Sycamore soccer team has several players that have the ability to play multiple roles on the field. Senior Whitney McInnis and sophomores Casey Clark and Jessica Rosenberg will all be tagged with the “utility” role this season, which will allow head coach True and her staff to adapt their lineup and formation based on each opponent. “All three players can play in the midfield or in a forward position,” said head coach True. “They can do basically anything that I ask of them on the field and I believe they will be ready to jump into any role that I ask them to play.” Playing time on the attacking front for ISU is up for grabs coming into the 2009 season. The trio of utility players will likely see time at the forward position, along with sophomore returnees Tia Perry and Natalie Smailis. Two talented incoming freshman strikers Casey Allbright and Kelly Shulman will join the Sycamores this season and battle for time up front as well.
Sophomore Laura Hall
“Indiana State made a great run in the tournament last season,” said head coach True, “and we are looking forward to building on that success this season. One of the goals that the team has set this season is to finish at the top of the MVC so that we can battle for ISU’s first NCAA Tournament berth. “I can feel the excitement in the kids. They’re excited for the season, excited for the program and its future possibilities.” The Sycamores return an experienced squad of 19 letterwinners and seven starters from 2008’s 5-15-0 team. With only four seniors and three juniors, the Indiana State soccer program is flush with young talent. A total of 14 sophomores and eight incoming freshman complete the 2009 roster that will participate in a 17 game regular season schedule. Including the Sycamores’ exhibition match against on August 16 against Western Michigan, Indiana State will start the season with a five-game road trip against Southeast Missouri State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and Eastern Illinois. The Sycamores will then return home for their first home game at newly-renovated Memorial Stadium and begin a three-game homestand, their longest of the season, against IUPUI, Ohio and Butler. Indiana State will hit the road again, this time for a three-game swing against Southern Illinois Edwardsville, their Missouri Valley Conference opener at Creighton and a non-conference matchup against Missouri – Kansas City. Two home games will be awaiting the Sycamores when they return, in the form of Wright State and MVC opponent Illinois State. The Sycamores will then hit the road and wrap up non-conference play against in-state rival Valparaiso.
Seniors Katlin Owens, Noelle Carusillo, Erin Bianchi and Whitney McInnis
The remaining schedule for the 2009 soccer team will consist of MVC matchups with Evansville at home, on the road against Northern Iowa, at home against Missouri State and at Drake. The play-in game of the MVC Tournament will be held November 1 with semi-final and championship matchups on November 6 and 8, respectively.
2009 Indiana State Soccer 2009 Schedule Date
Opponent
Location
Time
ISU Record
Sunday, August 16
at Western Michigan (Exh.)
Kalamazoo, Mich.
1:00 pm
----
Friday, August 21
at Southeast Missouri State
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
8:00 pm
0-1-1
Friday, August 28
at Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Ohio
5:00 pm
First Meeting
Sunday, August 30
at Eastern Michigan
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1:00 pm
First Meeting
Friday, September 4
at Eastern Illinois
Charleston, Ill.
6:00 pm
2-6-1
Sunday, September 6
IUPUI
Terre Haute, Ind.
2:00 pm
5-3-1
Friday, September 11
Ohio
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
First Meeting
Sunday, September 13
Butler
Terre Haute, Ind.
1:00 pm
2-5-0
Thursday, September 17 at Southern Illinois Edwardsville Edwardsville, Ill.
8:00 pm
0-1-0
Friday, September 25
at Creighton *
Omaha, Neb.
8:00 pm
0-11-0
Sunday, September 27
at Missouri – Kansas City
Kansas City, Mo.
2:00 pm
First Meeting
Wednesday, September 30 Wright State
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
First Meeting
Saturday, October 3
Illinois State *
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
3-8-0
Friday, October 9
at Valparaiso
Valparaiso, Ind.
5:00 pm
2-7-0
Wednesday, October 14 Evansville *
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
4-7-1
Saturday, October 17
at Northern Iowa *
Cedar Falls, Iowa
3:00 pm
6-4-0
Friday, October 23
Missouri State *
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
3-6-0
Thursday, October 29
at Drake *
Des Moines, Iowa
8:00 pm
1-7-0
Sunday, November 1
MVC Tournament (Play-In Game) TBA
TBA
----
Friday, November 6
MVC Tournament (Semi-finals)
Omaha, Neb.
TBA
----
Sunday, November 8
MVC Tournament (Championship) Omaha, Neb.
TBA
----
2009 Indiana State Soccer 2009 Roster No. Name
Pos.
Ht.
Year
Hometown (Previous School)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Emily Lahay Taylor Nelson Kourtney Vassar Casey Clark Jessica Rosenberg Tatiana Ariza Natalia Ariza Erin Bianchi Natasia San Cartier Katie Geyman Whitney McInnis Casey Allbright Seyma Erenli Morgan Wendlandt Noelle Carusillo Katlin Owens Laura Hall Kelly Shulman Alison Gasparovich Hayley Alden Taylor Hancock Monica LaPlant Caitlin Boger Melisa Spisak Sarah Tretter Tia Perry Natalie Smailis Laura Terry Erin Gibson Claire Gibbons
GK GK D MF / F F MF MF MF MF / D D MF / F F MF / F D D MF MF F MF D MF MF / D MF D D F F D GK MF / D
5-9 5-6 5-6 5-3 5-6 5-3 5-3 5-2 5-7 5-8 5-5 5-4 5-8 5-8 5-3 5-8 5-3 5-2 5-4 5-8 5-3 5-11 5-6 5-10 5-3 5-3 5-8 5-8 5-4 5-8
So. So. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. So. So. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. Jr.
Sullivan, Ind. (Sullivan) Albuquerque, N.M. (La Cueva) Olathe, Kan. (Olathe South) Overland Park, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Iona Catholic Secondary School) Cundinamarca, Colombia Cundinamarca, Colombia Mansfield, Ohio (Lexington) Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (Lo-Ellen Park Secondary) Warren, Mich. (Warren Woods Tower) Floyd Knobs, Ind. (Floyd Central) Bloomington, Ind. (Bloomington South) Melbourne, Australia (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) Fort Atkinson, Wis. (Fort Atkinson) Dublin, Ohio (Dublin Jerome) Lewis Center, Ohio (Olentangy) Coffs Harbour, Australia (Bishop Druit College) Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community) Overland Park, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Granger, Ind. (Penn) Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North) Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton) Overland Park, Kan. (St. Teresa’s Academy) Crown Point, Ind. (Crown Point) Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community) LaGrange, Ind. (Lakeland) Highland, Ind. (Highland) Grand Haven, Mich. (Grand Haven) Lexington, Ohio (Lexington) Irchester, England (Saint Leo University)
0 5 / 6 8 9 10 13 14 15 19 23 24 27
Emily Lahay...............................LAY-hay Tatiana / Natalia Ariza............ah-REE-za Erin Bianchi................................BEE-on-key Natasia San Cartier.................SAN-can-tee-AIR Katie Geyman...........................GUY-men Seyma Erenli.............................SHAY-ma Er-en-lee Morgan Wendlandt................wen-LANT Noelle Carusillo........................care-REW-see-o Alison Gasparovich.................gas-PAR-o-vich Caitlin Boger.............................BOW-ger Melisa Spisak............................spee-SACK Natalie Smailis..........................smile-ISS
Alphabetical Order
Pronunciation Guide 20 12 6 5 8 23 15 3 13 19 10 30 29 17 21
Hayley Alden Casey Allbright Natalia Ariza Tatiana Ariza Erin Bianchi Caitlin Boger Noelle Carusillo Casey Clark Seyma Erenli Alison Gasparovich Katie Geyman Claire Gibbons Erin Gibson Laura Hall Taylor Hancock
0 22 11 1 16 26 4 9 18 27 24 28 25 2 14
Emily Lahay Monica LaPlant Whitney McInnis Taylor Nelson Katlin Owens Tia Perry Jessica Rosenberg Natasia San Cartier Kelly Shulman Natalie Smailis Melisa Spisak Laura Terry Sarah Tretter Kourtney Vassar Morgan Wendlandt
Head coach Erika True with junior Natasia San Cartier
“Erin had a very successful career at Valparaiso and her knowledge and experience will benefit our pair of young goalkeepers immensely,” said head coach True. “She has spent tons of extra time and effort working with our goalies to minimize their weaknesses and I look forward to her assisting me on the sidelines this season.” For any soccer team, the players that defend the goal play a very important role for their team. The 2009 Sycamores have the luxury of having two young, talented goalkeepers on their roster in sophomores Emily Lahay and Taylor Nelson. Both players saw action in 15 games last season and have been locked in a contest since the end of last season to claim the starting position for the fall. “Emily and Taylor are both great goalkeepers,” said head coach True.” They have both played in big games for ISU and bring a diverse set of skills to the table. It will be a great battle this fall to see who will ultimately earn that spot.” Look into the defensive half for the Sycamores and you will find an area comprised mostly of young talent. Sophomores Morgan Wendlandt and Katie Geyman, who will switch to defense from an attacking position last season, will lead the young group this season. Alongside these two second-year players will be senior Noelle Carusillo, junior Sarah Tretter and fellow sophomores Melisa Spisak and Laura Terry, giving Indiana State plenty of talent to choose from. The Sycamores will also be adding a pair of defenders with the incoming freshman class in the form of Hayley Alden and Kourtney Vassar, who both will have the opportunity to earn playing time.
Sophomore Katie Geyman
“The defense will be young this year,” said head coach True. “With the addition of Katie Geyman to an already strong defensive core, we should be a solid team that will continue to focus on our defensive principles throughout the fall.” The midfield for the 2009 Sycamores will be laden with experience and game changing abilities. Seniors Katlin Owens and Erin Bianchi will be looked upon to control the flow and pace of the game this season. Alongside these seniors in
2009 Indiana State Soccer Season Preview the midfield will be juniors Claire Gibbons and Natasia San Cartier and a talented young core of sophomores Seyma Erenli, Alison Gasparovich, Laura Hall and Monica LaPlant. Joining the returning Sycamores this season will be four freshman who will all battle for playing time this fall. They will be twin sisters Natalia and Tatiana Ariza, Caitlin Boger and Taylor Hancock.
Sophomore Seyma Erenli
“I see a lot of potential in our midfield this season, “said head coach True. “You will find some of our top returning players on our team in the midfield and we hope to surround those players with others that will immediately impact the whole of our midfield line. All the midfielders that we have this season have the capability to create a major impact on the game with the ability to attack, finish and individually defend.” The 2009 Sycamore soccer team has several players that have the ability to play multiple roles on the field. Senior Whitney McInnis and sophomores Casey Clark and Jessica Rosenberg will all be tagged with the “utility” role this season, which will allow head coach True and her staff to adapt their lineup and formation based on each opponent. “All three players can play in the midfield or in a forward position,” said head coach True. “They can do basically anything that I ask of them on the field and I believe they will be ready to jump into any role that I ask them to play.” Playing time on the attacking front for ISU is up for grabs coming into the 2009 season. The trio of utility players will likely see time at the forward position, along with sophomore returnees Tia Perry and Natalie Smailis. Two talented incoming freshman strikers Casey Allbright and Kelly Shulman will join the Sycamores this season and battle for time up front as well.
Sophomore Laura Hall
“Indiana State made a great run in the tournament last season,” said head coach True, “and we are looking forward to building on that success this season. One of the goals that the team has set this season is to finish at the top of the MVC so that we can battle for ISU’s first NCAA Tournament berth. “I can feel the excitement in the kids. They’re excited for the season, excited for the program and its future possibilities.” The Sycamores return an experienced squad of 19 letterwinners and seven starters from 2008’s 5-15-0 team. With only four seniors and three juniors, the Indiana State soccer program is flush with young talent. A total of 14 sophomores and eight incoming freshman complete the 2009 roster that will participate in a 17 game regular season schedule. Including the Sycamores’ exhibition match against on August 16 against Western Michigan, Indiana State will start the season with a five-game road trip against Southeast Missouri State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and Eastern Illinois. The Sycamores will then return home for their first home game at newly-renovated Memorial Stadium and begin a three-game homestand, their longest of the season, against IUPUI, Ohio and Butler. Indiana State will hit the road again, this time for a three-game swing against Southern Illinois Edwardsville, their Missouri Valley Conference opener at Creighton and a non-conference matchup against Missouri – Kansas City. Two home games will be awaiting the Sycamores when they return, in the form of Wright State and MVC opponent Illinois State. The Sycamores will then hit the road and wrap up non-conference play against in-state rival Valparaiso.
Seniors Katlin Owens, Noelle Carusillo, Erin Bianchi and Whitney McInnis
The remaining schedule for the 2009 soccer team will consist of MVC matchups with Evansville at home, on the road against Northern Iowa, at home against Missouri State and at Drake. The play-in game of the MVC Tournament will be held November 1 with semi-final and championship matchups on November 6 and 8, respectively.
2009 Indiana State Soccer 2009 Schedule Date
Opponent
Location
Time
ISU Record
Sunday, August 16
at Western Michigan (Exh.)
Kalamazoo, Mich.
1:00 pm
----
Friday, August 21
at Southeast Missouri State
Cape Girardeau, Mo.
8:00 pm
0-1-1
Friday, August 28
at Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Ohio
5:00 pm
First Meeting
Sunday, August 30
at Eastern Michigan
Ypsilanti, Mich.
1:00 pm
First Meeting
Friday, September 4
at Eastern Illinois
Charleston, Ill.
6:00 pm
2-6-1
Sunday, September 6
IUPUI
Terre Haute, Ind.
2:00 pm
5-3-1
Friday, September 11
Ohio
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
First Meeting
Sunday, September 13
Butler
Terre Haute, Ind.
1:00 pm
2-5-0
Thursday, September 17 at Southern Illinois Edwardsville Edwardsville, Ill.
8:00 pm
0-1-0
Friday, September 25
at Creighton *
Omaha, Neb.
8:00 pm
0-11-0
Sunday, September 27
at Missouri – Kansas City
Kansas City, Mo.
2:00 pm
First Meeting
Wednesday, September 30 Wright State
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
First Meeting
Saturday, October 3
Illinois State *
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
3-8-0
Friday, October 9
at Valparaiso
Valparaiso, Ind.
5:00 pm
2-7-0
Wednesday, October 14 Evansville *
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
4-7-1
Saturday, October 17
at Northern Iowa *
Cedar Falls, Iowa
3:00 pm
6-4-0
Friday, October 23
Missouri State *
Terre Haute, Ind.
7:00 pm
3-6-0
Thursday, October 29
at Drake *
Des Moines, Iowa
8:00 pm
1-7-0
Sunday, November 1
MVC Tournament (Play-In Game) TBA
TBA
----
Friday, November 6
MVC Tournament (Semi-finals)
Omaha, Neb.
TBA
----
Sunday, November 8
MVC Tournament (Championship) Omaha, Neb.
TBA
----
2009 Indiana State Soccer 2009 Roster No. Name
Pos.
Ht.
Year
Hometown (Previous School)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Emily Lahay Taylor Nelson Kourtney Vassar Casey Clark Jessica Rosenberg Tatiana Ariza Natalia Ariza Erin Bianchi Natasia San Cartier Katie Geyman Whitney McInnis Casey Allbright Seyma Erenli Morgan Wendlandt Noelle Carusillo Katlin Owens Laura Hall Kelly Shulman Alison Gasparovich Hayley Alden Taylor Hancock Monica LaPlant Caitlin Boger Melisa Spisak Sarah Tretter Tia Perry Natalie Smailis Laura Terry Erin Gibson Claire Gibbons
GK GK D MF / F F MF MF MF MF / D D MF / F F MF / F D D MF MF F MF D MF MF / D MF D D F F D GK MF / D
5-9 5-6 5-6 5-3 5-6 5-3 5-3 5-2 5-7 5-8 5-5 5-4 5-8 5-8 5-3 5-8 5-3 5-2 5-4 5-8 5-3 5-11 5-6 5-10 5-3 5-3 5-8 5-8 5-4 5-8
So. So. Fr. So. So. Fr. Fr. Sr. Jr. So. Sr. Fr. So. So. Sr. Sr. So. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. So. Fr. So. Jr. So. So. So. Sr. Jr.
Sullivan, Ind. (Sullivan) Albuquerque, N.M. (La Cueva) Olathe, Kan. (Olathe South) Overland Park, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Iona Catholic Secondary School) Cundinamarca, Colombia Cundinamarca, Colombia Mansfield, Ohio (Lexington) Sudbury, Ontario, Canada (Lo-Ellen Park Secondary) Warren, Mich. (Warren Woods Tower) Floyd Knobs, Ind. (Floyd Central) Bloomington, Ind. (Bloomington South) Melbourne, Australia (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) Fort Atkinson, Wis. (Fort Atkinson) Dublin, Ohio (Dublin Jerome) Lewis Center, Ohio (Olentangy) Coffs Harbour, Australia (Bishop Druit College) Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community) Overland Park, Kan. (St. Thomas Aquinas) Granger, Ind. (Penn) Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North) Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton) Overland Park, Kan. (St. Teresa’s Academy) Crown Point, Ind. (Crown Point) Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community) LaGrange, Ind. (Lakeland) Highland, Ind. (Highland) Grand Haven, Mich. (Grand Haven) Lexington, Ohio (Lexington) Irchester, England (Saint Leo University)
0 5 / 6 8 9 10 13 14 15 19 23 24 27
Emily Lahay...............................LAY-hay Tatiana / Natalia Ariza............ah-REE-za Erin Bianchi................................BEE-on-key Natasia San Cartier.................SAN-can-tee-AIR Katie Geyman...........................GUY-men Seyma Erenli.............................SHAY-ma Er-en-lee Morgan Wendlandt................wen-LANT Noelle Carusillo........................care-REW-see-o Alison Gasparovich.................gas-PAR-o-vich Caitlin Boger.............................BOW-ger Melisa Spisak............................spee-SACK Natalie Smailis..........................smile-ISS
Alphabetical Order
Pronunciation Guide 20 12 6 5 8 23 15 3 13 19 10 30 29 17 21
Hayley Alden Casey Allbright Natalia Ariza Tatiana Ariza Erin Bianchi Caitlin Boger Noelle Carusillo Casey Clark Seyma Erenli Alison Gasparovich Katie Geyman Claire Gibbons Erin Gibson Laura Hall Taylor Hancock
0 22 11 1 16 26 4 9 18 27 24 28 25 2 14
Emily Lahay Monica LaPlant Whitney McInnis Taylor Nelson Katlin Owens Tia Perry Jessica Rosenberg Natasia San Cartier Kelly Shulman Natalie Smailis Melisa Spisak Laura Terry Sarah Tretter Kourtney Vassar Morgan Wendlandt
