NORMAL, Ill. – Under new head coach Eric Golz, the Illinois State soccer team finished its spring exhibition season Friday at Adelaide Street Field. The Redbirds used a late penalty kick to secure a 2-1 win over Northern Illinois and put the finishing touches on a six-match season.
Change is in the air for ISU as the program said goodbye to five graduating seniors and the coaching staff from a team that finished 16-6 and advanced to the NCAA Second Round last season. Golz and his staff of Ashlee Pistorius Slayback and Brad Silvey have taken over the reins and Golz, who came in after the New Year, felt the spring season was a productive one.
"I thought it was a really productive spring," said Golz. "I came here in January and it was really all about the new staff getting acclimated to the players and vice versa. So, from where we started to where we finished, I thought we made a ton of progress both individually and collectively."
Golz is taking over a team that ranked eighth in the nation in goals per game last season, but just 18 goals from last year's team return. That means players are required to step into new roles and take on more responsibility, all while learning Golz's system.
"There are different ways of doing things, and not necessarily better or worse, but just different ways," said Golz. "For the players there are different roles positionally and different roles in what we expect out of them. It hasn't been a massive change, but there certainly have been adjustments for the players and I think it's been a very smooth transition. Everybody has bought in and we're in a good place."
With five seniors graduated, Golz will rely on returning players to make a jump in production this season.
"Abby Van Deventer was significantly improved from the first to the last game in terms of her understanding of her role and position," said Golz. "The decisions she made tactically were good and nobody got behind her. She was a great defender and now the next step is her becoming more of a two-way player."
Kelli Zickert is the top returner in points with 15 and Brooke Ksiazek was a stabilizing presence in the midfield last season.
"Brooke ended the spring on a really high note," said Golz. "Kelli showed signs of being a dynamic player. She showed some very good glimpses of having some special qualities on the ball."
With spring season ended, the focus now shifts to the fall. The Redbirds will kick off the 2015 campaign in late-August, but before they do, there is still work to be done.
"In order for us to play the tempo we want to play we need to be more fit," said Golz. "All of our players need to be more comfortable on the ball so that's a big priority and, last but not least, we have to create a stronger bond. We must develop relationship within the team and develop the culture of who we're going to be."
GoRedbirds.com:Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
