It is Alumni Weekend for the men’s and women’s soccer teams. Large crowds will be on hand Saturday as the Bluejays feature a full day of soccer action. WBR caught up with Bruce Erickson and Jamie Clark to talk about the games at hand.
Bruce Erickson and his coaches discuss halftime adjustments
White & Blue Review: You will be facing Evansville tomorrow as part of a busy alumni weekend, can you tell us a bit about the Aces and what you think they will bring on Saturday?
Bruce Erickson: They are a young team that had a pretty successful year last year. They lost two forwards to graduation that were, in my opinion, two of the best offensive players in the league last year. We have been able to build a bit of a rivalry over the years with them, as the last few games have been a bit spirited.
WBR: Is alumni weekend viewed any different to you or the players?
BE: Not really. We still have a job to do and we will go out and play our best. It will be nice to have a good crowd on hand on Saturday, and it will be good to see some of the former players, but overall, we will be focused on Evansville.
WBR: Four of your final five games of the year will be at home; how big of an advantage is that for you and the team?
BE: It is a great advantage. I hope that we will be able to get up for all of our games at home, especially Drake. That game could come down to who wins the league this year if each team plays like they have been. Our one road match at Missouri State should be a winnable game, but it will also be a good test.
Jamie Clark doesn't care for the non-call
White & Blue Review: How is the team mentally and physically after the big win over Tulsa?
Jamie Clark: I don’t think we are any worse than we were when we came into the game. The guys are very positive right now and are having a good time on the field.
WBR: With the game against Indiana on alumni weekend, do you put any more emphasis on how well the team plays with the old timers in town?
JC: I think this game is fun for alums, and we need to give them a good showing. These are the guys that built this program to where it is today, and they deserve to see our best. But Indiana will be a tough opponent, so we will need to focus on them.
WBR: With your dad’s Notre Dame team beating Indiana earlier in the week, have you called him for a few extra tips on taking on the Hoosiers?
JC: I am not sure if that win for Notre Dame was good or bad for us. I am happy for him, and am glad he got the win, but does Indiana now come in with a an attitude of desperation and really take it to us? We talk all the time, and I have not called him yet, but we will chat tonight and discuss the game.
WBR: Tell me a little bit about Indiana.
JC: They are a good club that just hasn’t reached their potential in all of their games. They had a big win over UCLA earlier in the season and that game really showed how good they are. They are a quick team and should come in to Omaha and really give us a game.
WBR: With the recent climb in the national polls, do you use those as a motivator for the team or do you avoid those publications?
JC: We use video to watch and scout how good our opponents are. Five weeks ago, the polls didn’t think we were any good, and now they think we are one of the best teams in the nation.
WBR: At this point in the season, would you say you are pretty set on your starting 11 or is there still an opportunity for a player to step up in a game situation or in practice?
JC: Right now I would say we have a pretty good core 12-13 that we could interchange, but I would say we are pretty happy with the 11 we put out there right now. There are a strong 1 or 2 that we bring off the bench, but I would say we are pretty happy with where we are. But, in the game of soccer, there is always the chance of injury or something else that opens that opportunity for a player.