Women's Soccer Offseason Update with Greg Ryan
7/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
With the U-M Soccer Complex set to play host to the first game of the season in just over a month, MGoBlue sat down with Michigan head coach Greg Ryan as he gets set for year two at the helm of the Wolverine program.
On the team's progress through the spring
The spring went great, the players developed so much in the spring -- we cut the team back and made a much smaller team -- we really tried to focus on our top 13, 14 players by giving them a lot of individual attention between myself, Dean (Duerst), and Lene (Terp). We had very small groups to work with so we were able to give them a lot of feedback and and positive training. So from spring a year ago to the end of the spring this year was completely different -- the players have a much better understanding of how to play the game and are much better technically and tactically. I think weve got a good foundation to build on for this fall. We just have a few players we need to add in to kind of complete the picture.
On the team's goals for the 2009 season
I think we just want to be better than we were last year. I think with the training weve had plus some of the players that are coming in, we will play much better soccer than weve played probably for years. By that I mean we finally have the different pieces of the puzzle that fit together and I dont think thats been the case in the recent past. We have a true center forward, whereas weve been playing (Amanda) Bowery there. She is really a true center back playing at forward and she hardly ever played forward (before), so now we have people that actually understand their roles, positions and have the skill set to execute those roles and then if we can stay healthy, if we can get positive contributions from our players coming off the bench, then I think well definitely have a better season than last year. But, again, this was a recruiting class that had very few scholarships in it, but I think well still see improvement this year.
On the 2009 schedule
I think the main thing that Id like for these girls to do is win more games next year and develop the confidence that comes from winning. I think theyve lost for a few years in a row, and theyve lost close games, and just helping them get over that hump. There is some games that we know we are going be in way over our head. We play USC, who has been one of the top teams in the country and won the national championship two years ago at their place. So we know theres going to be some difficult games, but I think we can play in a way this year where our team will be in every game and with a chance to win. You know the USC game could be tough, but I just think these girls need to learn how to win again; they need to learn how not to lose because I think in the past they would do things that would give other teams opportunities to win and its teaching them how to eliminate those things from their games and to capitalize on their chances to win.
On what characteristics to expect in future Greg Ryan recruiting classes
Weve really made a major shift in philosophy from just athletic, big, players to just recruiting soccer players and they may be big, they are athletic, but our number one goal is that they are very, very skillful ,they are very smart and they are just very passionate about playing the game of soccer. So what the outcome in the field will be is that we will be able to possess the ball much better than we ever have, we will be able to attack better than we ever have and most of the players that Im recruiting now, whether they are backs or whether they are forwards or midfielders, can score goals. That has been a huge problem for this team -- they just dont score enough goals. They can defend well, but dont score enough goals. So as I am looking at players, even the defenders, I'm recruiting goal scorers. Usually defenders are not true defenders, usually they play somewhere else on the field like wing, mid or center-mid and we convert them into defenders. If you look back at the history of the U.S. National team, most of those starting defenders were forwards or midfielders earlier in their career and they were not defenders. It is good to have a couple of true defenders, but you need to have a lot of players that can score goals to really be successful. Otherwise, you become too limited and too easy to defend if you have only one or two players that can actually put the ball in the back of the net.
On how the new facilities will play into the program's future
I think besides the obvious that we are going to have a great place to play, its going to be beautiful. It is a European style stadium, it is enclosed, it is a statement of Michigans commitment to our programs -- both mens and womens soccer -- and I think its a commitment that has been missing. When recruits have gone to other schools in the Big Ten, they see good stadiums and at Michigan they didnt see that and now they are going to come to Michigan and they are going to see the best stadium in the Big Ten. I think that level of commitment that prospects see will only help continue to improve our recruiting efforts.
Contact: Ryan Sosin (734) 763-4423
