Sycamores to begin spring play against Miami University of Ohio

On February 10, ISU signed its second women's soccer coach in history: Erika True.

True takes the reigns of Sycamore soccer from former head coach Vernon Croft, who took the Sycamores to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship last year. True comes to Indiana State from Indiana University, where she coached the Hoosiers goalies including freshman Lauren Hollandsworth who was All-BigTen freshman team.

"These (athletes) are different from the (IU athletes)," True said, "These kids are blue-collar kids, who want to work hard all the time, they are fit and in shape and they are ready to play."

The Sycamores were killed by injury in the past, and that has been something on the mind of True.

"You have to be creative," True said. "We will get by, we will be just fine."

The players themselves, are pretty happy with True.

"She is a great addition to this program," said Senior midfielder Noelle Carusillo. "With her experience and knowledge of the game we can make it to the next level, an MVC championship."

Changing the culture is a key factor in changing the way a team plays. Especially when this Sycamore team ended on a hot streak last year going all the way to the MVC championship game losing to the University of Evansville, 2-0.

"We talk about that everyday as a staff," True said. "When I write to recruits, I make sure to tell them that our culture has changed and that our mentality has changed."

"The mentality of 'you have to do more to get better'," True said, "that mentality is definitely back because these girls truly are on a clean slate and they want to (prove themselves)."

True was a standout goalie at Bowling Green University. In 2002, True finished her career holding every goalkeeping record in the Bowling Green. True was all first team All-MAC, third team all-region and MAC all conference tournament team.

"These athletes went through a period where they didn't have a head coach," True said. "By the time I was here these kids were chomping at the bit to impress someone, and I can't say enough about their effort."

The Sycamores really started over again after getting a new head coach.

"We really started with the basics," True said, "and we're going to keep building it up through their training and the spring and the summer."

The Sycamores take on the Redhawks of Miami of Ohio on Saturday at the Memorial Stadium at 2 pm.

"I was a part of the MAC so I know that when we played Miami they always had kick to them," True said, " I expect them to have that again."