Great News from the Hounds!

I am extremely honored and humbled to announce that the UIndy women's soccer team's 16 goals this season raised $2225.60 for Free2Play! We achieved our goal of beating last year's grand total of $870.75, which was equivalent to $32.25 per goal scored. Incredibly, our per-goal earnings this season were $139.10! I could not be more proud of my teammates for stepping up and speaking out for a cause that is more than worthy. 

As if that news wasn't good enough, there's more!! Alongside our friends on the UIndy men's soccer team, we earned a combined total of $627 from our Pink Games to go towards the efforts of fighting cancer. Again, I can't say enough how honored I feel to be a part of such an amazing group of people. 

Good luck to all of the UIndy teams still in competition. GO HOUNDS!

Kait #5

Free2Play Update

As of last night's win, we have scored 14 goals in our 2013 season. This totals $1,947.40! Simply incredible.....let's see if we can add to that tomorrow ladies!! It's GAME DAY!

LET'S GO HOUNDS!!!!

Kait #5

Spreading Smiles at Riley's Hospital

What an amazing week it's been to be a Hound. We've all officially survived the first week of classes, and the highlight of the week was our trip to Riley's Children's Hospital on Thursday afternoon.

Silly faces!!

The team :)



Visiting an aspiring ballerina :)



Upon arrival, our team broke up into three groups and visited three different floors of children at the hospital. Our entire mission was to bring them some happiness and smiles by visiting them and their families. We hoped to serve as a distraction to them from their regular hospital routine and bring some joy to very deserving people. We were told by our hospital guide that there were several kids on our floor who had been anxiously anticipating our arrival for days! They were so sweet and genuinely grateful for us coming to visit them. I feel so humbled and blessed to have been part of such a special day, and I look forward to the day our team makes another trip back!

Can't wait to see you all Friday at our first regular season game v. Ashland at 7:30pm at Key Stadium!

GO HOUNDS!!!!!
Kait #5

The Hounds go Camping!

This past weekend, the Hounds made a road trip to Seymour, Indiana to visit Camp Lakeview for some leadership training and team building exercises. Our team split up into three teams and tackled various obstacles on a ropes course that proved to be very challenging but very rewarding as well. The groups were divided into defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Within our groups, we had to put our communication skills to the test in order to successfully complete each obstacle. It was so cool to see different people step up and take on leadership roles in different scenarios.

The Forwards navigating a tight rope obstacle!

The Midfielders working together to keep the "radioactive" ball from falling.

 



The Defense talking strategy :)

 



After our time on the course was over, we had a delicious spaghetti dinner followed by team bonding. Our competitive nature came through when tetherball turned into a round robin tournament, and volleyball and kickball were no different. At night, we had a bonfire fire, roasted smores, and performed some skits. Bentley, Adams, and Bryant brought their ukuleles and performed a song for us, and Crump lead the team in lots of fun games.

Throughout the camping trip, we learned several valuable lessons:
     1. Stacey Klene and I are pretty fierce tetherball players, but we don't even hold a candle to Coach Amanda Mason. She literally doesn't lose.
     2. Our team was exceptionally good at a Pitch Perfect-style riff off. I was very impressed.
     3. 65 degrees is way too cold to keep your cabin at night...
     4. Keki and Bentley do a perfect impersonation of Betty White on the toilet. If you want to know more, you'll have to ask them.
     5. Our team does not deal with bugs well. At all.
     6. I have never seen Lindsey Adams so scared as I did when her life flashed before her eyes as Megan Fee spiked a volleyball at her face.
     7. Do not drop your teammates through massive spider web obstacles onto your goalkeeper's neck when there is no one else to catch them. Gravity is real.
     8. Most importantly, we learned how to better communicate with one another in challenging and stressful situations. This will without a doubt give us an advantage over our competition this season.

The team :)

This trip was a great escape from the stress of preseason. It allowed us to further strengthen the team chemistry we have worked so hard to create, and it provided lots and lots of laughs! It is times like these makes me realize even more how truly grateful and blessed I am to be a part of such an amazing group of young women. I am so excited to take the field alongside them on September 6th and show the GLVC what we have to offer!

GO HOUNDS!!

Kait #5

Free2Play Viral Video!!

During our 2013 preseason, junior goalkeeper Megan Fee planned and choreographed a viral video about our team's journey with the Free2Play campaign last year. As a communication's major with an emphasis in electronic media, she has a lot of experiencing directing short films and commercials, so she was perfect for this job! Check out this video we made featuring statistics of the harsh realities of human trafficking worldwide, the successes of our team's campaign during the 2012 season, and our plans to make this year's journey bigger and better!

Click here to view the Free2Play viral video!

 

 

If this is a cause that touches your heart like it has ours, please take action and pledge! You can do so via the UIndy Women's Soccer web page. By simply pledging a monetary amount for each goal scored in the 2013 soccer season, you will join us in the fight to end human trafficking. Last year, we raised $870.75, and this year it is our goal to beat that!

 

 

Thanks for viewing! Please help us raise awareness and spread the word! :)

 

 

Go Hounds!!

 

Kait #5

 

 



Apparel Orders: FIVE DAYS LEFT!

Attention all Greyhound fans!!! The new UIndy Women's Soccer gear is in and you don't want to miss out!!! There is a very tight window for orders this year, so please order soon if you see something you like! Orders must be placed by July 31st at midnight! Please forward the great news to your parents, grandparents, friends and family so everyone can get all the UIndy Women's Soccer gear they need for the upcoming season! Below, I have attached the link you'll need to view the new clothing items from the online store. All pricing, images, sizing, gender, etc. is located on this website, and you'll be able to place your order from there as well.

http://team-shop.lidsteamsports.com/form/show/UINDYSC13

Enjoy your shopping! We hope you're all as excited for this season as we are :)

GO HOUNDS!!
Kait #5

And the volunteering continues!!

Megan and Ashley went as representatives for the UIndy women's soccer team to a Free2Walk event held at a local church here in Greenwood last Sunday. This may sound familiar to some of you reading this, and that's because we participated as a team at this event last year as well. This is a 5K event held to raise awareness of human trafficking as well as money to donate to the cause. The event is very similar to the season-long Free2Play campaign we completed as a team during our last fall season.

Megan and Ashley representing the Greyhounds!

Having a common cause outside of the game of soccer that we are all passionate about makes us that much stronger as team. Creating the identity of a team who plays hard on the field, succeeds in the classroom, and works diligently to bring awareness to such a worthy cause is a great feeling that I am proud to say I am a part of. Stay tuned for more news regarding Free2Play in the upcoming fall season :)

Go Hounds!!

Kait #5

Springtime Service with the Hounds

When it came time to schedule some volunteer opportunites for the team this year, the first thing that came to my mind was Race for the Cure. This event, held annually in downtown Indianapolis, is dedicated to the cause of fighting breast cancer. People currently battling the disease, cancer survivors, family members, and community members from all over join up to participate in the festivities to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for breast cancer. We volunteered as a team two years ago, and I really wanted the underclassmen to have the same great experience the upperclassmen have had.

Having fun at Mile 1!!

We volunteered at Mile Marker #1 as cheerleaders for race walkers and runners. We chanted cheers supplied by I Am The Cure, and even got creative and made up our own. We spent the morning encouraging participants and creating a positive atmosphere in support of an incredible cause.

Creating a tunnel for race walkers and runners

The experience is very rewarding and touching. The participants often thank us and are extremely grateful for our efforts, which always baffles me because cheering during the event is so minor compared to the challenges they face every day with battling cancer. They are such strong and courageous people, so it makes us feel really good that we can bring a smile to their faces and maybe provide a little distraction for the morning.

The team absolutely LOVED this experience. I have heard discussion amongst them already that they are very interested in running in the race next year as long as our spring schedule will allow for it. Days like these make me so proud to be a part of this amazing group of girls!

Halloween in April: An Annual Tradition

The tradition lives on! Our annual Halloween in April themed practice took place on Friday, April 19th. The rules remained the same; costumes had to be appropriate and functional, meaning we had to wear them all practice. With the standards set high last year, we channeled our creative sides and this is what we came up with. Hope you enjoy!

The whole team :)

Tracie, Nicole, Bryant, and Bentley were the Avengers!

Megan as a nun and Kait as "salt" (Grindlay was "pepper")

Keki and Adams were ghosts!

Honey Boo Boo, a Jazzerciser, and Superwoman :)

We always get a good laugh out of Halloween and April (and so do those who catch a glimpse of our practice!) It's a fun way to end the spring season and enjoy one of the last days we can all train together before summer rolls around. I can't wait to see what the girls come up with next year!

Go Hounds!

Kait #5

Introducing the 5 Newest Hound Pups!

Our family has grown this week with the addition of five incoming freshman who signed on National Signing Day. Liz Behrends of Noblesville, IN, Jocelyn Evans of Cincinnati, OH, Jenna Linxwiler from Greenwood, IN, Hannah Mangus of Noblesville, IN, and Whitney Whitehouse from Cary, IL are the newest pups to join the Women's Soccer Team!

Click here to read the link from the UIndy Athletics website!

The team and I are very excited to welcome this talented group of girls on campus in the fall and hit the ground running! [literally... :)]. I've been lucky enough to meet most of these girls, and I have no doubt that they will bring a lot dedication and passion to our team, and will definitely contribute both on and off the field in our pursuit of a National Championship. Our 2013 preseason schedule is coming along great, and we will open up play on the second day of preseason at Indiana Wesleyan, who's always a strong opponent. Regular season opens up September 6th with a home match against Ashland! I'm already getting goosebumps!

Again, to all the incoming freshman, WELCOME! We're so happy you've decided to bring your talents to UIndy, and we look forward to meeting you in the fall. If you've got any questions at all, don't hesitate to contact me or any of the girls on the team. Good luck finishing up your senior years and club seasons, see you in the fall!!

Go Hounds!!

Kait #5 

Updates and Schedules

The UIndy Women's Soccer Team got the BEST letter in the mail recently. Tom Sermanni, the women's national team head coach that we trained with a couple weeks ago, sent us a hand written letter thanking us for participating in the session at the NSCAA Convention. I'm very proud of my team's performance, and we are honored to have gotten this opportunity that very few have gotten. Thanks to Coach Sermanni for allowing us to participate and for his support of the UIndy Women's Soccer Team!!

HOW COOL IS THIS?!

Even after this training session, the 2013 spring season has continued to go extremely well for us. I've honestly be so proud of my team lately. All of our hard work is really coming together both on and off the field. We are making great improvements in the weight room and in fitness sessions, and we also obtained the highest team GPA last semester out of all the women's sports teams on campus! We've got several community service projects in the works, and we've recently committed five new talented incoming freshmen. Feels great to be a Hound!

Our 2013 spring game schedule is also being finalized. Coach Kiley announced this week that we will play four Division I schools away this year including Ball State, IUPUI, Butler, and Xavier, in addition to our alumni game on April 20th at Key Stadium. Stay tuned for exact dates and times to be posted ASAP!

Go Hounds!

Kait #5

A Great Day to be a Hound

January 19th was a GREAT day to be a Greyhound. The day started with an hour training session with the newly appointed women's national team head coach, Tom Sermanni. Yes, you did read this correctly....we really did train with Tom Sermanni! We were demo players at the 2013 NSCAA Annual Coaching Convention for a session he designed focusing on combination play and possession. There were hundreds of coaches from across the country gathered in the audience to watch and learn from the best. After the session, we even got a chance to catch up with our own Geoff VanDeusen, who was head coach of the Greyhounds until 2011 when he took a job with the NSCAA.

The team with Coach Tom Sermanni!

After the session, we had the opportunity to explore the 2013 NSCAA Annual Convention (held just 10 minutes away from campus at the Indiana Convention Center). Some of us ran across Tony DiCicco, a former women's national team head coach, and many professional players like Marta, Michelle Akers, and Kristine Lilly also made appearances at the convention. The entire experience from start to finish was incredible, and we are so fortunate to have had this opportunity. In my three years as a Greyhound, this was easily one of the coolest things I've been a part of.

Bentley, Crump, Tony DiCicco, KJ, Kait, and Bryant

And as if all this wasn't enough, we also volunteered for an hour alongside the UIndy men's soccer team as buddies for a group of TOP Soccer athletes. As many of you already know, this is not our team's first experience volunteering with TOP Soccer, which is a soccer program for children with disabilities. This session, like the session with Tom Sermanni, was open for coaches to sit in and learn how to adapt some common soccer drills and make them functional for all types of athletes. Working with the athletes is always a rewarding experience and is guaranteed to put a smile on our faces. Their love of soccer and competitive spirit is very inspiring to us. I'm sure we'll be seeing them again in the future!

Nicole, Kiara, Tracey, and their buddy, A.J.

Alex and the girls :)

 

Check back in for updates on our spring schedule as we continue our pursuit of the Division II National Championship!

Love,Kait #5 and Megan #1