As the FC Indiana men’s Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL) team prepares for its winter 2008 season, there are already signs that the team will be ready to compete with the best.
"We have a young and perhaps somewhat inexperienced team," head coach Jorge Eufracio said. "But I am confident that by the end of the season we will be right up there with the best teams in the league."
Eufracio described his first four weeks of pre-season at the helm as "non-stop" work, including developing a relationship and trust with his team. However, he said that the future is already looking bright, and with the talent he has, there is nowhere to go but up. "Looking at this schedule and the players that we have, I feel that we should be competitive this winter," Eufracio said.
FC Indiana enters the season ranked with only 4 players with PASL experience, and Eufracio sees plenty of opportunities to improve upon that. FC Indiana will have their first opportunity when the team hosts Cleveland Pride on Saturday, January 5, 2008.
Of Cleveland, Eufracio noted that "they are very experienced and finished second in the division last season." Eufracio is expecting big things from Chris Castro who had 3 goals for FC Indiana in 2007. A forward from Elkhart, Castro posted the team best points total with 3 goals and 8 assists.
FC Indiana defender, Jairo Eufracio, is described by Eufracio as a "very steady player," and should continue to be a contributor to the FCI squad this season. Last year Jairo Eufracio averaged 49.5 minutes per game.
Coach Eufracio says that he expects a triumphant campaign. He is aiming to have his team steadily improve as the divisional playoff approach.
"I’m noticing in practice that their games are showing good improvement," he said. "Obviously, the goal is to peak right there in the beginning of March, and hopefully wins at our home would vault us into conference."
The PASL Midwest Division includes FC Indiana, Cleveland Pride, WAZA Detroit and Winchester Impact.
Tickets for non-members are $5 Adult (16 and over) and $2 Youth (under 5 free).
The University of Massachusetts standout freshman Stuart Amick, who helped the Massachusetts men’s team to NCAA D1 Final Four this season, scored a goal six minutes into the second half, (assisted by Ian Kelly) to give the FC Indiana men’s team a commanding 3-0 lead on the way to a 6-2 win over the Seleccion Huracan from Fort Wayne, IN and the 2007 Indiana Men’s Indoor State Cup championship Sunday afternoon in Lafayette, Indiana.
