 "Photo: Daniel Lim")
Their record may not necessarily show it, but UIC soccer undeniably possesses one of the most talented rosters in the region, and maybe even country. Heading this gifted squad is senior co-captain Pavle Dundjer, a flashy midfielder who became the first four-time All-Horizon League First Team member in the league history. Along with fellow senior co-captains Cesar Zambrano and Brandon Bilbrey, Dundjer has the team peeking at the right time, after two crucial games resulting in the Flames clinching a third seed in the Horizon League tournament. This guaranteed them a first round by last Friday.
Many on the squad believe that this team is ready to make another playoff run on par with that of last year's group, if not better. The play of the team's defense lately certainly backs their case.
The Flames boast an all-star caliber roster, which includes defensive back Pat McMahon, who was honored as a member of College Soccer News National Team of the Week last Monday. They also feature the highest number of players on the All-Horizon League First team with four, including Dundjer, Zambrano, midfielder Baggio Husidic, and goalie and fan favorite Jovan Bubonja. Twenty-two year-old English freshman Charlie Trout was also recognized, being named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Awards and recognition only go so far however and Dundjer understands that.
"It feels good to know that you are the only guy ever to achieve that, but that is all in the back of my head, the only thing I'm focusing on right now is the conference tournament, and I've never won it, so I want to win it senior year," said Dundjer.
This is the last go around for Dundjer and four other seniors, and it is clear that every man on the roster is intensely focused on the conference championship. But how do the Flames continue on this confidence high and translate that in to a Horizon League trophy?
Perhaps the answer lies in the hands of the flashy Bubonja and his airtight defensive unit that has pitched 12 shutouts in 20 games and who not given up more than two goals in a game this season. Tally that up, and Bubonja has surrendered only 15 goals in 20 games, giving the Flames an impressive statistic of .75 goals per outing. For Dundjer and the rest of the Flames, this solid defensive unit allows the rest of the squad to take more chances and focus on finding goals.
"I think we stopped worrying about [the defense] around the fifth game of last season because we know the defense is going to do there job no matter what happens or who's playing," said Dundjer.
The strategic formula is simple for this team according to standout defensive back McMahon.
"We try to double team when we can, keep numbers around the ball and just move as a unit," said McMahon.
This defensive unit is ranks statistically among the best defensive units in the country with its great blend of skill, physicality, speed, youth and relative experience. The defensive unit gets solid play all around from the likes of backs Mike Giffin, Alan Husidic, Robert Younger, and McMahon and Bubonja.
For freshman defender Younger, high expectations are not lofty dreams but rather achievable goals.
"At the least, a NCAA Tournament birth, at the least," said Younger. "We have so much talent on our team and so much experience, there is no reason why we shouldn't go far in the tournament if we play as a team, which we have been the past couple of games."
The Flames have been preparing mentally as well as physically, bringing in a sports psychologist who has helped the team understand not to live in the future and take the postseason not only one game at a time, but one possession at a time. Dundjer definitely bought into the psychologist's lecture.
"If we stay focused on one game at a time, we can pretty much play with any team in the country," said Dundjer. "I believe the seniors have to step up, then everybody else… so we can finally get the [Horizon League] trophy back to UIC where it belongs."
Be the first to comment on this article!