2008 Woodie Awards
Hitting his stride
Forward Tonci Skroce talks to the Flame
Matt Piechalak
Issue date: 9/4/06 Section: Sports
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After leading the 05' Flames with eight goals and being named to the All-Horizon League Team, Skroce, the Senior from Croatia has already led the 06' squad to a 1-0 upset win over 25th ranked Saint Louis. The goal gave the charismatic striker the first Horizon League Men's Soccer Player of the Week award of the 2006 season.
First of all, congratulations on being named the Horizon League Player of the Week. Can you briefly talk about what this honor means to you?
It's a big honor, but it's a [bigger] accommodation to my team because they were the ones who passed the ball to me. We've got a really good team. Every individual on the team deserved it as much as me.
What do you see about this year's team that's different than the 2005 squad?
We've got a couple really good, young players inside. Especially Baggio [Husidic] and his brother Alen, and Mike [Giffin] from New Mexico. Those three guys are very good, tough players because they played in FC Soccer. We've also got seven or eight guys that can hold the ball; last year we had problems holding the ball. Last year, we were becoming the team and this year we [are] the team. We also have 100% trust in our coaching staff.
The 2006 non-conference schedule has the Flames playing top-notch programs such as Bradley, UC Santa Barbra, and Northwestern. How big are these games to prepare UIC for the Horizon League?
These games, they're very important because those are the opponents we're hopefully going to match in the NCAA Tournament. I think we're going to go into the tournament. It can be one ball, one post, one shot that does or doesn't go in, that's the difference so I think those are the important [teams] we have to watch to match in the second round.
Are there any games that you guys have highlighted on the calendar?
The St. Louis win was amazing. The UC Santa Barbra game is going to be a big game, Bradley of course is a big rivalry, especially after they [spanked] us last year. All of the games in Florida will be tough too because you're playing away, you're playing in different conditions with the humidity. I think those games are going to be tough road games.
You talked about playing at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis which is the location of the 2006 NCCA College Cup. Did that experience excite you guys and give you incentive for the season?
Coach [Trask] said, "Take a look at this stadium; you might be here in the Final Four." I mean, we can do it; we just have to keep our heads up. I think if everything goes right and everybody's healthy, we can be there in December.
Who do you think will be your toughest opponent in the Horizon League?
The Horizon League is always tough because all the teams are very close and it's very physical soccer. UW-Milwaukee is always a big challenge because that's our rival. Playing very tough opponents like Detroit and the others will be a challenge too. Especially after the results in St. Louis, [these] teams see us as a big opponent. But, I think we're going to be good, I think we're going to pass [those] teams with positive results.
Thank you very much Tonci, I appreciate your time, best of luck to the Flames this season.
My pleasure, thank you.
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First of all, congratulations on being named the Horizon League Player of the Week. Can you briefly talk about what this honor means to you?
It's a big honor, but it's a [bigger] accommodation to my team because they were the ones who passed the ball to me. We've got a really good team. Every individual on the team deserved it as much as me.
What do you see about this year's team that's different than the 2005 squad?
We've got a couple really good, young players inside. Especially Baggio [Husidic] and his brother Alen, and Mike [Giffin] from New Mexico. Those three guys are very good, tough players because they played in FC Soccer. We've also got seven or eight guys that can hold the ball; last year we had problems holding the ball. Last year, we were becoming the team and this year we [are] the team. We also have 100% trust in our coaching staff.
The 2006 non-conference schedule has the Flames playing top-notch programs such as Bradley, UC Santa Barbra, and Northwestern. How big are these games to prepare UIC for the Horizon League?
These games, they're very important because those are the opponents we're hopefully going to match in the NCAA Tournament. I think we're going to go into the tournament. It can be one ball, one post, one shot that does or doesn't go in, that's the difference so I think those are the important [teams] we have to watch to match in the second round.
Are there any games that you guys have highlighted on the calendar?
The St. Louis win was amazing. The UC Santa Barbra game is going to be a big game, Bradley of course is a big rivalry, especially after they [spanked] us last year. All of the games in Florida will be tough too because you're playing away, you're playing in different conditions with the humidity. I think those games are going to be tough road games.
You talked about playing at Hermann Stadium in St. Louis which is the location of the 2006 NCCA College Cup. Did that experience excite you guys and give you incentive for the season?
Coach [Trask] said, "Take a look at this stadium; you might be here in the Final Four." I mean, we can do it; we just have to keep our heads up. I think if everything goes right and everybody's healthy, we can be there in December.
Who do you think will be your toughest opponent in the Horizon League?
The Horizon League is always tough because all the teams are very close and it's very physical soccer. UW-Milwaukee is always a big challenge because that's our rival. Playing very tough opponents like Detroit and the others will be a challenge too. Especially after the results in St. Louis, [these] teams see us as a big opponent. But, I think we're going to be good, I think we're going to pass [those] teams with positive results.
Thank you very much Tonci, I appreciate your time, best of luck to the Flames this season.
My pleasure, thank you.
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