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#skillskooler Connor making waves for IFA


Corrigan to Captain
Connor Corrigan joins Rece Buckmaster and Bennett Kim as tri-captains for the IFA 18's.
Long time CUSC and IFA player Connor Corrigan has proven to be one of the nation's best attacking left backs. Corrigan has reached this level by putting in hours and hours of soccer since an early age. His dedication to the sport is second to none and certainly has not gone unnoticed. Last year Corrigan was starting left back and playing two-years up with an IFA team that reached playoffs for the first time since 2009. Shortly after playoffs, Corrigan accepted an offer to play for the Michigan State Spartans.

"Connor's attitude and drive every day in training meets the image any coach would want to represent their program. He comes to every training focused on getting better. He leads each phase of training with honest habits whether it be individual technique, small group functional work or team activities. Connor's daily actions are contagious within this team and set the bar high for all players to reach not only on the 18's DA, but the 16's and 14's too." Presser said.

Amongst many young players competing at high levels of soccer at a young age, Connor's goal has always been to play at the highest level he can manage. After being considered a top player for Carmel United's youth system, Connor was selected to join the academy. With three years under his belt and a college decision to play in the Big Ten Conference, Connor once again made another stride toward achieving his goals.

"My goal in soccer ever since I've been a little kid has been to be the best all around player I can. My goal is to play at the highest level possible and the academy has helped me with that because it is constantly putting me in a competitive environment every single day and allowing me to see and play against the best players around." Said Corrigan

Leadership has been described as "a process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task." While Rece Buckmaster and Bennett Kim have accomplished this task in the Fall, Coach Presser feels by adding Corrigan to this leadership group would assure the team's goals for the remainder of the 2014 season of qualifying for playoffs.

"Being a captain will be a great experience for me because it gives me a chance to take on a new leadership position for my teammates on and off the field." Said Corrigan

Along with announcing Corrigan as captain, Coach Presser has announced some player personnel changes within the academy since the departure of three key attackers, Joey Bastian (Butler University), Jeff Rhodes (Sand Diego State University), and Cameron Lindley (Chicago Fire). The ultimate decision was to elevate players within the academy who had proven to be ready to play up. The 14's DA promoted center defender, Will Hirschman, to the 16's. The 16's DA promoted center defender, Jeremiah Gutjar, and left back, Spencer Glass, to the playoff bound 18's. The 18's promoted "DP" David Anderson to a full-time status after proving his ability on CUSC's 18's.

Along with personnel changes, coach Presser has made some tactical changes to the 18's to help produce more goals on the field. Future Indiana University player, Rece Buckmaster, has been pushed forward from defensive midfield to attacking midfield, and Connor Corrigan has been pushed forward from left back to left forward. These changes will help manufacture more goals on the field, but they are also changes to encourage these players development. Buckmaster and Corrigan have both been playing deeper on the field for several years. This positional change will allow them to become more familiar with game repetitions in the attacking area of the field. Presser had the following to add about Corrigan.

"Connor is an extremely gifted soccer player with a high intellect of the game. He has shown to be an attacking threat game after game in this division for 2 years coming forward out of the back. Ultimately I believe his best position is left back, however, he must continue to become more educated in and around goal in order to establish new personal goals of becoming a pro. Moving Connor to Left Forward will allow him to receive more repetitions around goal and in the attacking third."

This change has seen an immediate impact as Corrigan was able to capitalize on IFA's only goal in the 1-1 draw vs Columbus Crew this past weekend. IFA had controlled the tempo from the very beginning. After several missed shots and failure to capitalize, Buckmaster found Corrigan off a wide service in the box as he redirected the ball with his head past the GK to open up the games 1st goal.

"So far I am really enjoying my role as forward. It gives me a new opportunity to better myself around goal which I need to play at the best level, and it gives me a chance to help my team win the games and hopefully get to playoffs." Said Corrigan

Article courtesy of IFA

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