Sept. 18, 2009
In sports, offense usually gets the glory.
It's no different in soccer, a game in which the likes of Beckham, Messi and Ronaldo have attained international superstardom for their propensity to get the ball inside the frame.
When looking at the UIC men's soccer team, the accolades have gone primarily to the goal scorers. Eric Lukin. Tonci Skroce. Pavle Dundjer. Cesar Zambrano. Baggio Husidic. They were all-everything during their careers in Flames kits.
But when looking at the Flames' success, the penchant for turning away opposing offenses cannot be ignored. Stellar defense has been the calling card for UIC since John Trask's arrival as head coach in 2005, with nearly half of the Flames' opponents departing the pitch without scoring a single goal during that span.
This year, with the departure of Husidic to Major League Soccer and plenty of youth up front and in the middle, the UIC offense is off to a slow start. The team won't shy away from that fact. Yet the Flames remain confident and stay in every match because of their defense, led by the unsung heroes right in front of the goal: Paul Kopec, Mike Giffin, Robert Younger and Zach Tierney.
"I think when finding an identity in the attacking players, the key is that you find a defensive core that can carry you through tough times," said Trask. "While we are not scoring a lot of goals, I know we can keep ourselves in games through the play of Younger, Tierney, Kopec and Giffin.
"The strength of the team has always been in the back and in goal, and if we can continue to be stingy and give this young attacking group a chance to find their legs, we'll be fine."
Goalkeeper Jovan Bubonja, one of the few college soccer players annually feted with honors for his defensive prowess the last three years, sees similarities in those four defensive standouts that make them so good in the back.
"Their experience, ability to play under constant pressure and desire to win are virtues that all of those guys have in common," said Bubonja.
In the back of the midfield are Kopec and Giffin, two seniors with experience and grit. Both have played on the backline, but their new roles closer to the center of the park has made getting straight ahead toward the target a nightmare for foes.
Both have endured their share of adversity, from Giffin's foot injury that kept him out for the entire 2008 campaign to Kopec's Western Kentucky experience in which the men's soccer program was suddenly shut down. Yet the two men are focused solely on team success and keeping the spotlight off of them.
"Ever since I've been here at UIC, we've always taken pride on defense," said Giffin. "That's been our number one priority. I know that sometimes the backs and the back six don't always get a lot of credit, but it's an unspoken thing when we get a clean sheet or a result that it's from the back six or seven, if you include Jovan. Numbers like goals or assists aren't what really matter. It's always been about the team."
"I'm pretty much doing my job out there and doing whatever helps the team out the best," said Kopec. "Results are important. It comes down to doing a lot of hard work and helping the team as much as I can. Soccer is definitely a team sport. One person can't win the game."
Bubonja likes the physical and cerebral presence on the pitch that both of those lads bring on a regular basis.
"Giffin's return has been crucial this year, mainly because the team is getting more attacks on the left side, while on the defensive side his known capabilities provide the team with that extra security since he is a seasoned veteran," said Bubonja.
"Kopec's fitness level has been amazing," Bubonja said. "I truly believe that is the reason why we get that extra zonal coverage from him in the defensive third, which helps the back line to read the opponents' ideas."
Between Bubonja and the duo of Kopec and Giffin are Tierney and Younger at the center back spots. After three strong years at New Mexico, Tierney has quickly made himself a key component of UIC's defense, while Younger returns as one of the most highly-regarded defenders in the nation.
The glory is not important to either of those men. They don't need the spotlight for their consistently-sound efforts.
"That's my job," Younger said of his role as a back. "I choose to be a defender. I love being a defender because anytime you make a mistake in the game, you get punished for that mistake. I just love that aspect. You've got to be on your toes the entire game. Our team starts with defending, and we start winning our games with defense. There's nothing better than the feeling of getting a clean sheet."
Tierney takes pride in the communicative part of the job. From sorting positions and marks to imparting his wisdom and experience on young players like Josh Beard, who is getting time at left back next to Tierney, the Missouri native relishes being a leader, not a goal-scoring star.
"It's up to me, Robbie, Kopec and Giffin to communicate to everyone," said Tierney. "The leadership has to come from us. We've let in a couple of goals, but as the season moves along you're going to see us mature more. We're coming together and solidifying the back.
"We do a lot of the dirty work. We don't get the glory, but it's just as gratifying to stop the other team from coming forward."
Bubonja, the Hermann Trophy candidate, knows great defenders when he sees them, and he views both Tierney and Younger as key elements to the Flames' success this season.
"Tierney proved to be what everyone was expected: a fast, tough and very mature player that just fits perfectly on our defensive line," stated Bubonja. "I believe his speed and technique are things that help us keep possesion under tough pressure so we can create better attacks and pockets in the midfield for our players to get the ball with less pressure on them.
"Younger is a presence in the back," said Bubonja. "He's a player whose football abilities are amazing, from technique to aggressiveness, and his drive to win is something that motivates our team."
While two foes have already scored multiple goals against the Flames' defense, a rarity under Trask's watch, a clean sheet against Michigan State and a superb 110-minute road showing against a powerful Louisville offense on national television hinted that the UIC defense has the ability to make life miserable for attacks as this season progresses. Spearheading those prominent performances of protecting the goal was the Flames' fantastic foursome.
"It's always tough on the defenders when they know they can't make errors, but at the same time this is an extremely talented set of four guys who I trust will take care of business and give us a chance to stay in the game," Trask said. "In fact, I think some of our goals may need to come from them on set pieces to help out as well."
Whether Giffin, Kopec, Tierney and Younger score or prevent opponents from scoring, those four unheralded defenders are not looking for praise. They're looking for wins, and winning is all they need to validate their work.
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