The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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OLYMPIC SPORTS keeper that has seen any action in net, and he gave up just 0.79 goals per game to help the team jump out to a 3-2-1 start. His battle for playing time last year was expected, and his prior experiences have boosted his confidence and given him the free- dom to make plays this year. "When I came on my visit at Michi- gan, Coach [Chaka] Daley told me that when I got here I would be a freshman and Adam would be a fifth-year senior," Louro explained. "He told me that if Adam was bet- ter than me, then he'd play. I under- stood that and would have no prob- lem sitting if that was the case. He also said that if I were better, I would play, no matter how old I am. I really appreciated him being honest like that, and Coach Daley assured me that that's how he would run things. You can tell it now because of all the young guys that play. "Also playing with a national team and overseas has been a huge tool in turning me into the player that I am today and has given me a lot of confidence." The highly touted prep player didn't need long to show Daley that he could be a force in the college game. "Based on watching him train, watching him play, the environments he was in, getting to know him, how serious he was about his game and the first week of preseason, I knew pretty quickly that he was good enough to be a mainstay in the goal here at Michigan," Daley said. "I think he comes from a great pedigree for one. His stature at 6-3, 220 is a great asset for him as a keeper. "Going through the national team cycle has been great for his develop- ment, his technique and his tactical awareness in the games. There are, of course, some bumps in the road, but he has everything he needs to be extremely good." Expectations are obviously high for Louro, and after having a solid fresh- man season and adjusting to college life, he is ready to take the next steps in his development. "Last year I was getting used to, not only the soccer part, but the school part," Louro said. "Being at Michigan can be tough. Getting used to studying and preparing for ex- ams was a huge jump for me. Coach Daley really helped me adapt to that. "Now I'm way more comfortable and find myself better prepared on the field and in the classroom. For me, I absolutely think there's been a lot of growth from my freshman year to my sophomore year." Daley has been impressed with his young goalie and sees a bright future for him. "He merited the opportunity to play as soon as he walked in the door," Daley said. "He could've been the starter all year last year, but my hesitancy — not his — kept that from happening. "He still played in some big games, and that's been great for his experi- ence. He's still growing and learning, but he has many great years ahead of him in the goal at Michigan and, we believe, beyond Michigan." ❏