Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Ranked No. 1 (08-12-02)
8/9/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 9, 2002
Bloomington, Ind. - The Indiana University men's soccer team is ranked No. 1 in the preseason top 30 poll released by College Soccer News on Friday. In addition, the publication ranked IU's incoming recruiting class as the fourth-best in the nation. The Hoosiers, who played in the finals of the NCAA College Cup in 2001, return six starters and 17 letterwinners in 2002.
Senior national player-of-the-year candidates Pat Noonan and Ryan Mack headline this season's Indiana squad. Noonan led the Hoosiers with 16 goals and 12 assists on his way to Big Ten Player of the Year and NSCAA first-team All-America honors a season ago. Mack, who was forced to redshirt the 2001 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament, was named Big Ten Player of the Year and third-team All-America in 2000. He returns for his senior season in 2002.
Indiana is set to face six other teams this season that are ranked in the preseason poll. The Hoosiers open the regular season at home in the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic against No. 11 Rutgerson Friday, Aug. 30, at 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, Aug 31, Indiana will face ninth-ranked Clemson at 8 p.m. IU will also meet up with No. 3 St. John's and No. 20 William and Mary Sept. 6 and 7 in Jamaica, N.Y. The Hoosiers travel to No. 27 Kentucky on Oct. 16. Big Ten match-ups are also scheduled at No. 22 Michigan State (Sept. 22) and 16th-ranked Penn State (Sept. 27).
The Hoosiers kick off their exhibition season on Friday, Aug. 23, in the Ft. Wayne NIT at 6:30 p.m. against Kentucky. IU also plays Virginia, who is ranked No. 4 in the poll, on Sunday, Aug. 25, at Noon.
