Indiana University Athletics
IU Tops NSCAA Poll (8-25-04)
8/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Bloomington, Ind. - Another poll, same result. The defending national champion Indiana men's soccer team was ranked No. 1 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason top 25. The Hoosiers were also the top preseason choice by College Soccer News in July.
"It is nice to be recognized as a talented team going into the season, but we are more worried about were we will be in the end," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "It is a compliment to our players that people recognize how talented the are as a group."
The Hoosiers return 16 letterwinners and nine starters from the 2003 squad that was unbeaten over its final 18 matches and won the NCAA National Championship. Legendary head coach Jerry Yeagley retired following the 2003 campaign and long time assistant Mike Freitag was handed the reigns.
In their exhibition tune-ups, the Hoosiers continued to look impressive. IU knocked off NSCAA preseason No. 2 St. John's in the marquee match up at the 2004 IPFW Soccer Showcase, 1-0. Junior Mike Ambersley returned to the field after missing the 2003 season and registered the game-winner. Sophomore forward and 2004 College Cup Most Outstanding Offensive Player Jacob Peterson assisted on the score.
Indiana also defeated the IPFW Mastodons at the Showcase, 2-0, in front of a crowd of 6,179. Sophomore Josh Tudela and senior Josh Reiher each scored headers in the victory. Senior Greg Badger and junior Brian Plotkin netted the assists.
"I am very pleased with the team's initial play," Freitag said. "After two days of practice, I thought they played as a group pretty well against St. John's and also against IPFW. They have a good attitude. The guys are working hard, and I think they are focus and ready to go."
The Hoosiers will open up the 2004 regular season hosting the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The Hoosiers will host Boston University (BU) at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3. Indiana will then take on Oregon State at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 5. BU and Oregon State will also face Notre Dame at the Classic. The Irish open the event up against Oregon State at 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 3. Notre Dame will then take on Boston at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.
NSCAA Preseason Poll
1. INDIANA
2. St. John's
3. Maryland
4. Saint Louis
5. Santa Clara
6. North Carolina
7. UCLA
8. Wake Forest
9. Notre Dame
10. Connecticut
11. SMU
12. Rutgers
13. Virginia Commonwealth
14. Florida International
15. UC-Santa Barbara
16. Michigan
17. Fairleigh Dickenson
18. Old Dominion
19. Tulsa
20. Virginia
21. Brown
22. Binghamton
23. Coastal Carolina
24. Creighton
25. UAB
Receiving Votes: Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Washington
