Indiana University Athletics
Plotkin Named National Player of the Week
11/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 9, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For the second time in as many weeks, the Indiana men's soccer team has the national player of the week, as senior midfielder Brian Plotkin earned the distinction from Soccer America on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Plotkin earned the honor after scoring the game-winner in the 95th minute to knock off previously unbeaten and then-No. 1 Akron, 1-0, on Nov. 3.
It was the third distinction of the week for Plotkin, following his golden goal on senior night. The Lisle, Ill., native also was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season and named to the College Soccer News National Team of Week for the second time during the 2005 campaign.
Plotkin led the Hoosier offensive charge against the Zips. He led the Hoosiers in shots with five as IU outshot the NCAA's top scoring offense, 17-5. Freshman Lee Nguyen found senior midfielder Jordan Chirico down the right side of the 18-yard box. Chirico sent a centering cross that found Plotkin at the six-yard line, and he finished into the center of the open Zip net. The goal not only marked the exciting end to an unforgettable senior night, but incited a Hoosier celebration from both the bench and stands. Following the goal, the 4,884 IU faithful in attendance charged the field in celebration, mobbing the Hoosier bench and Plotkin in the process.
Nguyen was named College Soccer News National Player of the Week on Oct. 31. During the week, the Richardson, Texas, native scored he game-winner against Notre Dame on a 25-yard free kick before leading the first three-goal comeback in school history against then-No. 3 Maryland. Nguyen had a hand in all three Hoosier goals, as IU overcame a 3-0 halftime deficit in front of a Maryland-record crowd of 6,203. He had a hand in all three Hoosier goals, notching a pair of official assists, including finding sophomore back Greg Stevning for the third and final goal off a corner kick with just five seconds remaining.
Plotkin leads the Big Ten with 25 points on eight goals and nine assists. He tops the conference in game-winning goals with four while ranking second in goals and assists. The Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy candidate ranks as one of the top players ever to put on a Hoosier uniform. He is tied for 10th on the Hoosiers' career assists list with 33 career helpers. With one more assist, he will move into a tie for ninth place with Ryan Mack. Plotkin ranks eighth on IU's career shots list with 259 and 23rd in career points with 75.
The No. 2 Hoosiers open the Big Ten Championships on Thursday, Nov. 10, against sixth-seeded Wisconsin. The game is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. CT at the Leonard B. Thomas Athletic Complex in Evanston, Ill. The winner of the Hoosier-Badger matchup will advance to face the winner of second-seeded Ohio State and seventh-seeded Northwestern at 2:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 11. The championship game will be Sunday, Nov. 13, at 11 a.m. CT. It will be broadcast live on College Sports Television (CSTV).
Soccer America National Team of the Week
Senior goalkeeper Chris Dunsheath (Bradley)
Junior defender Andrew Boyens (New Mexico)
Junior defender Jake Miller (Yale)
Senior midfielder Brian Plotkin (Indiana)*
Freshman midfielder Scott Campbell (North Carolina)
Senior midfielder Floyd Franks (Charlotte)
Junior midfielder Eliot Ricks-Chambers (Sacramento State)
Senior forward Vasilis Androutsos (Fairfield)
Sophomore forward Rodrigo Hidalgo (South Florida)
Junior forward Dane Richards (Clemson)
Freshman forward Kiki Willis (Elon)
* - national player of the week
