Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Set for Trip to the White House
8/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
May 11, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - For the second time in as many seasons, the Indiana men's soccer team will be honored at the White House after capturing the 2004 NCAA Men's Soccer National Championship. The Cream and Crimson defeated UC-Santa Barbara on Dec. 12, 3-2, in penalty kicks, winning their second straight national championship and seventh in the program's history.
"It is a pleasure and an honor to be returning to the White House in recognition of our 2004 NCAA Championship team," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "It is usually a once in a lifetime opportunity, but we are fortunate enough to do it again for the second year in a row. President Bush and Indiana Soccer have something in common. We both know how it feels to win back-to-back."
Freitag, along with his staff and players, will be honored by President George W. Bush on the lawn of the White House Friday, May 13. The President's remarks in recognition will begin at 2:15 p.m. Following the ceremony, the Hoosiers will also take a tour of the World War II Memorial in the Nation's capital.
Check back to IUHOOSIERS.COM for details and photos of the Hoosiers' White House visit following the trip.
The Hoosiers finished the 2004 season with a 19-4-1 record after winning their second straight national championship. Freitag led the Cream and Crimson to the title in his first season after serving 11 years as an assistant under former head coach Jerry Yeagley, who retired following the 2003 national championship.
Indiana had three players named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American team in 2004. Senior Danny O'Rourke and junior Drew Moor were first team honorees, while senior Jay Nolly was the third team goalkeeper. The trio were all taken in the first two rounds of the Major League Soccer SuperDraft in January. O'Rourke was the fourth player taken overall by the San Jose Earthquakes. He was followed by Moor taken sixth by FC Dallas, and Nolly chosen 22nd by Real Salt Lake.
O'Rourke capped his Hoosier career by becoming the seventh IU player to be named the national player of the year. He won the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate player in men's soccer.
Indiana recently competed an exceptional spring season, going 5-1. The Hoosiers defeated Lindsay Wilson (2-0), Bradley (3-0), Saint Louis (2-0), Butler (5-1) and Dayton (2-1) before falling to the Mexican Youth National team in an exciting 2-1 affair.
