Indiana University Athletics
Nguyen Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week
9/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 19, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Freshman Lee Nguyen had a breakout weekend in leading the two-time defending national champion and No. 1 Indiana men's soccer team at the Oregon State Diadora Classic. As a result, he was recognized as the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. It marked the second time this season a Hoosier had been named Offensive Player of the Week after senior midfielder Brian Plotkin earned the honor.
"Lee deserves this recognition," Indiana head coach Mike Freitag said. "He had an exceptional weekend and was a trend setter for our offense. Lee is a special player who can create for himself as well as his teammates. I knew it was only a matter of time before he got going."
In the opening game of the Diadora Classic, Nguyen registered his first career point in the 53rd minute, assisting on the eventual game-winner to help the Hoosiers knock off then-No. 16 (Soccer America) Cal State-Northridge, 5-0. The Richardson, Texas, native sent a short corner to the near post where junior midfielder Josh Tudela was there to head it home. Nguyen followed that by scoring his first career goal in the 64th minute. He played give-and-go with Plotkin before bending a shot into the right corner. The U.S. Under-20 National Team player also drew a penalty kick in the 68th minute that Plotkin nailed home.
After falling behind, 2-0, to host Oregon State, Nguyen propelled the Hoosiers to a second-half comeback. Four minutes after the Beavers took the two-goal advantage, the reigning Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year set up junior forward Jacob Peterson for a goal to cut the deficit to one. With seven minutes remaining, Nguyen beat two defenders before floating a shot over the OSU goalkeeper to even the match at two.
Nguyen also earned College Soccer News National Team of the Week honors following his performance at the Diadora Classic. He became the third Hoosier in as many weeks to be named to the publication's National Team of the Week. Plotkin (Sept. 5) and Peterson (Sept. 12) were selected the previous two weeks.
The 4-0-2 Hoosiers will open Big Ten action on Sunday, Sept. 25. Indiana will host Michigan State on Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. Game time is slated for 1 p.m. IU is 13-0-1 all-time in Big Ten openers. The last time MSU and Indiana met at Armstrong Stadium, the two sides played to a 1-1 draw on Sept. 21, 2003.
