Indiana University Athletics
Freitag on the Hoosiers' Big Ten Opener
9/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 23, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The two-time defending national champion and No.1 Indiana men's soccer team opens the Big Ten with a home affair against Michigan State. The Hoosiers will attempt to win their 10th straight regular season Big Ten title this season. The game is slated for Sunday, Sept. 25, at 1 p.m. on Yeagley Field at Armstrong Stadium. The Chartwells concession stands will be selling hot dogs for $1 as part of Dollar Dog Day.
Second-year head coach Mike Freitag sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to discuss the season and the upcoming Big Ten opener against Michigan State.
"This weekend is the start of the most important part of the season. Last year, the Big Ten was rated the top conference in the country and had six representatives in the NCAA Tournament. I think some of the Big Ten teams this season have started out a little slow but if you look at the last week, you can really see the strength of the Big Ten. Penn State gave UCLA a tough game, Ohio State beat UCLA, and then Penn State beat Maryland, who is ranked in the top five. That shows you the quality of the teams we will be playing in the Big Ten.
"Michigan State beat us for the first time last year in the Big Ten Tournament. I talked to (former Hoosier head coach) Coach (Jerry) Yeagley, and it seems we have always had the most heated halftime talks against this team. They always give us a tough game, but we usually find a way to win. Last year, they got us. I thought we played well enough to win that game, but they also played well enough to win. We are looking forward to the challenge the Spartans will bring on Sunday.
"I have been pleased with the way the guys have played both offensively and defensively. The one thing I would really like to see is for us to get more consistent in our play. I think the goals we gave up to Oregon State were a wake up call for us and showed that if we make some mistakes, we are vulnerable. In the end though, I was happy that we showed the character to come back from a 2-0 deficit and tie it up. I am the type of person that wants to see us play that perfect game both offensively and defensively. We are going to continue to strive until we get that."
