Indiana University Athletics
Six Hoosiers Earn Big Ten Honors
11/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 13, 2008
MADISON, Wis. - The Indiana University men's soccer team was recognized for its efforts this season, highlighted by a pair of first-team All-Big Ten selections and Freshman of the Year honoree Will Bruin at the annual awards banquet held Thursday night in conjunction with the Big Ten Tournament in Madison, Wis. With a 1-0 victory over Ohio State today, the Hoosiers have advanced to the semifinals and will play at 2:30 p.m. ET Friday.
Junior defender Kevin Alston was unanimously selected to the All-Big Ten first team, one of just three unanimous first-team picks. This season Alston has started all 19 matches at left back while contributing two goals and an assist. Last season he was a second-team honoree.
Joining Alston on the first team is senior defensive midfielder Brad Ring. Despite missing the last three matches due to injury, Ring was named to the first team for the second consecutive season. In 14 starts this season, Ring has one assist while putting up 40 shots. He has also played a large role in Indiana's five of Indiana's shutouts this season, four of which came against ranked opponents.
Sophomore midfielder Andy Adlard and junior midfielder Eric Alexander earned spots on the second team. Adlard has been an offensive leader for IU this season with six goals, including today's game winner against Ohio State, and three assists for a team-best 15 points. His 52 shot attempts in 19 matches is also a team best. This is his first All-Big Ten honor.
Alexander is now a three-time All-Big Ten honoree after being named to the All-Freshman squad in 2006 and the first team in 2007. This season he has started all 19 matches in the midfield, tallying two goals and three assists. Alexander's first goal of the season came in a 3-0 win at No. 24 UCLA, followed by the game-winning score in a 3-2 overtime victory over Wisconsin.
Bruin, a forward, and defender Tommy Meyer were both unanimous selections to the All-Freshman team. Bruin is second on the team in goals scored with five, most recently putting home the game winner in a 2-0 win over No. 8 Northwestern on Nov. 7. Bruin also had a pair of goals in a 3-2 win at Evansville and started his career with a goal in a 3-0 win at No. 24 UCLA.
Meyer has appeared in 13 matches with 11 starts in central defense for the Hoosiers and has played a role in five shutouts this season, including a 2-0 win over No. 8 Northwestern and today's shutout of Ohio State.
Bruin becomes the 10th Hoosier to earn Freshman of the Year honors. It is the third time in the last four years that an Indiana player has taken home the award, with Lee Nguyen honored in 2005 and Darren Yeagle in 2006. Indiana assistant coach Todd Yeagley won the inaugural Freshman of the Year award in 1991.
Sophomore Rich Balchan is Indiana's Sportsmanship Award winner. Balchan has started all 19 matches for Indiana, playing roles in both the central defense and defensive midfield. He assisted on Bruin's game-winning goal at Evansville, as well as Adlard's goal against UC Santa Barbara.
