Indiana University Athletics
Indiana Places Seven on All-Big Ten Teams
11/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 12, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Led by All-Big Ten first team selection Will Bruin, the Indiana men's soccer team placed a total of seven players on the 2009 All-Big Ten teams, the conference office announced Thursday night at the Big Ten Tournament banquet in Bloomington.
Penn State, Ohio State and the Hoosiers led the way with five selections each among the first and second teams.
In addition to Bruin's first team selection, junior midfielder Andy Adlard, senior midfielder Eric Alexander, junior defender Rich Balchan, and senior defender Ofori Sarkodie were second-team honorees.
Freshmen Kevin Bick and Matt Wiet were unanimous selections to the Big Ten All-Freshman squad.
Bruin, who was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2008, has started all 18 matches played and leads the teal in goals (7), points (18), shots (76) and is tied for the lead in assists with four. Four of his seven goals this season have been game winners, including his goal Thursday in the Hoosiers' 2-0 win over Wisconsin in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. He also had game-winning goals against Seattle, Florida International and the regular season matchup against Wisconsin.
Adlard is a second-team honoree for the second time in as many seasons. The junior midfielder is second on the team in goals scored with four, and is tied with Bruin for the top spot in assists with four. He is also second on the team in points (12) and shots 45. Half of Adlard's goals have been game winners, with the winning shots against No. 13 Kentucky and at Michigan.
Alexander earns All-Big Ten honors for the fourth time in his career after being named to the All-Freshman team in 2006, the first team in 2007, and the second team in 2008. One of three team captains, Alexander has started all 19 matches in the midfield where he has scored one goal and assisted on three others, including Bruin's game-winning score vs. Wisconsin this afternoon.
Balchan picks up his second career All-Big Ten honor after being named to the All-Freshman team in 2007. This season he has started 18 matches with time spent both in the midfielder and on the defensive line. He was named the defensive MVP of the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament earlier this season as the Hoosiers won the tournament title with victories over New Mexico and Seattle. He also assisted on Adlard's game-winning goal against Kentucky.
Sarkodie is an All-Big Ten pick for the third time in his career after being named to the All-Freshman team in 2006 and the first team in 2007. This season Sarkodie has started all 18 matches played and captained a defensive line that has posted eight shutouts on the year. A preseason All-America pick by Soccer America, Sarkodie was named to the All-Tournament team at the University of Akron Tournament in September.
Sarkodie was also Indiana's winner of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
In his first season in the Cream and Crimson, Bick has appeared in 15 matches, making five starts. He has tallied 11 shots on the season and picked up his first career point with an assist on Adlard's goal in a 2-0 win over Seattle at the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament.
Wiet has appeared in 17 matches with 16 starts, playing both midfield and defensive roles for the Hoosiers. He has two assists on the season, recording his first career point on a Lee Hagedorn goal in a 3-2 win over New Mexico. He also assisted on Nick Blevins' goal in a 2-0 win over Evansville. Wiet was named to the All-Tournament team at the University of Akron Tournament and has played a key role in the Hoosiers' eight shutouts this season.
Indiana is back in action Friday in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament where they will take on No. 1 seed Ohio State at 2 p.m. ET.
2009 Men's Soccer All-Big Ten Teams First Team Forward Will Bruin, IND Mauro Fuzetti, MICH MATT ELIASON, NU JASON YEISLEY, PSU Midfield Spencer Thompson, MSU Matt Gold, OSU MATHEUS BRAGA, PSU Drew Cost, PSU Defense MARK BLADES, NU DOUG VERHOFF, OSU Andres Casais, PSU Goalkeeper Avery Steinlage, MSU
Second Team Forward Justin Meram, MICH Andrew Magill, OSU Corey Hertzog, PSU Scott Lorenz, WIS Midfield Andy Adlard, IND Eric Alexander, IND Konrad Warzycha, OSU Defense Rich Balchan, IND Ofori Sarkodie, IND Colin Givens, MSU Goalkeeper Matt Lampson, OSU
2009 Men's Soccer All-Freshman Team Position Forward Kevin Bick, IND HAMOODY SAAD, MICH CHRIS HEGNGI, OSU Midfield LATIF ALASHE, MICH KYLE SCHICKEL, NU AUSTIN McANENA, OSU Defense Matt Wiet, IND Kofi Opare, MICH KEVIN COPE, MSU Chris Ritter, NU Goalkeeper MATT LAMPSON, OSU
