Indiana University Athletics
Hoosiers Picked Second in Big Ten Preseason Poll
8/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 25, 2010
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Indiana men's soccer team was picked to finish second in the Big Ten in the 2010 Men's Soccer preseason coaches poll, the Big Ten office announced on Wednesday.
The 11-time Big Ten Champion Hoosiers are ranked second in the poll, behind defending champion Ohio State, after advancing to the NCAA Round of 16 for the second-consecutive season and posting a 12-10-1 record in 2009. Northwestern and Penn State tied for third in the poll, followed by Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Indiana is led by 2009 All-Big Ten selection and 2010 College Soccer News preseason All-American junior Will Bruin. Bruin led the team with nine goals scored in 22 starts. Senior Andy Adlard, a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season, also returns after finishing second on the team in scoring with 14 points.
Defensively the Hoosiers are led by junior Tommy Meyer. Meyer started all 22 matches played a year ago and will also get help from senior defensive midfielder Rich Balchan. Balchan was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree a year ago and started all 22 matches played.
Up next on the preseason slate, Indiana will take part in the ShinDigz National Soccer Festival in Ft. Wayne, Ind., Aug. 27 and 29, facing ACC power Duke on Friday and Denver on Sunday.
The 2010 season officially kicks off on Friday, Sept. 3 with the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. IU faces California at 7:30 p.m., before taking on UCLA on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to "Fill the Bill" for Sunday's match against the Bruins in an effort to top the attendance record of 7,423 set against UCLA in 2007. The match will also be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, one of four regular-season appearances on the Network for the Hoosiers.
2010 Big Ten Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
T-3. Northwestern
T-3. Penn State
5. Michigan State
6. Michigan
7. Wisconsin
2010 Big Ten Men's Soccer Players to Watch
Rich Balchan, Indiana, Sr., Midfielder
Will Bruin, Indiana, Jr., Forward
Tommy Meyer, Indiana, Jr., Defender
Chris Blais, Michigan, Jr., Goalkeeper
Justin Meram, Michigan, Sr., Forward
Jeff Quijano, Michigan, Sr., Defender
Colin Givens, Michigan State, Sr., Defender
Avery Steinlage, Michigan State ,Sr., Goalkeeper
Spencer Thompson, Michigan State, Sr., Midfielder
Matt Eliason, Northwestern, Sr., Forward
Oliver Kupe, Northwestern, Jr., Forward
Cody Stanley, Northwestern, Sr., Defender
Matt Gold, Ohio State, Sr., Defender
Sam Scales, Ohio State, Sr., Midfielder
Konrad Warzycha, Ohio State, Sr., Forward
Matheus Braga, Penn State, Sr., Midfielder
Drew Cost, Penn State, Sr., Midfielder
Corey Hertzog, Penn State, Jr., Forward
Aaron Nichols, Wisconsin, Sr., Defender
Jon Rzepka, Wisconsin, Sr., Midfielder
Josh Thiermann, Wisconsin, Sr., Midfielder
