Indiana University Athletics
IU Soccer Tabbed Preseason Favorite
8/23/2021 2:05:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Three Named Big Ten Players to Watch
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana men's soccer team was unanimously selected as the preseason favorite in the Big Ten Conference for the second-consecutive season according to a poll voted on by the league's head coaches. In addition, junior forward Victor Bezerra, junior keeper Roman Celentano, and redshirt senior Spencer Glass were named Big Ten Players to Watch, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
Bezerra, who was already named College Soccer News Preseason All-America First Team, was the first of three players named to the Preseason Big Ten Watch List. The 2020-21 MAC Hermann runner-up led the Hoosiers in goals scored (12), shots (50), shots on goal (26), game-winning goals (4) and total points (28) a season ago.
The Chicago native broke the all-time Indiana record for goals in a single Big Ten Tournament run (5) and finished fourth nationally in goals per game (0.80) last season. His 12 goals scored last season marked the most by a Hoosier since Eriq Zavaleta netted 18 scores in 2012. Since 2006, only two Hoosiers have scored more goals than Bezerra in a single season: Will Bruin (18 in 2010) and Zavaleta (18 in 2012).
Celentano, the second Hoosier on the Watch List, joined Bezerra on the College Soccer News Preseason All-America First Team. During his breakout second season on campus, the Naperville, Ill., native was named to the All-America Second Team after conceding only six goals in 16 games played last season for a goals-against average of 0.36. Celentano, the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, made 59 total saves (0.908 save percentage) and carded 10 clean sheets.
Glass led the B1G in assists (5) and assists per game (.625), despite missing half the season due to a lower leg injury. For his career, the Fort Wayne native has registered nine goals and 21 assists (30 total points) in 35 career starts.
Indiana opens the 2021 season at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 27 with a trip to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. IU will host Butler at 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 to open Bill Armstrong Stadium. Tickets for all men's soccer matches can be found here.
2021 BIG TEN MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. INDIANA
2. Penn State
3. Michigan
4. Maryland
5. Michigan State
6. Rutgers
7. Ohio State
8. Northwestern
9. Wisconsin
UNANIMOUS SELECTION
2021 BIG TEN MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
Victor Bezerra, Jr., F, Indiana
Roman Celentano, Jr., GK, Indiana
Spencer Glass, Sr., D, Indiana
Ben Bender, So., M, Maryland
Malcolm Johnston, Jr., M, Maryland
Brett St. Martin, Sr., D, Maryland
Bryce Blevins, So., M, Michigan
Quin Rogers, So., M, Michigan
Marc Ybarra, Sr., M, Michigan
Michael Miller, Sr., M, Michigan State
Hunter Morse, Sr., GK, Michigan State
Farai Mutatu, Sr., F, Michigan State
Richard Bennett, Sr., M, Northwestern
Vincente Castro, Jr., M, Northwestern
Jose Del Valle, Jr., F, Northwestern
Xavier Green, Sr., M, Ohio State
Deylen Vellios, So., D, Ohio State
Laurence Wootton, So., M, Ohio State
Danny Bloyou, Sr., F, Penn State
Peter Mangione, So., F, Penn State
Pierre Reedy, Sr., M, Penn State
Oren Asher, Jr., GK, Rutgers
Pablo Ávila, Sr., M, Rutgers
Ritchie Barry, Sr., F, Rutgers
Andrew Akindele, Sr., F, Wisconsin
Tim Bielic, So., M, Wisconsin
Moritz Kappelsberger, Sr., D, Wisconsin
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Bezerra, who was already named College Soccer News Preseason All-America First Team, was the first of three players named to the Preseason Big Ten Watch List. The 2020-21 MAC Hermann runner-up led the Hoosiers in goals scored (12), shots (50), shots on goal (26), game-winning goals (4) and total points (28) a season ago.
The Chicago native broke the all-time Indiana record for goals in a single Big Ten Tournament run (5) and finished fourth nationally in goals per game (0.80) last season. His 12 goals scored last season marked the most by a Hoosier since Eriq Zavaleta netted 18 scores in 2012. Since 2006, only two Hoosiers have scored more goals than Bezerra in a single season: Will Bruin (18 in 2010) and Zavaleta (18 in 2012).
Celentano, the second Hoosier on the Watch List, joined Bezerra on the College Soccer News Preseason All-America First Team. During his breakout second season on campus, the Naperville, Ill., native was named to the All-America Second Team after conceding only six goals in 16 games played last season for a goals-against average of 0.36. Celentano, the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year, made 59 total saves (0.908 save percentage) and carded 10 clean sheets.
Glass led the B1G in assists (5) and assists per game (.625), despite missing half the season due to a lower leg injury. For his career, the Fort Wayne native has registered nine goals and 21 assists (30 total points) in 35 career starts.
Indiana opens the 2021 season at 7 p.m. ET on Aug. 27 with a trip to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. IU will host Butler at 8 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 to open Bill Armstrong Stadium. Tickets for all men's soccer matches can be found here.
2021 BIG TEN MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON POLL
1. INDIANA
2. Penn State
3. Michigan
4. Maryland
5. Michigan State
6. Rutgers
7. Ohio State
8. Northwestern
9. Wisconsin
UNANIMOUS SELECTION
2021 BIG TEN MEN'S SOCCER PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
Victor Bezerra, Jr., F, Indiana
Roman Celentano, Jr., GK, Indiana
Spencer Glass, Sr., D, Indiana
Ben Bender, So., M, Maryland
Malcolm Johnston, Jr., M, Maryland
Brett St. Martin, Sr., D, Maryland
Bryce Blevins, So., M, Michigan
Quin Rogers, So., M, Michigan
Marc Ybarra, Sr., M, Michigan
Michael Miller, Sr., M, Michigan State
Hunter Morse, Sr., GK, Michigan State
Farai Mutatu, Sr., F, Michigan State
Richard Bennett, Sr., M, Northwestern
Vincente Castro, Jr., M, Northwestern
Jose Del Valle, Jr., F, Northwestern
Xavier Green, Sr., M, Ohio State
Deylen Vellios, So., D, Ohio State
Laurence Wootton, So., M, Ohio State
Danny Bloyou, Sr., F, Penn State
Peter Mangione, So., F, Penn State
Pierre Reedy, Sr., M, Penn State
Oren Asher, Jr., GK, Rutgers
Pablo Ávila, Sr., M, Rutgers
Ritchie Barry, Sr., F, Rutgers
Andrew Akindele, Sr., F, Wisconsin
Tim Bielic, So., M, Wisconsin
Moritz Kappelsberger, Sr., D, Wisconsin
@IndianaMSOC
For all the latest on Indiana University men's soccer, be sure to follow the team at @IndianaMSOC on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#GoIU
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Soccer
Goalkeeper
/ Men's Soccer
Defender
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