Soccer team earns praise

The men's soccer team has been guided through the spectacular leadership coach Jerry Yeagley has shown for the past 28 years. Yeagley has built the program from scratch, making it more successful than any other Division I soccer team.\nUnder Yeagley, the team has five NCAA Championships, 14 final four appearances, 9 Big Ten Championships since 1991, and has sent 15 players to Major League Soccer -- a league which has only been in existence since 1996. More importantly, Yeagley has graduated 92 percent of his four-year players. \nThe great tradition of IU soccer has carried on this season. The 2001 Hoosiers currently boast a 14-3-3 record and brought home another Big Ten crown yesterday with a 2-0 victory over Michigan State. The team did not lose a Big Ten game all season. The win was also the Hoosiers' 13th shutout of the season. \nOn Nov. 25, the Hoosiers will play their first-round game and begin the hopeful trip to their sixth College Cup. \nThe Hoosiers are in good company. Last Thursday, the Big Ten announced that Yeagley received Big Ten Coach of the Year honors for the seventh time. This is complimented by Big Ten Player of the Year and Hermann Trophy candidate Pat Noonan, a junior, who was named three-time conference player of the week during the season. Noonan was also named to the All-Tournament team and received Offensive Player of the Tournament this weekend. Mike Ambersley shared honors with Chad Severs of Penn State as Big Ten Freshman of the Year.\nIn the soccer team's existence, no other IU program has has seen such success. The team has excelled since Yeagley coached the team as a club sport. Now they are aiming for their sixth national championship. \nThe College Cup is Dec. 14-16. Win or lose, the program is still solid. With the level of leadership provided by Yeagley, it is almost certain this excellence will be continued for many years to come. Best of luck to the soccer team as it advances on.