Spring season heads to Indy

The back-to-back national champion IU men's soccer team looks to continue its string of solid spring outings as it heads to North Central High School in Indianapolis to play Butler at 7 p.m. tonight.\nThis spring, the Hoosiers have already defeated Linsday Wilson College, Bradley University and St. Louis University.\n"We've played well so far," said sophomore Brian Plotkin. "We've scored when we had our opportunities and have limited our opponent's chances. That's a formula for success."\nLike the past two seasons which have produced two national championships, the Hoosier defense has had a stranglehold on opposing strikers. The Hoosiers have not allowed a single goal during the first three games of a six-game spring schedule, outscoring their opponents 7-0.\n"Defense has always been our main focus in the 32 years of varsity soccer here at Indiana," said IU coach Mike Freitag. "Our defense has brought us a lot of success."\nButler will be poised to knock off the defending national champions when the two teams square up tonight. Butler is 0-3-2 in its last five meetings against the Hoosiers. \n"Butler is a pretty experienced team," said junior Mike Ambersley. "They always play us hard."\nDespite the poor record against the Hoosiers, the Bulldogs do not roll over and play dead when they face the cream and crimson.\n"Butler always gives us a good challenge because they are so well coached," Freitag said. "On any given day they can be somebody."\nWith the defense in mid-season form, the Hoosiers are looking to score often for the remainder of the spring season.\n"We've been consistent on the defensive end," Freitag said. "We need some more patience with keeping possession and distribution on the offensive end."\nThe game will be a homecoming for Hoosiers Charley Traylor, Chris Munroe and Greg Stevning. The three former club and high school teammates helped the North Central Panthers to four consecutive Marion Country Championships, a second-place finish in the 2001 state tournament and a state championship the following season.\n"It's nice to be able to go back to our old high school to play," Traylor said. "A lot of our friend's parents are coming to watch us play, so that's a neat thing."\nThe game will serve as a reunion for Plotkin with former teammates and opponents from his playing days with the Chicago Soccers.\n"I'm looking forward to play some friends on Butler from home that I've played club with," Plotkin said. "Also, it's an in-state game, so everyone will come out to win."\nThe Hoosiers wrap up their six-game spring schedule with another game in Indianapolis Friday and then the finale against the Mexican Youth National team Tuesday at Bill Armstrong Stadium.\n-- Contact Staff Writer Chris \nEngel at ccengel@indiana.edu.