Hoosiers to meet Bush again

While President Bush worked hard to return to the White House in 2005, the IU men's soccer team did the same. As a result of winning the 2004 Men's Soccer National Championship in December, the Hoosiers earned a return trip to the White House Friday to be recognized for their achievements.\nThe team is looking forward to meeting Bush again along with discovering the city's monuments, said IU coach Mike Freitag.\n"We've both won back-to-back," Freitag said, referring to Bush's re-election and the team's repeat title. "The guys are excited to go back to the White House. We try to make the trip to the White House a cultural event as we'll probably visit the new World War II Memorial as part of our trip."\nIU joins three other national championship teams receiving recognition from Bush -- Stanford University's women's volleyball team, California State University Fullerton's baseball team and the Notre Dame women's soccer team.\nBush will receive a jersey bearing his name on the back from each respective team. \nFormer Hoosier Drew Shinabarger presented Bush a crimson road IU jersey in last year's ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. This year, the team will give Bush a home white jersey with the No. 1 on the back along with an IU soccer scarf.\nThe IU Athletics Department finalized the trip last week with the White House. Unlike last year's trip in March 2004 when most of the team was in Bloomington for class, many of the players have left town. Freitag said most should get back in time to make the trip.\nBoth of the Hoosiers' College Cup contests this season went to overtime with the championship game versus the University of California Santa Barbara going to two overtimes and subsequent penalty kicks. The Hoosiers won behind the play of former goalkeeper Jay Nolly as he made the last save in the penalty kick round, securing IU's second straight national title and seventh in the program's 32-year history.\nIU finished the 2004 campaign 19-4-1.\nSenior Brian Plotkin is making his second straight trip to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Plotkin had 19 points in the 2004 season -- the second most on the team -- including five goals, one of which was a game-winner.\n"Winning your sport's national title is awesome and it's always nice to meet the leader of your country," Plotkin said.\nIU recently completed its spring season with a 2-1 loss to the Mexican Youth National team April 19. The Hoosiers finished with a 5-1 record in the spring, with victories over Bradley University, Butler University, University of Dayton, Lindsey Wilson College, and 10-time national champion St. Louis University.\n"I don't think the president gets enough of these jerseys," said senior Jordan Chirico. "It's nice that he takes some time out from all the serious events that he has to deal with in today's world to hang out with college athletes. I bet he gets a kick out of meeting all of the athletes and being able to entertain them while we are at his house"