IU unconcerned with ranking

Preseason rankings don't bother the IU men's soccer team.\nThough they were ranked No. 1 in the nation at the start of three of the last five seasons, the Hoosiers open their season tonight ranked No. 12.\nSenior midfielder Josh Tudela couldn't care less. \n"Going into the season we don't really look much at the rankings," Tudela said. "As long as we have the No. 1 ranking at the end of the season, that's all that matters."\nIU coach Mike Freitag thinks it's too early to make ranking judgments.\n"I'm flattered we are where we are because we're a brand new team," he said.\nFriday the Hoosiers start their quest for an eighth NCAA Championship against No. 8 Creighton University at the Mike Bertielli Memorial Tournament in South Bend. \nLast year, the Bluejays advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, and in exhibition this year they knocked off No. 9 University of Akron and tied No. 5 Clemson University. Last time the two teams met, the Bluejays knocked the Hoosiers out of the NCAA Tournament with a 2-1 win in 2000.\n"It's going to be a stiff challenge," Freitag said. "This will show us exactly where were at this stage."\nSenior back Julian Dieterle is confident in the team.\n"If we come out and play to our potential, we can beat any team in the country," Dieterle said. "We're all very confident."\nIU lost six players from last season to graduation and the pros, and Freitag recruited a slew of talented yet inexperienced freshmen.\n"All these guys can play," Freitag said. "Still, there's nothing that beats experience -- being in the trenches of the college game, being in the tough matches. But I do have all the confidence in the world in my guys."\nTudela said he thinks the younger players provide a spark. \n"This year ... everyone's willing to work for each other," Tudela said. "These guys, they don't know what it's like to win a championship, so they're willing to put out that extra effort to win one."\nTudela enters the year with accolades. He was included on the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy Watch List, which is compiled by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, for top Division I soccer player. \n"It's a great honor to be named as one of the top players in the nation," Tudela said.\nFreitag said he will start junior Chris Munroe in goal against Creighton instead of sophomore Chay Cain, a move that gives the Hoosiers a little more experience. The two battled for playing time last season and this preseason, though Munroe was the starter last season and started both preseason matches.\nThe Hoosiers begin their season 5 p.m. Friday against Creighton and will also play the University of Alabama-Birmingham Sunday morning. Both games are in South Bend.