Men's soccer to face No. 1 Akron Friday

The No. 8 IU men’s soccer team heads north Friday to face No. 1 Akron at 7:30 p.m. for what many would argue is the biggest game of the team’s young season.

“I don’t pay attention to that stuff,” junior midfielder Rich Balchan said. “I would just say it’s just another game. We know how to play and we play our game. We watch film and we know our assignments.”

The Hoosiers find themselves as the underdogs yet again this season, facing their third top-five team in its first five games of the year.  

Coach Mike Freitag isn’t worried.

“I think the pressure is on them,” he said. “They’re number one in the country, they’ll have a big crowd and they’re playing Indiana. I think our guys can go in there a little more relaxed and ready to play. I think the pressure’s on them.”

The last time Akron was the nation’s top-ranked team was 2005. The Hoosiers knocked off the Zips 1-0 in overtime.

For the full story, read Friday's edition of the IDS.