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(10/15/07 4:50am)
With the Big Ten season winding down and the conference tournament quickly approaching, every game counts – especially if an opponent is threatening to steal the title. \nThe No. 13 IU men’s soccer team (8-4-1, 3-0-0) took on the No. 6 Northwestern Wildcats on Sunday in Evanston, Ill., defeating them 1-0 in a game that helped IU maintain its top standing in the conference. The Wildcats are currently second behind the Hoosiers.\n“Anytime you beat a No. 6 team in the country, it’s a good win,” IU coach Mike Freitag said. “I’m never satisfied (with how the team plays), but we looked good today.”\nAlthough it is second in the Big Ten, Northwestern leads the conference in goals scored so far this season, averaging 2.27 a game. The team is only allowing .45 goals to competitors. \nStatistically, the Hoosiers sit just under Northwestern, averaging 1.5 goals a game while allowing opponents one goal per game. \nThe lone goal was scored by freshman midfielder Daniel Kelly, who had to battle his way through the Wildcats’ tough defense.\n“They always come hard,” Kelly said. “They like to fight. We knew we had to match their intensity, and we did.”\nJunior goalkeeper Chay Cain notched his fifth shutout of the season, tallying four saves.\nThe IU men’s team captured the Big Ten regular season and conference titles last year and was predicted to take it again this year. However, the Wildcats have been gaining momentum as the season has progressed, playing the role of unexpected challenger in the Hoosiers’ run for another Big Ten title. \nAlthough there was a lot riding on Sunday’s game, sophomore defender Kevin Alston said the team wasn’t concerned with the rankings and looks forward to big games like this one.\n“These are the games you want,” Alston said. “They put you in big situations to make big moves. It’s exciting.”
(10/11/07 3:48am)
A team can never go into a game assuming it will be an easy win. It may end up being just the opposite. \nDespite owning a 14-0 record against the Louisville Cardinals, the IU men’s soccer team had a tough match against the regional foes, losing 2-1 in overtime. The Cardinals came out fired up off of their upset last week, a 1-0 defeat of No. 12 South Florida. \nThe Hoosier’s output did not satisfy IU coach Mike Freitag. \n“Communication wasn’t good,” Freitag said. “We got out hustled. They did the things they did well; we didn’t do the things we did well. When that happens, a team usually loses.” \nAlthough the Cardinals out-maneuvered the Hoosiers for most of the first half, it was IU who came away with the first goal of the game. Just under three minutes into the game, sophomore midfielder Eric Alexander was fed a pass from freshman Daniel Kelly. Kelly sent the ball across the box to Alexander, who put it deep into the net. It was Alexander’s fourth goal of the season, a tie for the team high. \nThe first half saw not only the goal but also many defensive plays being made by the Hoosiers in an attempt to protect their goal. The Cardinals had seven shots to IU’s two, and the Hoosier goalkeepers were forced to make three saves while goalkeeper David Simolike of Louisville had zero. At the 25-minute mark, IU goalkeeper Chay Cain was taken out with an injury sustained during a collision and replaced by senior Chris Munroe. Cain had one save while Munroe had the other two. \nThe second half became the catalyst for the Cardinal’s offensive attack. The first five minutes of the half saw three shots by Louisville, but it wasn’t until late in the half that they got the stroke of luck they were looking for. With a little more than eight minutes remaining in regulation time, Louisville’s leading scorer Marco Terminesi got a touch on the ball that worked its way past the grip of Munroe to tie the game and send it into overtime. It only took two and a half minutes into the overtime period for the Cardinal’s Aaron Clapham to find the back of the net, clinching the win. \n“We took the early 1-0 lead and then we lost our composure,” Alexander said after the game. “We didn’t communicate, we had lazy passes. We weren’t talking, and that’s the key to success.” \nMunroe agreed with Alexander, saying it was a lack of hustle that killed his team on the field, but he still commended \nthe Cardinals. \n“I just think it boils down to intensity,” Munroe said. “They wanted it more.”
(10/05/07 4:11am)
After defeating the University of Illinois at Chicago on Wednesday, the IU men’s soccer team will continue conference play on a three-game winning streak when they welcome Michigan State to Bill Armstrong Stadium on Saturday. \nIU downed UIC on Wednesday by a 1-0 score, while the Spartans enjoyed a mirror result in their match that same night, with a 1-0 win over Bowling Green. Although they are ranked seven spots below the Hoosiers in national polls, Michigan State will walk on to Yeagley Field undefeated this season.\nAgainst UIC, IU struggled with focus in the first half. The Hoosiers had a hard time retaining possession off free kicks and throw-ins, resulting in a physical battle for control of the ball and the game. \nFour Hoosiers went down with injuries, including two who left the game. Both senior defender Charley Traylor and sophomore midfielder Daniel Kelly came to the sidelines with sprained ankles. IU coach Mike Freitag hopes the two can overcome their injuries before Saturday’s game, which he expects to be a challenge.\n“Hopefully we get some people healed up,” Freitag said. “MSU is undefeated. It doesn’t seem like it gets any easier, but we schedule that way. The Big Ten is tough, and we know every game is going to be a battle, but it’s nice to be at home.”\nIU came out refreshed the second half – a more focused and communicative team on the field. \nThe game-winning goal was scored in the 50th minute, when junior midfielder Brad Ring intercepted a pass just outside the box and nailed it into the back of the net. \nRing said he looks forward to continuing the team’s success in the conference this weekend at home.\n“This first home game is going to be big,” Ring said. “Hopefully we can knock another Michigan school off and get a win here at home.”\nIn their last game, the Spartans played well against Bowling Green, taking 11 shots to Bowling Green’s nine. \nThe game-winning goal for MSU came in the 36th minute, when junior forward Louis Stephens III sent a free kick into the Bowling Green goal. It was Stephens’ second goal of the season. Senior goalkeeper Chris Austin had three saves to notch his fifth shutout of the season. \nLast season, the Hoosiers fought hard against the Spartans before coming out with a 2-1 win in double overtime. \nYeagle scored the game-winner in the 107th minute.\nFreshman forward Neil Wilmarth said he is confident in his team. Although Wilmarth knows the challenge that Michigan State represents, he said he believes IU is ready for the Spartans, he said. \n“This weekend is going to be a real tough game,” Wilmarth said. “Hopefully we can get some fans out there. I think we’ll come out with a victory. I think we’ll be ready to play for this Big Ten game.”
(10/04/07 4:30am)
The last time IU and the University of Illinois-Chicago met on the pitch was 1977, when UIC was still considered a D-II school. Although none of the current Hoosier squad was alive to see that game, they were able to continue the winning tradition against the Flames in a 1-0 victory Wednesday night at Bill Armstrong Stadium. It was the third win in a row and sixth overall for IU this season. The win brought the overall series record to 4-0-0. \nFrom the beginning, the game was a very physical one on both sides. Within the opening four minutes of play, the Hoosiers had two fouls and UIC had one. Sophomore midfielder Eric Alexander was one of the more aggressive Hoosiers on the field and competed head-to-head with Flames’ Cesar Zambrano the entire match. Alexander was not the only Hoosier to clash with Zambrano, the Flames’ leading scorer, as he continued to get into verbal arguments with several IU players throughout the game. \nAlong with the physical play came several injuries for IU. In the first half, four players went down, including two who had to be taken out of the game. Both sophomore forward Daniel Kelly and senior defender Charley Traylor were tended to by the athletic trainers on the sideline with possible sprained ankles. IU coach Mike Freitag saw his team being knocked around, but knew it was just a part of the game. \n“It was a misfortune,” Freitag said. “The guys took some knocks. Now it’s time for our trainer to step up.” \nThe first half saw both injuries and sloppy play by the Hoosiers. Several throw-ins and free kicks were quickly picked up by UIC defenders, leaving IU to fight back for the ball. Although IU had a hard time maintaining possession of the ball, the Hoosiers managed to take their first shot on-goal less than five minutes into the game. Freshman Neil Wilmarth threw the ball in to Traylor, who got a touch on the ball before kicking it high over the goal. \n“I noticed personally being a forward, we weren’t able to hold onto the ball for the midfielders to attack (in the first half),” Wilmarth said. “We would get the ball and lay it off immediately, which of course would get a counter. We talked about what needed to be done and went out and did it second half.” \nThe Hoosiers appeared more refreshed and refocused in the second half. A mere five minutes into the half, junior midfielder Brad Ring intercepted a slow pass between UIC players at the top of the 18-yard box and took a wide open shot, which he sent soaring past the goalkeeper’s reach and into the net. \n“I hopped in front of (the pass),” said Ring. “When I got the ball, I looked up and saw two defenders – and I’m not the most skilled dribbler– so I just hit it and hoped for the best and the ball found the corner.” \nSophomore forwards Brad Ring and Brian Ackley got the chance to work together in the second half and had several good touches between them. Freshmen Rich Balchan, Andy Adlard, and Wilmarth also saw good communication among the group, including a near goal less than ten minutes into the second half. \n“They were tough (as an opponent),” said Wilmarth. “They were very skillful. They knew how to knock it. They weren’t scared, they were ready to play, but we were up for the challenge as well.”
(10/04/07 4:00am)
In an attempt to spice up their advertisements, companies have been licensing music from a variety of musicians who are beneath the radar. Many bands still avoid licensing their music to commercials to avoid being labeled "sell-outs," but others are inclined to take the money and enjoy the additional exposure that is afforded to them. Here are some recent musical highlights from commercials:
(10/01/07 4:18am)
If this weekend’s game was any indication of how IU’s Big Ten season will play out, the Hoosiers have a trying conference schedule ahead of them – but it shouldn’t be an issue for this team. \nAfter pulling away with the lead twice, IU (5-3-1, 1-0) was forced into overtime with a score of 2-2 at the end of regulation against its first conference foe of the season, No. 10 Michigan. Junior forward Kevin Noschang scored the winning goal in overtime, giving the Hoosiers their first Big Ten win of the season. \n“We looked great,” Noschang said. “Tonight’s game was the best all season. Everyone’s playing as an entire unit. Everyone came out and got the job done.” \nIU was the first team on the scoreboard at the 25-minute mark with a goal by junior midfielder Billy Weaver off an assist from junior Brad Ring. The goal was answered 15 minutes later by the Wolverines’ Jeffrey Quijano. After Quijano’s goal, starting goalkeeper Chay Cain was replaced by senior Chris Munroe, who had only seen 20 seconds of play this season prior to the game. \nThe Hoosiers took the lead again in the second half when freshman midfielder Daniel Kelly was fed a pass from freshman forward Neil Wilmarth. Kelly was able to send the ball into the left corner of the net with approximately 36 minutes left in regulation play. \nThe Wolverines answered that goal with 15 minutes of play left, and the Hoosiers were unable to take the lead again, forcing the overtime period where Noschang scored his fourth goal of the season for the victory. \nThe game proved to be a physical one for both teams. IU racked up 17 fouls, including two yellow cards. Michigan totaled 16 fouls, including one yellow card and one red card. Quijano was issued the red card in the second half, forcing the Wolverines to play one man down. Although Michigan was short-staffed, IU coach Mike Freitag thought the ejection of Quijano caused its team to relax their pressure, resulting in the goal that tied the game. \n“We played well,” Freitag said. “Unfortunately, we gave up a few goals. We took our foot off the gas.” \nWith a victory in the first conference game of the season, Kelly said his team is ready to take on the rest of the Big Ten. \n“(Tonight’s win) gives us a lot of confidence,” Kelly said. “After those three losses, it was good to come out with tonight’s win. It really lifted us. I think we’re ready (for Big Ten play).”
(09/26/07 11:55pm)
For the fifth season in a row, IU has been selected as the preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, and they’re backing up that prediction so far in 2007. \nWithin the first three weeks of the season, the Hoosiers knocked off 2006 national title runner-up UCLA, tied 2005 national champion Maryland, brought home a tournament championship and had two players recognized nationally for their efforts. IU has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. However, the Hoosiers still have a long road ahead as fellow Big Ten competitors are continuing to climb the national rankings. \nIU’s greatest conference threat this year comes from the Northwestern Wildcats, who were the only other Big Ten team ranked nationally in the preseason, coming in at No. 14. \nNorthwestern notched a 14-win season last year, while coming within one win of the NCAA College Cup. The Wildcats have won 45 games in the past four seasons and are 4-2 in NCAA play, according to the 2007 Big Ten season preview press release. \nWith that success, Northwestern coach Tim Lenahan said he’s looking forward to a big season and sees his team as a growing powerhouse in the Big Ten.\n“We know that it is important for us this year to have a good Big Ten campaign,” Lenahan said in the release. “Our seniors were able to get a glimpse of that success in 2004 when we made the Big Ten Championship game and hope to return to that level this year. ”\nNorthwestern has a major offensive presence in senior David Roth, who was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2006. \nAnother team expected to make a splash in the Big Ten this year is Ohio State. The Buckeyes were recently voted into the Top 15 under the direction of head coach John Bluem, the winningest coach in OSU history. \nAlthough OSU lost six seniors last season, they are returning seven other starters, including Xavier Balc, last year’s Big Ten leader in scoring. The Buckeyes were awarded the No. 2 seed in the Big Ten Tournament each of the last three years. \nPenn State stands in second place in all-time wins in the Big Ten with a record of 45-30-6. However, it was the only Big Ten team that did not receive a vote in the Sept. 11 edition of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25. The Nittany Lions have won three of their last four contests with the Hoosiers – IU’s victory coming in their first game in the Big Ten Tournament last year. Junior midfielder Brian Ackley remembers some frustrating contests with Penn State.\n“Penn State always gives us trouble,” Ackley said. “For some reason, we don’t bring it to them.”\nThe Nittany Lions had a rough season last year after the loss of forward Jason Yeisley to knee and foot injuries. Yeisley is expected to return this season and is looking to add to his 11 goals and seven assists in his 29 career starts. \nRounding out the bottom three in the preseason rankings are Wisconsin, Michigan State and Michigan. \nThe Wisconsin Badgers placed third in the Big Ten last season and hope to continue their success under coach Jeff Rohrman. Last year, the Hoosiers defeated the Badgers in the last game of the regular season, securing their Big Ten regular season title and guaranteeing them a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Badgers return their entire midfield as well as their leading point scorer, junior Victor Diaz.\nMichigan State returns 13 letter winners and eight starters this year. The biggest hole in MSU’s roster is at goalkeeper, where the Spartans lost senior Jason Tillman and must rely on fifth-year senior Chris Austin – the only MSU netminder with collegiate experience.\nMichigan, in only its eighth year of varsity play, recently jumped to No. 18 in the Sept. 11 national poll, despite being ranked last in the conference in the preseason. In their last meeting, the Hoosiers and Wolverines tied 2-2 in a double-overtime match.\nIU coach Mike Freitag has respect for the rivalries that exist in the Big Ten and looks forward to a competitive season.\n“We always like the Big Ten rivalries,” Freitag said. “They’ve really developed over the years. From the looks of these first couple weekends, the Big Ten is going to be a strong conference this year.”
(09/26/07 4:18am)
Three losses in a row may not seem disastrous to some college soccer teams – unless the last time the team in question suffered a losing streak that bad was seven years ago.\nToday, the IU men’s soccer team hopes to break out of its worst losing streak since 2000 when the team takes on unranked in-state foe Butler at 7 p.m. at Bill Armstrong Stadium. IU coach Mike Freitag said he knows it doesn’t take much to lose a game but also said he thinks his team has refocused.\n“You make one silly mistake or one mental mistake and you can get punished by it, and that’s what we’ve done in the last three games,” Freitag said. “It’s not going to happen (against Butler).”\nFreshman forward Andy Adlard is also confident in his team’s performance this week and hopes to get a win in his first meeting with the Bulldogs.\n“I think we’re feeling good,” Adlard said. “Those losses definitely gave us an awareness check. Our practices have been much more intense and focused. Hopefully, we can get a good result and continue it through the season.”\nPicked to win the Big Ten in the preseason, the Hoosiers are currently ranked below Northwestern and Michigan, coming in at No. 19 nationally. That is a drastic drop from the No. 2 ranking they reached only two weeks ago. \nThe Hoosiers suffered their last defeat at the hands of University of Alabama at Birmingham Friday when the Blazers scored the game-winning goal with a little more than a minute left in regulation. \nFreitag said that, after reviewing the tape, he was satisfied with how his team played in the second half. Getting his team to play with that same intensity for the whole game has been the focus in practice this week.\n“I think we’ve, for the most part, concentrated on the effort that was there the second half,” Freitag said. “There’s a feeling. Everybody on that field was confident and making things happen. And that’s what we kind of stressed. When we do that, we’re as good as anybody in the country.”\nIU holds a 16-1-1 record against the Bulldogs. \nIn their last meeting, Butler held a 2-1 lead for the majority of the game. But in the last 15 minutes of the game, the Hoosiers went on an offensive attack, netting three goals in quick succession and a 4-2 Hoosier victory.\nSophomore back Ofori Sarkodie has some experience with the Bulldogs and is confident that if IU matches Butler’s intensity, stays composed and sticks to the game plan laid out by the coaches, the Hoosiers will come out with a victory.\n“We know exactly what we need to do to win this game,” Sarkodie said. “It’s going to be a great match. I think this is going to be a real confidence booster for our team to let us know where we’re at in the season right now.”
(09/21/07 4:22am)
After a tough weekend in St. Louis, the Hoosiers return home Friday night in hopes of snapping their first losing streak of the season with a victory over the University of Alabama at Birmingham. IU leads the all-time series with a record of 1-0-2.\nLast season, the Blazers forced an overtime period with IU, playing to a 1-1 tie in regulation. The Hoosiers eventually won the match by capitalizing on a corner kick to grab the game winner for a 2-1 finish. \nIU coach Mike Freitag said he hopes this weekend’s game is not as close as last year’s contest, but added that as long as his team comes away victorious, he will be happy.\n“If it’s (as close as last year’s game) but we come out with the win, that’s okay,” Freitag said. “I’m just looking to get a win and for my team to play to its potential consistently for 90 minutes.”\nSeveral UAB players have had their names in the news this season. Junior Dejan Jakovic was named to the Hermann Trophy watch list at the beginning of the season. This week, junior forward Frank Brown and sophomore goalkeeper Wes Johnson were awarded the Conference USA offensive and defensive player of the week awards, respectively. Brown was also selected for the College Soccer News National Team of the Week. \nThe Blazers have won their last four matches in shutouts, including two victories to claim the UAB Classic championship. \nIU dropped its last two contests – both by 2-1 scores – at the Saint Louis/Nike Soccer Classic, where the team faced now-No. 7 Creighton and now-No. 18 Saint Louis last weekend.\nIn the first match of the weekend, Creighton bested the Hoosiers offensively, taking 17 shots to the Hoosiers’ seven. Saint Louis proved to be equally as tough on the Hoosiers, capitalizing on a defensive mistake for one of their two goals. \nDespite allowing four goals over the course of the weekend, junior goalkeeper Chay Cain also tallied 10 saves in the tournament. Cain currently leads the Big Ten in saves, averaging five a game, with a .96 goals-allowed average.\nSenior back Charley Traylor said he has has experience to overlook tough losses and prepare for better results his weekend.\n“We’re trying to refocus,” Traylor said. “We’ve got to get back to our winning ways.”\nFreshman forward Neil Wilmarth said he believes his team is already focused.\n“I think everyone’s confident,” Wilmarth said. “We’re back in form and ready to play. We should come out with a victory.”\nThe Hoosiers have played their last four games on the road, but will be playing four of the next five in Bloomington. Traylor said he looks forward to playing in front of home fans.\n“We love Bill Armstrong Stadium,” Traylor said. “We always feel better with the crowd behind us.”
(09/12/07 11:30pm)
Following junior forward Kevin Noschang’s performance over the course of last season, IU coach Mike Freitag said he hoped to see more consistency in the attacker’s play. Freitag knew that with more experience, Noschang would pose an offensive threat to any opponent. \nNoschang is proving his coach right.\nAfter his two-goal weekend at the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic, Noschang attracted the attention of soccer critics across the country. With that attention came awards – Noschang was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week, National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Player of the Week and was named to the All Tournament Team at the Classic.\n“(Being named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week) was fantastic,” Noschang said. “It was very flattering. I didn’t expect it, but it is always nice to get recognized, especially by someone like the Big Ten.”\nNoschang is consistently one of the top offensive threats for the Hoosiers. In the 2006 season, he tallied 11 shots on goal, with a shot-on-goal percentage rate of .688. Noschang also appeared in 17 games, six of which he started. \n“Kevin continues to grow as a player,” Freitag said. “When he came to campus, athletically he wasn’t a polished soccer player. He was inconsistent and streaky. He would do well and then he’d fall off. We’ve seen consistency this year in his effort, in his demeanor and in his production.”\nNoschang’s teammates have also noticed his change in attitude on the field.\n“As a teammate, he’s a good guy,” said junior midfielder John Mellencamp. “This year, he’s come out more focused and more determined.”\nIn his four years at IU – one of them as a redshirt freshman – Noschang has played with some of the nation’s finest players, something he sees as an advantage.\n“The thing about IU is you get to play with the best players day in and day out,” Noschang said. “IU is the best place in the country to play, without a doubt.” \nDuring his redshirted freshman year, Noschang watched his teammates win the 2004 national championship from the bench. The Cincinnati native hopes to play in the championship game before his college career is over.\n“I have the (national champion) ring, but I’d love to be on the field playing (the game),” he said. \nNoschang may get his wish. The Hoosiers are predicted to take the Big Ten this season. And with the No. 2-rated freshman class in the nation, they have plenty of young talent to put on the field before Noschang’s eligibility is up. \nNoschang said he would like to go pro after college, and a second championship ring would only bolster his already stunning portfolio of accomplishments.\n“I want to play professionally,” Noschang said. “I want to play in the MLS. Abroad would be great, but to help soccer grow in America would be awesome.”
(09/10/07 5:06am)
The Hoosiers are on a roll.\nFueled by the big wins last weekend, the IU men’s soccer team traveled to the Mike Berticelli Memorial Tournament in South Bend, Ind. There they took on Northern Illinois and Rhode Island, winning both matches.\nThe Hoosiers faced Northern Illinois first, where a goal by freshman midfielder Daniel Kelly gave the Hoosiers the 1-0 lead that proved to be the difference in the game – and its only scoring.\nThe Hoosiers dominated the match, outshooting the Huskies 18-10. Eleven of those shots came in the second half. Junior goalkeeper Chay Cain tallied up five saves before having the wind knocked out of him in the last 20 seconds of the game. He was replaced by senior keeper Chris Munroe in his first appearance this season.\nThe Hoosiers rested Saturday before taking on Rhode Island on Sunday morning. Rhode Island started off strong, catching the Hoosiers off guard and tallying their first and only goal of the game in the first five minutes of play. Although the team was disappointed to give up the early goal, IU coach Mike Freitag saw it as a positive.\n“In some ways, the goal was good. It put some fire in us,” Freitag said. “You don’t ever want to give up goals, but maybe that’s what you need to get things going.”\nSophomore midfielder Eric Alexander agreed, and said that the score helped the team refocus.\n“(The goal) was an unlucky break,” Alexander said. “But it put us on our heels and we rebounded as a team.”\nIU answered quickly after the Rams’ initial goal. No more than three minutes later, Kelly headed the ball toward the goal, but his shot went wide. Rams’ goalkeeper Chris Pennock notched his first save of the game five minutes after that off a shot by junior midfielder Brad Ring.\nIU got the tying goal it was seeking at the 22:56 mark, when Alexander connected with the ball outside the box and sent it sailing into the net. Less than 10 minutes later, senior defender Greg Stevning connected with junior forward Kevin Noschang, who tallied the second goal of the game. It was Noschang’s third goal of the season. \nCain saw the most action between the 35th and 41st minutes, when he tallied four saves off of six Rhode Island shots. Cain had five saves on the game.\nThe first half saw the Rams outshoot the Hoosiers 10-9, but the second half was a different story. IU had seven shots to Rhode Island’s one, including a goal by freshman forward Michael Roach. It was Roach’s first career goal as a Hoosier.\nThe Hoosiers have one more tournament before single-game play begins. Next week, IU travels to St. Louis to battle Creighton and Saint Louis in the Saint Louis/Nike Classic.
(09/07/07 4:10am)
Most freshmen are lucky to know a handful of familiar faces when they arrive on campus for their first semester in Bloomington. IU freshman goalkeeper Michael Munroe, one of the newest members of the IU men’s soccer team, lucked out and had a close friend – and sibling – waiting to show him around. That person was his older brother, senior goalkeeper Chris Munroe. \nNearly identical in stature – both 6-foot-4 with only a 15-pound difference between them – the two Munroes are separated by three years in age and not even that many miles. Michael’s arrival in Bloomington marks the reunion of two brothers who have been playing soccer together for years.\n“It’s not that weird (to play together) because we spent so many years doing goalie training in Indianapolis,” Chris said. “We had a coach there who we worked with for like 10 years each. We’ve been training (together) for a long time, so it’s pretty normal.”\nThe Munroes attended North Central High School in Indianapolis, where both received high praise for their skills. Chris, who played for a state championship team, was named one of five National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s All-Americans and was a first team all-state selection in 2002. Michael also helped lead North Central to a state championship, and the younger Munroe gained hoards of honors as a senior as well, all while averaging a mere 0.49 goals allowed \nper game. \n“I know they’re pretty excited to spend the year together,” said IU coach Mike Freitag. \nAlthough there is always competition between siblings, Chris and Michael say it is no longer an issue for them.\n“Not so much anymore,” Michael said. “We used to be \npretty bad.”\nChris agreed, saying he is actually thrilled about the progress his little brother is making at the college level.\n“I’ll be honest, he’s doing really well – especially as a freshman – in terms of handling the adjustment to the speed of the game,” Chris said. “When he does well in practice, I’m happy for him. It’s really not a one-versus-the-other sort \nof deal.”\nChris has been giving Michael tips on how to adjust to the new style of play he will face in college in hopes that Michael will be able to fill the void left by his older brother’s\npending graduation. \n“He’s been helping me out, giving me some advice just on how to adjust to the next level of play,” Michael said. \nIn addition to spending practice and game time together, the freshman-senior duo has also enjoyed their free time together.\n“It’s a blast,” Chris said. “To be able to be here in this college environment and hang out together – on the field and off the field. It’s a very good time.”
(09/04/07 1:53am)
While IU fought to upset No. 2-ranked UCLA on the pitch last Sunday, four alumni of the IU men’s soccer team were fighting a battle of their own in Major League Soccer.\nThe Columbus Crew hosted the Colorado Rapids, where Danny O’Rourke, Jed Zayner, and Ned Grabavoy of the Crew played against Jacob Peterson of the Rapids. All four men played on the 2004 Hoosier squad that won the College Cup on penalty kicks against UC-Santa Barbara.\nToday, the former national champions find themselves on professional teams fighting to make the playoffs. \nThe Crew and the Rapids went into Sunday’s game tied for the eighth and final MLS playoff spot, but the Rapids would win the tiebreaker over the Crew with a greater goal differential on the season.\nBefore the match, Zayner said he thought the game would be a launching pad for the Crew for the remainder of the season. \n“It’s going to be a turning point for us,” Zayner said. “The last few games haven’t been too good for us.” \nThe Crew and Rapids went on to play a 1-1 tie. Although it was not a loss, members of the Crew were still disappointed to walk away without the win. \n“It was a choppy performance,” Zayner said after the game. “We let up at the end. It was an average day for us.” \nZayner was not the only disappointed Crew member. O’Rourke is hopeful of gaining the last playoff spot as well. He has been on two teams that have reached the postseason, but was unable to play Sunday due to injuries. \n“It’s frustrating watching your team from the sidelines,” O’Rourke said. “(Getting to the playoffs) is the most important thing to me right now.” \nAll three Crew players said they enjoy playing with and against former teammates. \n“We always say ‘what’s up’ before the games,” said Grabavoy. “But once the game starts, it’s not (friendly) anymore.” \nZayner agreed, saying that he uses his former teammate’s strengths and weaknesses against them. \n“As a defender, I know the attackers’ tendencies,” Zayner said. “But that means I need to focus more because they know me as much as I know them.” \n“Danny (O’Rourke) and I are like brothers, and Ned (Grabavoy) and I played on the same club team when we were younger,” Zayner said. “It’s nice, we always win the smack talk competition on \n(the Crew).”
(09/03/07 5:11am)
A record 7,423 people packed Bill Armstrong Stadium on Sunday to see the No. 7-ranked IU men’s soccer team battle No. 2-ranked UCLA, shattering the previous attendance mark of 6,000 set in 1987. No Hoosier left disappointed.\nIU defeated UCLA by a score of 1-0, and tied No. 9-ranked Maryland 1-1 on Friday night in the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. This weekend’s play gives the Hoosiers something they can build upon as Big Ten season approaches.\nFriday’s game saw major moves on the pitch early, with a shot attempt by freshman midfielder Daniel Kelly just five minutes into the game. Despite this early action, the first half proved difficult for the Hoosiers, especially for the defense, which was facing the setting sun. \n“(The sun is) a big disadvantage to the team, especially the backline, because you’re just not seeing the ball when it’s coming over the top,” said junior goalkeeper Chay Cain.\n“You just got to do the best you can.”\nOnce the sun dropped below the tree line, both teams raised the intensity. At the 24:03 mark, junior forward Kevin Noschang got his foot behind the ball off a header from junior midfielder Brian Ackley to score the first goal of the game. \n“I thought I was offsides, to be honest,” Noschang said. “It took a second to register.”\nAfter the goal, the crowd of over 4,000 fans stood on their feet and cheered. But those cheers were quickly silenced as the second goal of the game came less than a minute later, off the foot of Maryland junior forward Graham Zusi. Terrapin junior midfielder Rich Costanzo fed Zusi to help tie up the game at the 25:14 mark. \nThe second half was physical, as both teams battled to score the winning goal. The crowd erupted into boos several times as tough foul calls were made on both sides of the ball. Junior midfielder Brad Ring saw some of the most physical contact during the match, but said it’s all just part of the game. \n“It usually is (a battle) in the back midfield,” Ring said. “I got guys always surrounding me. There’s always contact.”\nDespite two overtime periods, neither team managed to score another goal and were forced to settle with a tie. IU coach Mike Freitag said he knew his team could play better than they did, but expects to see growth as the season goes on. \n“Am I disappointed? Yeah. Are the guys disappointed? Yes. But it’s early in the season.” Freitag said after the game.\nThe team spent Saturday resting under Freitag’s orders, citing a sluggish Sunday game in last year’s Classic, when Notre Dame scored five goals on the Hoosiers. However, Sunday’s game was far from sluggish as IU fought hard to upset the Bruins, who were also upset by No. 10 Notre Dame on Friday.\nBoth teams played quick on offense and displayed stalwart defense, but the Hoosiers were the first and only team able to break its opponent’s defensive block. UCLA had several close calls inside the 18-yard box, resulting in their nine total corner kicks on the game. Cain had only four saves to Bruins’ goalkeeper Brian Perk’s six. \nNoschang scored the lone goal of the game at the 15:10 mark of the second half. The Hoosiers brought the ball forward into Bruin territory when several players were tripped up near the goal. Some players lost their concentration as they waited for a foul to be called, and it was during this brief pause that Ackley fed the ball out to Noschang, who sent it soaring over the goalie’s head and into the right corner of \nthe goal. \nThe game was nearly tied up less than 10 minutes later, when the Bruins headed the ball toward the goal. It bounced off the top post and back into play as Cain went up for the block. \nUCLA was unable to bring the ball close again, and the Hoosiers took the win in the final game of the tournament. Freitag was much more impressed with his team’s play Sunday than Friday and noted how important this win was for his team.\n“We were pretty good today. I’m very proud of everybody,” Freitag said. “When you play a game against a quality opponent and come out with a win – a quality win – it speaks a lot for these young men.”
(08/24/07 5:11am)
This weekend, the IU men’s soccer team will play their only preseason exhibition game of the 2007 season. The Hoosiers will take on the University of New Mexico in Fort Wayne, the first meeting between the two teams in nearly three years. The teams last met on the pitch in 2004, when the Hoosiers lost to the \nLobos 1-0.\nRecently ranked eighth in the nation by College Soccer News, the Hoosiers hope to start their season off with a win. Although this game is only an exhibition match, it is a chance for the newest members of the team to show IU coach Mike Freitag they belong on the field. \n“The freshmen are looking really good,” said junior midfielder Brian Ackley. “I think they realized within the first few days that IU soccer is competitive.” \nFreitag agreed, saying the freshmen have been impressive at practices. \n“They’re very good. I’m very happy with all of them,” he said. “They’re going to make IU soccer better.”\nExpectations are high for the Hoosiers this season. In addition to being named eighth, the freshman recruiting class was named second in the nation, and the team was picked to win the Big Ten. \nAlthough these predictions are important, sophomore back/midfielder Kevin Alston said those expectations are not changing the way the team prepares for the season.\n“(The rankings) are just other people’s opinions and predictions,” Alston said. “It’s more important that we focus on our own goals.”\nThis weekend’s game will be a good gauge for the team to see not only where individual players stack up, but how the squad performs against new competition. \n“I want to see how my team can compete,” Freitag said. “I like what I see in practice, but practice is practice.”\nDespite the fact that the team has only been practicing together since Aug. 15, Freitag said the players already have great team chemistry and should play a cohesive game this weekend.\n“It’s a team,” Freitag said. “I feel very good about this group of young men.”
(08/05/07 10:25pm)
As August draws to a close, students will begin returning to Bloomington for the start of classes. Along with classes comes the fall athletics season, and one team expecting big things is the men’s soccer team. Recently ranked No. 8 in the country in the College Soccer News’ preseason poll, the Hoosiers hope to live up to such hype and redeem themselves after a third-round loss to Santa Clara on penalty kicks in last season’s NCAA Tournament. \nAlong with the high overall team ranking, IU coach Mike Freitag’s incoming freshman class was recently named the No. 2 class in the country by College Soccer News, behind only Duke. IU will welcome the seven new faces Aug. 15, when practice officially begins. In addition to the freshman arrivals, the Hoosiers will return several players from injuries, including senior backer Greg Stevning and eventually junior forward Darren Yeagle, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the spring exhibition season. \nAlthough the summer is usually a downtime for the players, several continued to play well into the scorching summer heat. Sophomore backer Ofori Sarkodie saw action with the U.S. Under-20 team, where he had the opportunity to travel and play against teams such as Brazil. \n“It was an amazing experience to represent your country on that big of a stage,” Sarkodie said. “The experience was second to none.” \nFreitag watched Sarkodie’s performance in the game against Brazil and said he was very pleased and proud of his player. \n“It’s nice to see your players play,” Freitag said. “You’re proud of them out there representing the country.” \nWhile Sarkodie was representing the cream and crimson on the U-20 squad, sophomore midfielder Kevin Alston and freshman midfielder Daniel Kelly were improving their games competing with the U.S. Pan American team. Alston and Kelly both saw significant playing time before the team was eliminated from the competition on July 21 by Mexico in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.\nWhile these three Hoosiers traveled the world, many of their teammates held jobs, including senior goalkeeper Chris Munroe. Munroe worked with the investment banking firm Goldman Sachs in Chicago. He said that after a long summer in the city, he’s ready to get back to campus.\n“I really am (looking forward to the season),” he said. “Having actually been in the real world makes you appreciate college and soccer so much more.” \nBoth Sarkodie and Munroe look forward to the arrival of the newest class of Hoosiers, but Munroe might have a reason to be more excited. Included in the freshman class is his younger brother Michael. \n“I’m not going to lie, I’m more excited (about starting the season) for him than I am for myself,” the elder Munroe said. \nThe Munroe brothers, as well as the rest of the squad, will face a challenging schedule from their first kickoff. After an Aug. 25 exhibition game in Fort Wayne against New Mexico, the Hoosiers will play preseason-ranked No. 1 UCLA as well as No. 9 Maryland during the IU Credit Union/adidas Classic at Bill Armstrong Stadium beginning Aug. 31. Despite the early challenges in the season, Sarkodie can’t wait to get back on the grass of Yeagley Field. \n“I’m always excited (to play),” he said. “I love competition.”
(08/04/07 4:00am)
After opening the movie with a hilarious preview for an "Itchy and Scratchy" movie, Homer laments, "I can't believe we're paying for something we could get for free on TV. If you ask me, everyone in this theater is a big sucker, especially you."\nSorry, Homer; it was worth every penny. From Ralph singing along to the 20th Century Fox theme music to Bart skateboarding naked through town to Otto lighting one up as the end of Springfield seemed imminent, every minute of "The Simpsons Movie" is an absolute joy. \nAs with most "Simpsons" episodes, the plot doesn't matter nearly as much as the jokes, but here it is: After repeated warnings, Homer dumps enough waste into Lake Springfield to cause it to become so toxic the town has to be quarantined in a bubble (think "Bio-Dome"). The whole town, including Marge and the kids, turns on Homer, and he tries to save the day and win back their trust. \nThe movie feels like one long episode, but unlike the show's last few seasons, you'll want to savor every minute. The one-liners are rapid and hit consistently, especially in the first act. \nThe dialogue was strong, but a surprising amount of enjoyment came from the movie's beautiful animation. In shots where the camera moved past the angry Springfield mob, it was incredible to see how crisp and vivid they looked on the big screen. \nOne of my biggest complaints with the movie is that while we get to see a lot of the towns, some of the best characters are underused (no scenes in the school or at Moe's, for starters.) Even more irritating, while Tom Hanks and Green Day work quite well in their brief appearances as themselves, Albert Brooks' Environmental Protection Agency character hogs up way too much screen time. \nSpeaking of hogs, that Spider Pig seems to have captured the hearts of fans who haven't even seen the movie yet, and Homer trying to kiss the pig when things get awkward is classic "Simpsons." Homer and Bart get most of the screen time, and deservedly so. The two subplots of Lisa falling for a smart new Irish boy and Bart wishing he were Flanders' son went mostly undeveloped, but who am I to complain? What was in the movie was exciting, fun and made me love "The Simpsons" again. \nMore than anything, I'm relieved that the movie turned out as well as it did. After dedicating an entire issue to it (and several months of my life to the show), it was gratifying to be in the theater for a movie that received applause at the end. It felt as warm and gooey as the inside of a donut. Hmmm. Donuts.
(07/26/07 4:00am)
"Not marble, nor the gilded monuments\nOf princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;\nBut you shall shine more bright in these contents\nThan unswept stone besmear'd with sluttish time."
(07/18/07 11:55pm)
After several weeks of flag football, water volleyball, basketball and dodgeball, the incoming freshmen with the Groups program only have one more week of intramurals before the summer season is officially finished.\nLast week, participants finished up both water volleyball, which took place at the IU Outdoor Pool, and flag football. Team Aviators claimed the championship title in water volleyball, while Killa Squad dominated the competition in flag football. \nThis week saw the start of intramural basketball at the SRSC. With the majority of the 300 Groups members participating or watching, the atmosphere at the games was intense and competitive. People who were not participating sat against the wall around the court, encouraging their friends and offering words of encouragement to the few participants on the floor who weren’t exceptionally experienced in basketball. The championship rounds began Tuesday and concluded Wednesday. A winner had not yet been determined by press time. \nOn Thursday, intramurals and Groups will shake things up by hosting student-versus-resident assistant games. There will be both male and female games. Next week, softball and outdoor kickball will conclude the summer season.\nCedric Harris, the residence manager of Teter Quad, said the students are enjoying themselves, and that this experience has helped them get acclimated to the campus. He thinks this summer’s intramural program has gone well.\n“My goal was for every one of them to participate in at least one thing,” Harris said. “I’m hoping when they do that, they’re getting a chance to relieve stress, getting a chance to meet people, get connected to the university and have fun – that’s really what it’s all about.”\nThe students weren’t the only ones who enjoyed this summer’s activities. Senior Chris Marcum is one of the head officials for the various games. \n“This summer’s intramurals have been very laid back,” Marcum said. “With lower participation numbers there isn’t nearly a fourth of what is going on during the school year. It’s still fun nonetheless.
(07/12/07 12:47am)
Only a few months before the start of regular-season play, the Hoosier wrestling team received an accolade that could mean big things for next season. Intermat.com has recently named the incoming freshman class as the 25th best class in the nation. Earlier this summer, Wrestling International Newsmagazine ranked the newest Hoosier class as 22nd nationally. \n“This was another important year for us,” IU Coach Duane Goldman said. “We pursued these guys hard and were fortunate to come away with them.” \nThe Big Ten is a notorious wrestling powerhouse, which is evident in the fact that eight of the eleven teams are ranked in Intermat.com’s top 30. The Hoosiers are welcoming five new faces to the roster next season, all of whom have at least one state championship under their belt. \n“The Big Ten is extremely competitive in every aspect – competition, recruiting and scholastics,” Goldman said. “(Recruiting is) a battle. We have to try to keep pace and climb the ladder at the same time. It’s a lot of work, but there are a lot of rewards.”\nJeff Pelton (Bellevue, Ohio/Bellevue) was this year’s D-II state champion in Ohio in the 135 pound weight class. He finished his career with a phenomenal 150-13 overall record, including 79 pins. Wrestling International Newsmagazine ranked Pelton as the 20th best in his class in April, before he went on to defeat two more major opponents. \nMatt Powless (Evansville/Memorial) was the 2007 state champ at 171 pounds. As a senior, Powless accumulated a 51-0 record, and became the first wrestler at Memorial to win a state championship. \nReece Freeman (Bloomington/Bloomington South) went 45-0 his senior year, snatching up a state champion title in his 125-pound weight class. He has an overall record of 179-10 in his four years at South. Freeman is a former teammate of both Kurt Kinser and Paul Young, current wrestlers on the IU squad. \nJoe Fagiano (Chicago/ St. Patrick) was the 2006 Illinois state champ at the 215-pound weight class, and was a runner up in 2007. Fagiano finished his career with a 129-28 overall record and was ranked 10th in his weight class by Wrestling International Newsmagazine earlier this year. \nMatt Ortega (Rio Rancho, N.M./Rio Rancho) set a school record by winning four state championships during his high school career. He won championships in the 103, 112, 119, and 125-pound weight classes, and was ranked eighth in the 125-weight class by Wrestling International Newsmagazine. \nOrtega will be joining standout grappler Angel Escobedo in the 125-pound weight class this season. Although Escobedo has dominated in this weight class, Goldman is confident that Ortega, as well as the other recruits, will find an active spot on the team.\n“Every one of those guys will be in the lineup and will be able to contribute in the way they do best.” Goldman said.