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(10/29/08 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The last time former Washington Post executive editor Leonard Downie visited Bloomington, he was a sports editor at Ohio State’s The Lantern, covering the Buckeyes’ victory against Hoosiers in football. That 1961 Ohio State team eventually won the national championship.This time, Downie pointed out, he was coming on the heels of a Hoosier victory.College football aside, Downie spoke to students and Bloomington residents about the upcoming election and the various factors that could affect who voters select on Election Day. He pointed out key battleground states, such as Ohio, Florida and Indiana and debated possible reasons why either Barack Obama or John McCain could win.Later, The Herald-Times’ Laura Lane and Indianapolis WRTV’s Ray Cortopassi joined Downie for a question-and-answer session before moderators opened the floor to students and other listeners.Lane and Cortopassi asked Downie about his experiences as an editor during the Watergate scandal. He described that period as one of uncertainty.“It was like being in a very dark tunnel not knowing where the end was,” he said.Throughout his talk, Downie stressed “accountability journalism.”Downie watched Nixon’s resignation sitting on the newsroom floor with Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.“I thought there might be a coup,” he said. “It was that tense.”During his tenure, the Post garnered 25 Pulitzer Prizes, including three for public service. Downie called himself a “catalyst for really great writers.”Dean of the School of Journalism Brad Hamm said Downie’s talk, sponsored by the school as part of its School of Journalism speaker series, allowed students to hear the process behind the important choices editors make.“I think what’s remarkable about the series is that it gives you the opportunity to hear people who were involved in national events and then how they thought about them,” Hamm said. “We often see the coverage about it, but to hear the dilemma he had in making this decision or that decision – I think that’s important.”Freshman journalism student Kelsey Finn said she only found one frustrating aspect in Downie’s speech. “It bothered me, and I know it bothered a lot of other students, that he doesn’t vote,” Finn said.The format of Wednesday night proved to be successful, with students lining up after the question-and-answer session to pepper Downie with their own queries.“I liked how the questions were set up – the opportunity for us to hear different points of view, not just what the two interviewees were saying,” Finn said. “It was good for students to get the opportunity to ask questions.”One student asked Downie for his advice to aspiring college journalists. He emphasized getting experience, having an older mentor and studying a subject besides journalism.A 44-year veteran of the Washington Post, Downie began as a summer intern in 1964 and stepped down in September. His current plans include visiting more journalism schools to share his knowledge and experience.“For me, journalism is still a calling,” he said.
(10/27/08 4:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The hero returned.Only four days after a successful penalty kick and a 1-0 Hoosier victory against Louisville, sophomore midfielder Andy Adlard saved IU again on Sunday.Adlard sent a free kick into the bottom left corner in the 92nd minute for a 3-2 road victory against unranked Ohio State.After two straight wins against top-15 teams – No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 14 Louisville – the No. 22 Hoosiers came dangerously close to losing their winning streak.Unlike the previous two matches, Sunday’s heroics capped a roller-coaster game for both teams.Despite tallying 12 shots in the first period, the Hoosiers came out sluggish against the Buckeyes, said IU coach Mike Freitag.“It looked like we were tired, maybe midterms, travel, wear and tear of the season,” Freitag said. “We weren’t as sharp as we could’ve been.”After a rousing halftime speech, the team entered the second period prepared to notch only its second Big Ten victory this season.Junior midfielder Lee Hagedorn scored his first goal of the season in the 48th minute after receiving a cross from senior forward Kevin Noschang.Noschang rifled in his own score past Ohio State goalkeeper Drew Czekanski in the top-right corner seven minutes later with an assist from junior defender Kevin Alston.With a two-goal lead against the Buckeyes, the Hoosiers began to relax.Senior midfielder Danny Irizarry scored the Buckeyes’ first goal less than a minute after Noschang’s.“(2-0) is the most dangerous lead in soccer,” Noschang said. “We got the two goals, and we got a little comfortable. Just the communication was let down a bit. There was a five minute span when we clicked off.”After several near misses, Ohio State scored again in the 77th minute, when senior defender Patrick Roan evened up the match with a score to the right side.“Personally, (the tie was) frustrating,” Hagedorn said. “As soon as the overtime period started, everyone knew we were going to come away with the win.”With his second consecutive game-winning shot, Adlard improved his team’s record to 9-4-2 and 2-2-0 in the Big Ten. Riding a three-game winning streak, Sunday’s match was the Hoosiers’ first win against a Big Ten foe since a 3-2 overtime victory against Wisconsin on Sept. 21.“We stumbled twice already,” Freitag said. “We want to finish strong in the end. There’s still a lot to be determined in the Big Ten.”Freitag said the Hoosiers will take a day off to recuperate and prepare for another non-conference game on Wednesday, as unranked Kentucky travels to Bill Armstrong Stadium.With only three games remaining before the Big Ten tournament, Hagedorn said the team needs to focus to end the season on a high.“You have to make sure you’re sharp,” Hagedorn said. “If we play our game and we do it for 90 minutes, I don’t think anyone can beat us.”
(10/22/08 3:02am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Only five games remain before the Big Ten tournament, but the No. 22 Hoosiers aren’t about to look ahead.Coming off a 3-1 upset win against then-No. 9 Notre Dame, IU (7-4-2) wants to build off its victory going into the match against No. 14 Louisville (9-3-2) at 7:30 p.m. today.Sophomore forward Andy Adlard said a key component to the win was a good week of practice preceding the match. Leading up to the Notre Dame game, every Hoosier showed up motivated and prepared, Adlard said.“Some days some people come out and just go through the motions because they had a tough day at school,” he said. “Everyone just got on the same page now. We’re working hard.”Adlard said the team has been continuing to work on set pieces, a defensive weak point. The Fighting Irish had seven corner kicks but were unable to capitalize. IU coach Mike Freitag also credited the Hoosiers for decreasing their mental mistakes as of late.“Guys have been very, very focused,” Freitag said. “The effort’s been very, very good. A lot of it is focus on just the little things. This group has done most things pretty well. (We’ve) just slipped in some minor things.” Throughout the season, the coach has maintained that IU has not played well for a complete game. Senior midfielder Brad Ring said last Thursday’s match broke that trend.“It’s just getting everyone on the same page, playing consistently, playing a full 90 minutes,” Ring said. “I think Notre Dame was our first pretty complete game, except for their one goal.”Despite its new surge of confidence and a rising ranking, Freitag said the team will retain its concentration against the Cardinals, who are on a two-game losing streak. “I don’t think this team is going to get complacent,” Freitag said. “I think they know four losses is too much for us. They’re making sure we take care of every game that comes up.”The game also marked the Hoosiers’ return as an offensive power. Before last Thursday’s match, the Hoosiers had not scored three goals since Sept. 30, when they defeated Evansville 3-2 in overtime. Ring said the team wants to keep the high- scoring going.“We have the qualities to score a lot of goals, and that’s something we want to get back to,” Ring said.Injuries could hamper the Hoosiers’ offensive effort Wednesday. Ring broke his hand in practice last month and re-broke it against Evansville. He competed against Notre Dame and will play this week. Sophomore defender/midfielder Rich Balchan broke his nose against the Fighting Irish. Freitag said Balchan is questionable for Wednesday’s match.As the season winds down, Ring is confident the team can capitalize on last week’s victory, “If everyone’s there with the purpose of getting better every day,” Ring said, “we’re going to continue to grow as a team as the season continues.”
(10/21/08 2:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the Dow falls and employers cut jobs, the effects of the imminent recession can be felt miles away from Wall Street.Rising costs of gas and groceries, textbooks and tuition are forcing students to change their future and current academic and employment plans.Director of Counseling and Psychological Services at the IU Health Center Nancy Stockton said some students are no longer considering taking a semester off for fear they won’t get financial aid when they return. Some are also concerned about how the economic downturn will affect their job prospects.“They have to confront the realities of the economy and society and may not have the luxury of making decisions solely based on psychological need,” Stockton said.For others, economic difficulties might force them to reconsider career choices.While business students traditionally have had job security, some of them are now taking a closer look at their career paths.“I think there are some students that are taking a second look at fields they intended to major in,” Stockton said. “‘Do I really want to be an investment banker or should I consider other things?’ I think they’re looking at other choices.”As a counselor, Stockton said she mainly tries to sympathize with her patients and help them acknowledge that they need to take time to ensure their psychological health, not just the state of their bank account.“This is a time that calls for psychological regrouping,” she said. “That takes awhile. We’re all struggling with that.”Nationwide, 80 percent of people said the economy is a significant source of stress, up from 66 percent in April, according to a recent survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.APA spokeswoman Angel Brownawell said work and money consistently rank as some of the top stressors even in relatively stable economic periods.“Even in times when we don’t have as much of a nationwide or global economic crisis, money is still something that’s on people’s mind,” she said. “So especially now, as people are looking at things like job security and job stability ... people are just worrying about fulfilling basic needs.”She recommends that people take walks, reach out to family or friends or find other inexpensive ways to relieve stress.“Look at how you experience stress, but also look at the ways you’re managing stress,” Brownawell said. “You really want to pay attention to how you’re coping with it.”On campus, Counseling and Psychological Services offers group therapy sessions every fourth Monday of the month from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. called “Mindfulness: Finding Peace Through Acceptance of Yourself and Others.” The center also will offer relaxation classes from 2:30 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 23 and 30, and Nov. 6, 13 and 20.“There are some possible positive challenges associated with this generation of college students,” Stockton said. “They have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes of their elders, avoiding excessive debt, living sustainably, to help rethink and re-guide societal priorities.”Despite present hardships, Stockton said it is always important to remember the past.“People have overcome and prevailed over tough times throughout human history,” Stockton said. “(We are) reminding them of the capacity to do that.”—Business editor Chip Cutter contributed to this report.
(10/17/08 5:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The bench players stood in their black warm-ups, some wearing red beanies, waiting for the game to end and for the celebration to begin. The Hoosiers (7-4-2) finally lived up to past legends and current expectations as they defeated No. 9 Notre Dame 3-1 on Thursday.Their first home victory since a 3-2 win against Big Ten foe Wisconsin on Sept. 21 and first upset of the year, Thursday’s match marked a turning point in the season. Brushing off an away defeat to Michigan State last week, the Hoosiers entered the match ready to start a winning streak. In a team meeting this week after practice, the players and coaches discussed their strengths and weaknesses.“It’s a game that shows the players have a feeling what’s it like to have to play a 90 minute game,” said IU coach Mike Freitag. “It’s a feeling we’ve had in other games, but now we can’t forget it.”One strength of the Hoosiers, depth, was forced into action in the game’s opening minutes.Sophomore defender Rich Balchan had his nose broken in a tussle in the sixth minute and left the game, Freitag said. Freshman Tommy Meyer took his place for the remaining minutes.In the 24th minute junior defender Kevin Alston rifled the ball from 25 yards out into the right corner for his second goal of the season. “It was a rush,” Alston said. “I didn’t really expect it. It felt great.”Three minutes later, senior forward Kevin Noschang hit the ball into the bottom left corner.Up 2-0, the Hoosiers let in a Notre Dame goal as junior midfielder Michael Thomas put it in the middle of the net in the 38th minute.Only ahead 2-1, the Hoosiers found another scoring opportunity. Sophomore forward Neil Wilmarth crossed the ball over to sophomore midfielder Andy Adlard, who recorded his third goal of the season in the 42nd minute.IU’s defense was another strong point in the game, as the Fighting Irish had seven corner kicks, but did not score from any set pieces. The Hoosiers also contained Bright Dike, Notre Dame’s leading scorer with nine goals this season.“We were shifting over at the right times and really communicating,” Alston said. “It starts in the back with communication, and you’re the eyes behind everybody. If the back is communicating, I think you will see a good effort all round.”After surprise losses to Michigan State, Michigan and UC-Santa Barbara, the Hoosiers – who began the pre-season No. 7 – might finally realize the potential they’ve been promising all season.“It’s weird to be on an IU soccer team that’s underrated,” Noschang said. “We were the underdog and that’s never been the case especially at home. We just wanted to show the country what we’re capable of.”Wilmarth crossed to Adlard in the 42nd minute. Adlard snapped it in the bottom right corner and sealed the game for the Hoosiers. Noschang said each goal boosted the team’s desire to score more.“It is contagious,” Noschang said. “You get that first one, and everybody gets the adrenaline going. You ride the wave.”In previous games, the Hoosiers typically out-shot their opponents, but failed to out-score them. IU and Notre Dame had 15 and 14 shots, respectively. The Hoosiers hadn’t scored three goals since Wisconsin.“Our mental aspect was ‘it starts now,’” Noschang said. “This either makes or breaks our season.”
(10/15/08 2:35am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A fear of long lines brought students to the School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation on Tuesday for early voting.First-year graduate student Charita Daniels voted on Election Day during the midterm elections in 2006 and said she decided to vote early this year because it was too hectic last time.“I know on Election Day it’s going to be worse,” Daniels said. “The election a couple years ago, I was in line for hours. I had to skip class to vote.”This year marks the first for early satellite voting on campus. Students can vote from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in racquetball room 12 of the HPER through Thursday.Junior Marissa Wechsler said she would have voted early even if there were no convenient, on-campus location.“It’s just shorter lines and knowing you already voted,” Wechsler said. “You’re not rushing to vote on the last day.”Justin P. Hill, chairman of Students for John McCain, said he and his organization are encouraging students to vote early so the lines will be shorter on Election Day.“If you don’t get in line on Election Day at the right time, then you cannot vote, and we just don’t want that to happen,” he said.He also said he wanted to encourage students to vote for the elections they were informed on.“I think what we’re encouraging is if you don’t know them, don’t vote for them,” Hill said. “It really hurts the local candidates when people just vote straight ticket.”IU College Democrats president and senior Anna Strand and president of IU Students for Barack Obama Rose Byrne distributed pamphlets and spoke to students before they went in to vote. Strand emphasized the need for students to be aware of the non-presidential races.“We want to be out here to inform students of all the races they can vote for,” Strand said. “We think it’s really important for us to be out here and visible before they vote.” Strand encouraged students to come in as early as possible. “We want students to come in and vote,” she said. “The lines are going to get longer. The Election Day line could be hours long. We just want everyone to be able to vote.”While Democrat and Republican supporters stood ready to distribute pamphlets to students, most said the distribution of information did not influence their vote.As an out-of-state student, junior Justin Morales of Lake Charles, La., said he would only be voting for the executive category. Morales said he was excited to vote, and he said he thought the HPER location would bring in more students.“It’s going to get a lot more numbers of people voting if you bring it to them,” Morales said. “It’s really good they’re bringing it down here.”
(10/08/08 4:19am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Typically reserved for campaign slogans or, as of late, voter registration forms, the Lit Desk in the Indiana Memorial Union featured an unusual product: jewelry.The IU chapter of the ONE Campaign, a campaign to “make poverty history,” sold accessories women from Uganda made from recycled paper Tuesday. The members will be selling bracelets, loose beads, necklaces, earrings and jewelry bags for the organization BeadforLife from 12:30 to 6 p.m. through Friday.The sale featured an array of multi-colored jewelry, from lush emerald green earrings to fiery orange bracelets. Proceeds from the sale will go to generate stability in Uganda.Freshman member Michaela Brown said after spending two summers in Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa, she was inspired to find an organization that was committed to improving the dire situation in Africa.While the prices were reasonable for students, Brown said the purchases could amount to several meals for one woman in Uganda.“The exchange rate is not very much because the economy is so bad,” Brown said. “It’s a lot of money to them.”In addition to the jewelry, the group is also selling a CD titled “From the Heart of BeadforLife” featuring a female Ugandan choir and note cards with photographs of the bead makers. While the foot traffic remained slow during some parts of the day, the group members were pleased with their work. By 4 p.m. the members had sold almost $200 worth of merchandise. One difficulty the group faced was students’ lack of ability to pay. Brown said many interested students promised they would return later in the week with cash.Junior Lauren Plewacki said the group’s mission is to inform students regarding crises going on in third-world countries fits in with the mission of BeadforLife.“ONE is striving to pretty much educate people about the extreme poverty and disease and starvation that’s going on all over the world,” Plewacki said. “It basically starts with education.”While recruiter and senior Emma D’Arcy said they are trying to sell their whole inventory of jewelry, they mainly want their fellow Hoosiers to come away with more knowledge.“It’s about awareness,” she said. “The money’s awesome, but it doesn’t do anything if people are flinging money, and they don’t care.”Plewacki said students tended to linger at the desk once they heard profits from the sale would go to charity.“It definitely sparks a little more of an interest in someone,” she said. “It’s not just random beads on the table.”Sophomore and secretary Astrid Richardson said another big goal for ONE is to encourage students as constituents to petition their local and national governments to set aside money in the budget to aid developing countries.“It’s more about getting money from politicians, contacting your congressman,” Richardson said. “(With) the election coming up, what the candidates are going to do about it.”
(10/07/08 2:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Searching for a way to explain the IU men’s soccer team’s near misses and defensive mistakes, IU coach Mike Freitag urged his players to be as vigilant as a chicken.“You have to be the mother hen back there and worry about the chicken coop,” Freitag said. “You have to be ready all the time for any breakdown there is.”Near misses and defensive errors pervaded IU’s (5-3-2) recent poor play. After dropping a 1-0 decision to Michigan on Saturday, the No. 20 Hoosiers look to regroup against an unranked Butler (6-1-2) team. IU lost two of its past three games. Defensively, the Hoosiers have not shutout an opponent since defeating then-No. 24 UCLA 3-0 on Sept. 12.Last year’s Hoosiers had a 6-3-1 record at this time. They eventually lost in the Big Ten championship game to Ohio State on penalty kicks, and they were defeated in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Bradley.Tuesday’s match against the Bulldogs will allow the Hoosiers to redeem themselves. Senior goalkeeper Chay Cain said the team spent time in practice reviewing their weaknesses.“We need to focus on the smaller details,” Cain said. “That’s the lesson we’ve been learning lately. Small details are the difference between winning and losing.”Sophomore forward Neil Wilmarth reiterated Cain’s assertion about the team’s need to concentrate on both the offensive and defensive aspects.“We just need to make sure we can put together a full 90 minutes of soccer,” Wilmarth said. “Just finish our opportunities, stay clicked in for 90 minutes, and we’ll come out with a victory.”One hindrance to a possible Hoosier victory will be senior midfielder Brad Ring’s suspension. Ring will sit out Tuesday after receiving his fifth yellow card against Michigan on Saturday. Cain said he is confident any player off the bench can replace Ring, a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection last year.As the leader in NCAA Tournaments and College Cup appearances, IU men’s soccer retains a victorious reputation. Each year produces high expectations, and Freitag said the Hoosiers are always targets for other teams.“We’ve been wearing the heavy jersey for a long time,” Freitag said. “I think guys are used to that. I think they enjoy that, especially on the road some place else when team is pumped up, fans are pumped up, and they want to spoil our party.”Cain agreed with his coach, saying IU will have to come out prepared for Butler, who will play in Kuntz Stadium, home to IU-Purdue University Indianapolis.“It’s almost a mindset that you know when you’re on the road when you play for Indiana,” Cain said. “They’re going to have the crowd there. They’re going to have everybody there to get them an advantage, so you have to have that extra focus.”Currently the Hoosiers achieved better results on the road than at Bill Armstrong Stadium. IU is 3-1-1 while away and 2-2-1 at home. Freitag cited readiness as a factor in the Hoosiers’ away matches and said playing at home can make it easier for the team to relax.“When you’re on the road, you know what you’re there for,” Freitag said. “You’re in your hotel, there’s tunnel vision. There’s a lot of distractions possibly when at home, you have girlfriends, class, could be distractions. Guys need to be able to handle that psychological part of the game.”As a four-year member of the team, Cain said he isn’t worried about the Hoosiers’ year just yet.“We’ve been through the bumps in the road before,” he said. ”We realize that it’s only going to make us stronger as the season goes on.”
(10/06/08 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The roller coaster continues, but for the struggling 20th-ranked IU men’s soccer team, the ride has not been thrilling.The Hoosiers lost 1-0 to unranked Michigan on Saturday, their second straight home loss. The defeat was also IU’s second shutout loss of the season. IU came into the weekend’s game hoping to build on its 3-2 overtime road victory against Evansville. But the Wolverines needed just seconds to clinch the win in the second minute, when senior midfielder Alex Morisset sent the ball in to senior forward Jake Stacy. Amid a sea of defenders, Stacy fired the ball in the right side of the net. IU senior midfielder Brad Ring called Stacy’s finish “lucky.”“That was the worst start we could have had,” he said. “It made them more alert to the defensive side of the ball. It’s always easier to play with a lead. You can just play safe.”Saturday marked the Hoosiers’ first Big Ten loss this season, but also Michigan’s first ever win against IU. Before Saturday, the Wolverines hadn’t beaten a Big Ten team since 2006. Riding a five-game unbeaten streak, the Wolverines continued their upset run after beating No. 8 Notre Dame 3-1.On the other side of the pitch, despite their recent defeats, the Hoosiers’ confidence remained high. IU coach Mike Freitag referred to No. 4 Maryland’s 4-2 loss to unranked Clemson as an example of another nationally respected team not meeting expectations.“There’s going to be bumps, mental mistakes,” Freitag said. “We’re trying to get better. We will find ways to win in the future. This team will be good.”From eye-of-the-needle misses to squandered opportunities, the Hoosiers didn’t catch any breaks. Junior midfielder Lee Hagedorn’s saved shot in the 20th minute awakened the slumbering Hoosiers. They out-shot the Wolverines 11-3 through the first 45 minutes and finished the game with 20 shots to Michigan’s nine. Still, the Wolverines stood strong.“It’s not about how good you look or how many shots you get,” Freitag said. “It’s about how many you put in the back of the net.”The game was not without other setbacks for IU. Officials handed Ring his fifth yellow card of the season, taking him out of Tuesday’s match against Butler. Having tallied four of the team’s five total shots on goal against Michigan, Ring’s offensive presence will be missed against the Bulldogs. The road trip will be a break from Big Ten play, as the Hoosiers return to compete against Michigan State next weekend. Having played 10 games already, the time for excuses has ended, Ring said.“We’ve been using the word ‘potential’ all season,” Ring said. “But we’re past halfway through the season. It’s time to turn that potential into something. We’ve got to start finding a way to get these wins.”In a post-game press conference, the Hoosiers were somber. As they reflected on the upset, senior midfielder John Mellencamp asserted that the night’s result would not become a habit.“All I can say is, you got a bunch of guys on a team that love to win and now we’re not getting it done,” Mellencamp said. “Come practice, we’re going to put the boots down, we’re going to get ready and we’re going to play our ass off.”
(10/03/08 3:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Whirling. Tumbling. Soaring. Dropping. The IU men’s soccer team has been on a wild ride, and only halfway through the regular season, it can’t get off yet.After Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime win over Evansville and last weekend’s 2-1 loss to UC-Santa Barbara, IU is looking to add another win to its inconsistent results. Junior defender Ofori Sarkodie said defensive lapses have contributed to the Hoosiers’ close victories and defeats.“We feel like we’ve been giving other teams a bit of an opportunity there to get back into the game,” Sarkodie said. “We’ve had opportunities to take the lead and control the pace of the game.”The Hoosiers’ first Big Ten game of the season against Wisconsin also ended in a 3-2 overtime decision. Their second Big Ten game won’t prove to be any less of a challenge than the first. The visiting Michigan Wolverines defeated No.8 Notre Dame 3-1 Wednesday and will come to Bloomington looking for their first Big Ten win – they tied Wisconsin 1-1 on Monday.Against the Hoosiers, both goals Wisconsin scored came after restarts, and Evansville hit one off a corner kick. As such, Wednesday’s practice concentrated on fixing defensive errors. Sophomore midfielder Rich Balchan emphasized the team’s need to focus during all 90 – or more – minutes.“Every game we’ve been having a couple of mental breakdowns,” Balchan said. “We’re just getting beat by some of the little things, the things you take for granted or don’t pay attention to.”Despite their recent struggles, senior midfielder Brad Ring said the team has been playing well and was hit by misfortune during Tuesday’s match. Having already played nine games, Ring said the Hoosiers’ chemistry should start to sync soon.“Halfway through the season, it’s time to start clicking,” Ring said. “It started Tuesday against Evansville, and we’ll keep it going through the Big Ten.”Even now, IU coach Mike Freitag said it is difficult to see which are the elite teams in the country. Having competed against both ranked and unranked schools, the Hoosiers’ record is a poor indicator of their skill and talent, he said.“I think we’ve been exposed to some of our weaknesses because of the schedule we’ve played,” Freitag said. “Hopefully ... we’re ready for the next half (of the season).”While academic midterms arrive in a couple of weeks for students, the Hoosiers handed out their on-field grades – they weren’t stellar. Freitag and Ring awarded the team a B-minus, while Balchan thought the Hoosiers merited a C.“We’ve been playing at an ‘A’ potential but haven’t been consistent enough to deserve that ‘A,’” Sarkodie said. “I think we’re moving in the right direction, and we’re getting stronger and stronger as the season goes on.”As they prepare for the Wolverines, the team is anxious to transfer its optimism to the pitch.“We have to have the mentality – the attitude – to come out and match their physicality, their intensity,” Sarkodie said. “The main thing is to focus on our game, not their game.”
(10/01/08 4:07am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After losing 2-1 to unranked UC-Santa Barbara, the No. 20 Hoosiers traveled to Evansville on Tuesday to prove they remain of the NCAA’s elite teams.A 3-2 overtime win showed the team, though struggling, hasn’t gone away. IU coach Mike Freitag said IU regrouped well after losing to the Gauchos.“It shouldn’t have been close to that (score).” Freitag said. “We played very well from start to finish. Everyone played with the intensity, the composure, the fight we needed.”Freshman forward Will Bruin scored in the 94th minute to put the game away for the Hoosiers. Bruin also had the first goal of the game in the 46th minute. Sophomore midfielder Daniel Kelly scored six minutes later with an assist from senior midfielder John Mellencamp to put the team up 2-0.But the Hoosiers’ defense betrayed them as they allowed two goals in eight minutes. Aces forward Mike Luttrull scored in the 65th minute to put Evansville within one. Eight minutes later, Purple Aces midfielder Reggie Edu tied the game up 2-2.“It’s a good thing that sometimes that these things happen,” Freitag said. “You learn from them, and you don’t make them again. We’re growing up each day.”Their second overtime victory this season – the Hoosiers defeated Wisconsin 3-2 in another overtime clincher on Sept. 21 – redeemed the team after a rough start. The victory improved IU’s record to 5-2-2.After Saturday’s game, in which they recorded their first and only goal in the 88th minute, the Hoosiers came out firing. While they tallied 10 shots in the first half, they were not able to put the ball in the net until the second half. The team finished with 23 shots to Evansville’s 12.“We dominated the game,” Freitag said.As the team got off the bus, Bruin said Evansville supporters were shouting at them. Their taunts provided extra motivation for a team looking to rebound.“When the crowd is on our back,” Bruin said. “I love playing those games. It makes it so much more fun.” Freitag said he was proud of his team, and its response to a harsh environment only strengthened his confidence in the Hoosiers. “When you have a hostile, large crowd, you travel on the day of the game,” he said. “A lot of teams couldn’t handle that; this team can handle that. The bigger the game, the bigger the stage – they rise to the occasion.”
(09/29/08 4:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>While citizens around the country focused on Friday’s presidential debate, some voters gathered to support a less popular candidate: Ralph Nader.Their membership remains small, and efforts to grow have been relatively unsuccessful. While the IU Students for Barack Obama Facebook group shows more than 900 members and IU Students for John McCain maintains almost 300 people, the Nader Facebook group includes less than 30.Hoosiers for Nader met to watch a documentary and stimulate support Thursday in Ballantine Hall for a candidate who is currently on the ballot in only 45 states. Indiana is one of the five that does not list Nader as a potential candidate. BLOG: The PolitikerNext month, the group plans to coordinate a four-way debate with Indiana Public Interest Research Group. Representatives from Obama and McCain groups will participate, as well as students for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr.Barry Donnelly, IU co-coordinator for the group, blamed political illiteracy and a lack of understanding for the split in votes. He said because voters are not aware of the specific policy changes at stake, they are not able to choose the candidate most in line with their personal beliefs.“It becomes a popularity contest no more intellectually valuable than the sort of popularity contest you get in high school where a cheerleader will run against a nerd,” Donnelly said. “People will vote their cultures.”Student group co-coordinator and second-year graduate student Aaron Hamlin blamed a lack of media attention on third-party candidates for Nader’s relative obscurity.“When you ask people who’s running in the race, they recall McCain or Obama,” Hamlin said. “Their names and faces are splashed in the media – complete opposite effect in the Nader campaign.”Donnelly said Nader’s unpopularity stems from his refusal to run a campaign based on emotion and prejudice in favor of genuine public concerns. He referenced both Obama’s “change” and McCain’s “country first” platforms as examples of slogans that tug at the heartstrings of voters but not at their heads.“They use this cult of personality,” Donnelly said. “We really have Stalin and Lenin running for president this year.”Freshman Lucas Smith discovered the group from a flier. While most students label themselves as liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, Smith said the current two-party stronghold creates a shallow voting environment.“I don’t like the canned speeches, the vague rhetoric,” Smith said. “When you’re in a general election people start to moderate their tone and move toward the center.”He said while traditional debates are opposed to third-party candidates, the end goal for the group is to inform.“It’s not necessarily votes we’re after,” Donnelly said. “We just want people to listen to the issues.”
(09/26/08 3:24am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>As the fall season officially begins, a change is in the air for the men’s soccer team.After last Sunday’s 3-2 overtime win against Big Ten foe Wisconsin, the No. 14 Hoosiers (4-1-2) are riding a three-game winning streak. IU has scored eight goals in the past three games after finishing three consecutive scoreless matches. Junior defender Ofori Sarkodie said the team is feeding off a new-found confidence.“We got that swagger back,” Sarkodie said. “It says a lot about the team, the front line, how guys have been staying focused on putting their opportunities away.”Saturday’s opponent, UC-Santa Barbara (4-3-0), was crushed by top-ranked Wake Forest 6-2 on Sunday and have lost three of their past four games.Despite the Gauchos’ poor play, Sarkodie said IU will not take the visitors lightly.“Right now they’re a team that’s hungry, that’s looking for a win,” Sarkodie said. “They’re going to come here with a point to prove or at least to try to make a name for themselves. Playing Indiana at Indiana for any team is a big thing.”But as they near the midpoint of the season, the team is still feeling the sting of past losses and disappointments. The Hoosiers entered the pre-season ranked No. 7 and justified their ranking with 3-1 and 3-0 preseason wins against Tulsa and North Carolina, respectively. But after defeating Duke, they tied the next two games with then-No. 12 Akron and South Florida, and were crushed 4-0 by then-unranked Dartmouth. Junior midfielder Lee Hagedorn acknowledged his team became complacent after its early victories.“We thought we were doing really good, and we kind of got punched in the nose against Dartmouth,” Hagedorn said. “I think we learned our lesson. That’s not going to happen again.”Having cured their offensive drought, sophomore forward Andy Adlard said IU is looking to repair their defensive mental lapses. Both goals scored against the Hoosiers on Sunday came after restarts, one of them less than a minute after IU scored.“It’s been nice getting back to three goals, two goals in a game,” Adlard said. “We know we can create the chances. We just need to fix our defensive shape and marking on set pieces.”As their offensive concentration has improved, Hagedorn said their defensive psyche is yet to catch up.“A lot of it’s a mindset; you just have to be prepared to get to the ball and think you’re going to be the first person to it,” Hagedorn said. “There’s only so much you can do except being mentally prepared for them.”With almost a third of the team being freshmen or transfers, the Hoosiers have been struggling to find a rhythm. After practicing and competing for more than a month, coach Mike Freitag said the team is finally getting to know each other’s tendencies and styles of play.“It just takes time for chemistry, for me to know what you do and you to know what I do,” Freitag said. “The longer you play together, the longer you play against opponents, you start developing that chemistry and understanding.”
(09/22/08 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It began quietly, a bolt of lightning in the midst of sunshine. Then the downpour came.Lightning struck in the 69th minute of the Hoosiers’ 3-2 overtime victory against Wisconsin on Sunday, forcing an hour-long delay. IU coach Mike Freitag said he lectured the team on the importance of coming out strong after the unexpected intermission.“A lot of teams would go down the tubes, especially when you get a break,” Freitag said. “I’d like this team to get tougher mentally. I’d love to win, but I think we made it harder than we had to.”In their first Big Ten game of the season and their 300th at Jerry Yeagley Field, the Hoosiers came out sluggish in the first half.After a pair of near-makes, senior forward Brian Ackley connected to give the Hoosiers their first goal in the 36th minute.Only four minutes later, Wisconsin’s Scott Lorenz scored off a free kick to tie the game.Junior forward Neil Wilmarth scored while wide open in the 66th minute. The team’s celebration was cut short by an IU foul seconds later.Less than a minute after the Hoosiers took the lead, Wisconsin’s Taylor Waspi converted a free kick in the top left corner, tying the match 2-2.Two minutes after the Badgers’ goal, lightning struck during a commercial timeout – the game was broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The teams were forced off the field, and fans cleared the bleachers.Heavy rain and thunderstorms kept everything on hold, as remaining supporters waited for the match to resume.While waiting for the storm to clear, the team passed the time with tic-tac-toe and granola bars. Sitting with his teammates, Wilmarth said he tried to focus on the game ahead.“I just knew the intensity had to be there, because you could easily fall asleep on the field out there, not playing for however long it was,” Wilmarth said.A bolt of proverbial lightning appeared to have struck the Hoosiers after play resumed, as the home side ferociously entered the final stages of the game.In the dying minutes of regulation, both senior midfielder Brad Ring and Wilmarth received yellow cards after committing hard fouls.“It was an emotional game,” Wilmarth said. “We knew we were better than that team, and we needed to show it. We’re a good team, and they capitalized on our mistakes.”Junior midfielder Eric Alexander had the winner, though, as he closed out the victory in sudden-death overtime after rifling home a cross from Wilmarth.Happy with the win, Ackley said the Hoosiers can’t be complacent after too many defensive lapses.“It’s great we got the win, but now we realize that we can’t be lackluster and we got to fight every game,” Ackley said.Freitag said Ackley and Wilmarth – both substitutes – could start for his team. Their insertion into the game provided an offensive lift that had been missing.“Every chance you get to step on the field is a privilege,” Ackley said. “We have eight forwards that could play any given time. When you’re called, you’ve got to make an impact.”
(09/18/08 4:01am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Wearing fuzzy pink pig ears and a rubber snout, the couple hurriedly ripped open the condom wrappers. Trying to beat the record time of 14 seconds, they quickly placed them on the fake bananas.The activity was one of several exercises in sexual health that took place during the Trojan “Evolve” Bus Tour’s stop in Bloomington. VIDEO: Trojan EvolveThe tour came to Dunn Meadow on Wednesday, bringing condoms and information to students. The event included a trivia game, relay race and informational videos.Students could sign a pledge to use a condom each time they have sex and a petition to support increased sexual education.Freshmen Tommy Perozzi and Jack Diamond noticed the event while riding the campus bus and decided to stop by.“I came to get free condoms and a good laugh,” Perozzi said. “It was a really good promotion. It was a combination of fun and education.”Trojan Communications Manager and Sexual Health Educator Kari Kuka said one in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted infection and stressed the importance of wearing a condom.“We can’t get into high schools,” Kuka said, “so the best we can do is hopefully start education so that every college student knows the risks of engaging in unprotected sex and why it’s so important to use a condom every time.” For correctly answering trivia questions, Trojan representatives gave out free condoms while winners of the relay race received an “Evolve” T-shirt. Other goodies included fake Trojan “Evolve” tattoos and a roommate alert system to hang on the door.Despite the light-hearted mood, Kuka said the main purpose of the tour is to encourage progress within the collegiate community. Kuka said past tour participants who were surveyed said their attitudes about condom-use and sex education were developing.“Just hearing students and watching their faces, I know when they leave our site if they’ve talked with me that they’re getting information that they didn’t have before,” she said.After racing each other in the Evolve relay race, freshmen Ryan Webster and Natalie Viscosi said they enjoyed learning in a fun atmosphere.“I didn’t know that condoms had an expiration date,” Webster said. “I think it’s good they’re doing this.” Participants in the relay raced to a small wooden night stand complete with alarm clock and lamp. Opening the drawer, the students grabbed a condom and raced back to the table. After reading the expiration date, users placed it correctly on the banana, removed it slowly and tied it in a knot before throwing it away.Freshman Zoya Rozycki said the contest made her more aware of reading the expiration date and tying a knot after removing the condom.The first leg of Trojan’s Evolve Bus Tour began in April, and Kuka said its second leg goes through October. The company will possibly expand it for another year. They hope to reach 60 campuses in six months, she said.“All of them are very receptive,” Kuka said. “They want this information. They see Trojan, and whether they’re embarrassed when they first walk up or not, they’re still willing to come over and learn about why we’re here.”
(09/16/08 3:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Ribbed. Magnum. Lubricated. Flavored. Her pleasure. Condoms, anyone?Trojan will come to IU from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dunn Meadow on Wednesday as part of its “Evolve” tour. The company is working to educate students about sexual health and will provide games and activities – an area where it believes IU could improve.The company ranks universities and colleges across the country based on sexual health resources. A fellow Big Ten school, the University of Minnesota, got the No. 1 spot in 2007 while IU came in at No. 47.Katie Wilkinson, office and outreach coordinator for Health and Wellness Education at the Health Center, said Wednesday’s event is a precursor to the Health Center’s week of “Sexploration” in October.“It’s an opportunity to get that same sort of information without taking a class,” Wilkinson said. “We look at the Trojan bus tour as something to introduce our week of events for the next month.”Trojan spokesman Michael Bruno said the tour grew out of the TV and print commercials depicting a pig turning into a man after purchasing a Trojan condom. The ads are not shown on prime-time network television.“It was sort of a creative way to show you need to evolve your sexual behavior,” Bruno said. “It is really designed to raise awareness of the ongoing sexual decline in this country, respect for yourself and your partner.”The most popular aspect of the tour, Bruno said, is the Evolve Relay Race. Four students line up and wear pig ears and snouts. They race to a night stand, pull out a condom, run back to the podium, yell out the expiration date of the condom and proceed to tear off the wrapper and correctly place the condom on a banana. After positioning the condom, the individual removes the pig ears and nose and runs to the middle of the course.“It’s a lot of fun to see your friends play that game,” Bruno said. “It’s also a way for people to learn how to correctly use a condom in an entertaining way.”A sexual health educator will be on hand to demonstrate the correct method of placing a condom on a banana. Bruno estimated a few thousand attend at each campus and expects at least 1,000 Hoosiers to turn out.Despite the company’s hopes for high attendance, some students said they would not go to the event.“Certainly not,” said freshman Colten Mitchell. “I just don’t feel it’s right to openly condone premarital sex.”Sophomore Danielle Trudeau said her busy schedule would prohibit her from attending.“I have class all day on Wednesday so I wouldn’t be able to go,” Trudeau said.Though the event is sponsored by Trojan, Bruno said they mainly want to educate people.“We’re not interested in selling Trojans,” Bruno said. “We’re interested in selling condoms.”
(09/15/08 3:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The growing pains of two scoreless ties and a 4-0 upset by unranked Dartmouth gone, the No. 19 Hoosiers sprung out of adolescence as they defeated No. 24 UCLA 3-0 and San Diego 2-1.Last year IU upset the then-No. 1 Bruins 1-0 as part of the adidas/IU Credit Union Classic. The trip to California – both games were played at UCLA’s Drake Stadium – redeemed IU and gave the team its first consecutive wins of the season.The three goals against the Bruins came within seven minutes of each other, with senior forward Kevin Noschang leading the avalanche in 63rd minute.“(IU coach Mike) Freitag said that losing to Dartmouth may have been the best thing to happen to us,” Noschang said. “We came out to California looking to change some things and really show the country that we’re a great team.”The Hoosiers, now 3-1-2, left Bloomington early Thursday and shook off the jet lag before their Friday night game against the Bruins. It took until the second half for IU to reclaim the offensive production it had in its two exhibition games, when the team scored six goals.“I can tell you we had a feeling (we were going to score),” Noschang said. “You could feel it if you were in the stadium, if you were on the field. Once we got (the first goal against UCLA), I think everybody knew it was time to play and win two games.”Freshman forward Will Bruin put the Hoosiers 2-0 in the 66th minute, with junior midfielder Eric Alexander recording the assist. Alexander scored four minutes later.The game cured the offensive drought that had been plaguing the team since its match against Duke.Bruin scored against both teams for his first goal of the year. The former Missouri State Soccer Player of the Year said scoring his first collegiate goals came as a relief.“It felt like a monkey off my back,” he said.Unlike the sluggish start against UCLA, IU came prepared for the match against the Toreros. Feeling confident, Bruin opened up the scoring in the fourth minute after a corner kick from sophomore Andy Adlard. Senior captain and unanimous All-Big Ten selection Brad Ring came out of the game in the sixth minute after possibly spraining his knee, Freitag said. Ring encouraged his teammates to keep going despite his absence.“We just had to keep our heads up,” Bruin said. “We’re a very deep team, so anybody can step in.”After freshman Tommy Meyer was called for a foul, San Diego tied up the game with a goal in the 14th minute from junior forward JT Howlan scoring off a penalty kick. After senior Brian Ackley was fouled in the box, sophomore Andy Adlard scored off a penalty kick to give the Hoosiers the game-winning goal in the 75th minute.“It showed the character of the team to come back (after losing to Dartmouth),” Freitag said. “A lot of teams would fold after a loss like that one.”The team will return to IU on Sunday for its first home game in two weeks to begin conference play against Wisconsin.“We’re excited to come back home and start Big Ten play,” Noschang said. “We’re going to bring all that confidence back to Yeagley field. We want to put on a show for the fans, and we haven’t done that.”
(09/05/08 4:04am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From the Cardinals to Nelly, the Gateway Arch to Budweiser, St. Louis’ influence spreads beyond its borders, and IU men’s soccer is reaping the benefits.This season, five of the 31 players – and four of the seven true freshmen – are from high schools in St. Louis. Freshmen Tommy Meyer, Luis Soffner and Chris Haffner attended St. Louis University High, while sophomore Michael Roach and freshman Will Bruin were enrolled at rivals Chaminade and De Smet Jesuit, respectively.“There’s been a lot of guys from St. Louis that have come to IU and also are still playing or have played (professionally),” Soffner said. “It’s the tradition of Indiana soccer. St. Louis guys, we love to be up here.”The three schools are all members of the Metro Catholic Conference. IU coach Mike Freitag also graduated from a MCC competitor, Christian Brothers College High School.Meyer, whose father Keith played on the 1982 and 1983 championship teams, wanted to continue the tradition of St. Louis natives joining the Hoosiers. The manageable four-hour drive and starting for one of the top programs in the nation convinced him to join the Hoosiers.“I grew up around IU soccer, and in the beginning when they won their first couple national championships, there was a ton of St. Louis kids on the team,” Meyer said. “Everybody knows each other through that.”Freitag, who graduated high school in 1976, said potential recruits from his hometown have a slight advantage against other prospects. “A lot of them probably since they could walk have been going to soccer games with their dads,” Freitag said. “I know they’re serious about it. It’s not just another sport we play, that’s their sport.”While modern soccer was first codified in England, its beginnings in America come from the city known as the “Gateway to the West.” One of the first professional soccer leagues in America was formed in St. Louis, and since it was founded in 1907, Saint Louis University has won 10 national championships, the most in NCAA history.“Soccer in St. Louis probably had a jump over anybody else in the country,” Freitag said. “Years ago it was in the parochial grade schools, and everybody played. I had players and coaches that had played on World Cup teams, U.S. National Teams. It was a little more established before everybody else. It’s a soccer town.”Bruin said the players tease Freitag for his high school alma mater “depending on his mood,” but old rivalries don’t hold Freitag back when it comes to scouting talent.“It was hard for me to recruit those SLUH boys,” Freitag said. “But I had a breakdown and went after them, they’re talented. Usually, I have bragging rights on them. At least I think I do.”While men’s basketball and football command more attention, men’s soccer still remains one of the most popular sports at IU. Last year’s 1-0 upset against then-No. 1 UCLA drew a record number of attendees. “When you come to Indiana, soccer is one of the bigger sports,” Roach said. “Michigan or Ohio State, everyone knows the football players. Here, we’re a main sport. That was one of the big things I loved about this school, and that’s one of the reasons I came.”As the freshmen juggle classes and practice, they are linked, whether they want to be or not, by their out-of-state connection. With every corner kick and tackle, the legacy of past players and expectations of current students follow them. And as the Hoosiers aim for an eighth championship, it will be the “St. Louis four,” as they are known by their fellow classmates, to continue the legacy.
(08/29/08 7:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>For junior forward Kevin Noschang, the annual fall Adidas/IU Credit Union Classic brings back good memories.Last season, Noschang scored the only goals as the then-No. 8 Hoosiers tied No. 9 Maryland and upset then-No. 1 UCLA. He credited IU's depth as a reason why the Hoosiers will be a threat not only this weekend, but throughout the season."This team is the best team I've seen in my time here," Noschang said. "We're really deep. We've got a lot of great players."The No. 7 Hoosiers, with a 2-0 exhibition game record, take on Duke at 7:30 p.m. Friday and No. 12 Akron at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The Hoosiers defeated Tulsa 3-1 and North Carolina 3-0 on Aug. 20 and 22, respectively. Duke went 0-1-1 in preseason. while Akron lost to No. 24 UNC 2-0.The Hoosiers have not played the Blue Devils since 1997 or Akron since 2006.Despite not having recent experience against the two squads, IU coach Mike Freitag said information from scouting reports compensates for lack of playing experience."At this point in time I'm more worried about (our team)," Freitag said. "Sometimes I think you can worry too much about an opponent and over-prepare."Akron also has a pair of Freshman All-Americans: Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Steve Zakuani. Both will prove a challenge for IU's defense.The Hoosiers' Chay Cain, a first-team All-Big Ten goalkeeper; junior defender Kevin Alston, second-team All-Big Ten; and junior defender Ofori Sarkodie, second-team College Soccer News preseason All-America anchor, provide a solid defense for the Hoosiers. Senior midfielder Brad Ring was also named first-team College Soccor News preseason All-American.Freitag acknowledged a "little rivalry" between the Zips and Hoosiers, as former player and assistant coach Caleb Porter will lead Akron in his second game against his alma mater. Porter was coach in 2006 when the Zips lost 2-0. Porter worked for both former head coach Jerry Yeagley and current coach Freitag as an assistant from 2000-2005. As a player, he was selected first-team All-Big Ten in 1996 and 1997.Sarkodie's younger brother Kofi is also a defender for Akron and will likely start. Their mother Olivia plans to attend the game."She's very excited," Sarkodie said. "She'll sit in the middle of the stands and not wear any red or blue. Just a neutral color."With two freshmen – forward Will Bruin and defender Tommy Meyer – starting on Friday, the veterans will have to step up. Freitag and Noschang said the younger players will have to deal with some pregame "jitters.""It'll be under the lights here at a beautiful field, and there'll be some butterflies," Freitag said. "If there weren't, I'd be a little worried."Noschang said a season-opening victory would set the tone for the rest of the season."It's pivotal," he said. "We just have to get that first win under our belt and build off it."
(08/28/08 3:10am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After standout years at IU, sophomore midfielder Rich Balchan and junior defender Ofori Sarkodie took their talents to Europe.Balchan spent a few weeks as a member of the U.S. U-20 national team, while Sarkodie spent a month training with Aalesund FK in Norway, Boavista in Portugal, and SC Heerenveen in the Netherlands.“(I loved) the diverse culture, seeing so many different types of people,” Sarkodie said. “The languages, the way they carry themselves, the style of football. It was an absolute priceless experience for me.”Balchan was a member of the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and had four goals in 2007. After starting 16 games as a freshman, he was selected to represent the United States, as one of the 18 players chosen. He traveled to England competing against reserve teams from Manchester United and Bolton, Texas to play the Mexican team and Ireland for a tournament.First-team All-Big Ten selection Sarkodie was an integral part of IU’s 12 shutouts in 2007. He contacted representatives who deal with foreign players to set up training periods with the clubs. Both Sarkodie and Balchan agreed the differences between the NCAA and Europe were vast. Playing with professionals daily challenged Sarkodie. “Just the quality of play was more than I expected,” Sarkodie said. “It was such a great learning experience. (It) really gave me a good idea of where I stood as a football player right now.”Balchan also said the European fast-paced style provided a contrast to the physical, aggressive college method. “I improved a lot over the summer, just on my touch,” Balchan said. “Last year, oftentimes I would get the ball without knowing what I would do next. Overseas, you have to play so quick or you’ll turn the ball over.”Fluent in Spanish and his native Ghanan language, Sarkodie said not knowing the lingo was a main reason he enjoyed being abroad. “It was interesting going in the locker room day in and day out with those guys,” Sarkodie said. “A little bit of a barrier, but at the same time, it’s part of the experience and you enjoy it as well. When you get put in a brand-new environment – language barriers, climate, what coaches are used to, what players are used to, what the standard is – you have to adjust,” Sarkodie said. “But that’s also part of being a professional at that level.”Balchan, echoing the Olympic spirit, enjoyed his first experience competing for the United States.“(I loved) representing my country, wearing the jersey with pride, giving my all for my country,” Balchan said.With two games this weekend, against Duke and Akron, Sarkodie will have an opportunity to show off his new knowledge and reunite with his teammates in a competitive atmosphere. “I definitely missed the guys, the college atmosphere,” Sarkodie said. “I’m happy to be back. I feel right at home right now.”