Aug. 25, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern has been tabbed to finish third in the Big Ten this year in a preseason poll of the conference's men's soccer coaches. Defending champion Ohio State is the coaches' pick to repeat, while Indiana came in second.
The Wildcats finished tied with Penn State in the poll, followed by Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin, respectively.
Ranked No. 9 by NSCAA and No. 18 by College Soccer News in their preseason polls, Northwestern is coming off an 11-5-4 season in 2009. The Wildcats earned a berth in the NCAA tournament for a school-record fourth consecutive season. NU's 3-2-1 Big Ten record a year ago matched its best league mark in program history.
Northwestern returns seven starters and 15 letterwinners from last year's squad and opens its 2010 regular season Sept. 3 at San Francisco.
2010 Big Ten Men's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Ohio State
2. Indiana
T-3. Northwestern
T-3. Penn State
5. Michigan State
6. Michigan
7. Wisconsin
2010 Big Ten Men's Soccer Players to Watch
Rich Balchan, Indiana, Sr., Midfielder
Will Bruin, Indiana, Jr., Forward
Tommy Meyer, Indiana, Jr., Defender
Chris Blais, Michigan, Jr., Goalkeeper
Justin Meram, Michigan, Sr., Forward
Jeff Quijano, Michigan, Sr., Defender
Colin Givens, Michigan State, Sr., Defender
Avery Steinlage, Michigan State ,Sr., Goalkeeper
Spencer Thompson, Michigan State, Sr., Midfielder
Matt Eliason, Northwestern, Sr., Forward
Oliver Kupe, Northwestern, Jr., Forward
Cody Stanley, Northwestern, Sr., Defender
Matt Gold, Ohio State, Sr., Defender
Sam Scales, Ohio State, Sr., Midfielder
Konrad Warzycha, Ohio State, Sr., Forward
Matheus Braga, Penn State, Sr., Midfielder
Drew Cost, Penn State, Sr., Midfielder
Corey Hertzog, Penn State, Jr., Forward
Aaron Nichols, Wisconsin, Sr., Defender
Jon Rzepka, Wisconsin, Sr., Midfielder
Josh Thiermann, Wisconsin, Sr., Midfielder