Team awaits Big Ten awards

The men's soccer team will learn how much longer it will continue to dominate the Big Ten, as the conference announces its annual awards tonight after the first round of games at the conference tournament in Columbus, Ohio.\nThe Big Ten will declare its Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Coach of the Year and All-Big Ten first and second teams at a banquet. \nThe Hoosiers have had at least two players on the All-Big Ten First Team since 1991 and have won eight of the nine Big Ten tournaments. Senior forward Matt Fundenberger is the only returning player who was named to last year's first team.\n"There are a lot of good players playing in the Big Ten so far," said junior midfielder Ryan Mack, who leads the conference with 10 assists. "On our team (sophomore Pat Noonan), Fundenberger, maybe myself. Other teams, such as Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State (have) top players that could get Big Ten Player of the Year."\nPenn State junior midfielder Derek Potteiger is a top candidate for Big Ten Player of the Year after scoring 11 goals and four assists this season. IU coach Jerry Yeagley has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year five times, including the last three times.\nThe Hoosiers (13-5) earned a first-round bye by earning the best record in the conference at 6-0.\nIU will play the winner of today's No. 4-seed Wisconsin-No. 5 Ohio State match at noon Friday in Columbus, Ohio.\nIn today's other matches, No. 3-seed Penn State faces No. 6-seed Michigan at noon, and No. 2-seed Michigan State takes on No. 7-seed Northwestern at 2:30 p.m. \nYeagley said he expects the Spartans and the Nittany Lions to advance to the other semifinal game. He thinks those teams and the Buckeyes could qualify for the NCAA tournament. The winner of the Big Ten tournament automatically qualifies for the NCAAs.\n"I think every team this year is dangerous in the Big Ten," junior sweeper Josh Rife said. "Even across the whole U.S., there hasn't been one team that's been consistent and dominated every game, so I think the Big Ten's the same way. On any given day, anyone can beat anybody." \nAfter their weekend losses to No. 4 Stanford and Cal-Berkeley, the Hoosiers fell from No. 3 to No. 9 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.\nNo. 2 Michigan State (10-5-2, 4-1-1 in Big Ten play)\nThe Hoosiers defeated the Spartans 1-0 Sept. 24 on a late goal by Mack and strong defense by Rife and senior goalkeeper T.J. Hannig. The Spartans thrived off the counterattack during the game and have wins against Wisconsin and Penn State.\nNo. 3 Penn State (11-5-2, 3-2-1)\nAt the beginning of the season, Yeagley said the No. 22 Nittany Lions would be the team to beat in the Big Ten. Penn State has had an up-and-down year with injuries, including a medical redshirt to All-American midfielder Ricardo Villar, after winning its first seven games.\nPenn State finished last season in the final round of eight in the NCAA tournament. The Hoosiers upset the Nittany Lions 3-2 this year when they were ranked No. 2 in the nation. Penn State tied Kentucky, who the Hoosiers beat 2-0, lost to Michigan State, tied Ohio State and dropped its final regular-season game to Hartwick College.\nNo. 4 Wisconsin (10-8-1, 3-3)\nThe Badgers have dipped in and out of the top 25 national polls throughout the season. Forward Dominic DaPra leads the Big Ten in scoring. At 5-foot-10, junior goalkeeper Moriba Atiba Baker has small size but great ability, Yeagley said. The Badgers beat Michigan State and Ohio State but lost to Penn State. The Hoosiers defeated Wisconsin 3-1 this season.\nNo. 5 Ohio State (9-4-4, 2-2-2)\nEarlier in the season, Yeagley said the Buckeyes could be a dangerous team. The Hoosiers held off Ohio State 1-0 in Columbus, on a penalty kick by Fundenberger early in the game. The Buckeyes defeated Kentucky 3-0 and Michigan 3-0 to end their season.\n'I have a gut feeling we're going to paired against Ohio State," Yeagley said. "I give them the edge over Wisconsin. They're playing at home, and I think they were perhaps the most difficult game we had in the Big Ten."\nOhio State's Justin Cook is the conference's leading freshman scorer with eight goals. \nNo. 6 Michigan (6-9, 1-5) and No. 7 Northwestern (0-15, 0-6)\nAs the Wolverines struggled in their first varsity season, the Wildcats couldn't win a game. The Hoosiers defeated the teams 7-0 and 4-1, respectively.