Fresh off winning its seventh national title, Soccer America ranked the IU men's soccer team as its preseason No. 1 -- the team's third such ranking so far. \nThe publication also named junior forward Jacob Peterson to its preseason All-America list.\nThe Hoosiers will have one of the toughest schedules in the nation again in 2005, facing six opponents ranked in Soccer America's preseason top 25 including No. 4 Maryland, No. 8 Southern Methodist University, No. 18 Wake Forest University, No. 19 Notre Dame and No. 22 Cal State-Northridge in addition to Big Ten foe No. 17 Northwestern.\nThe Hoosiers will also look to continue their streak of nine straight regular season Big Ten titles against a conference that has three other teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll. In the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll, which also ranks IU No. 1, Ohio State is ranked No. 18 while Penn State and Northwestern are ranked Nos. 23 and 24, respectively.\nIU opens exhibition play at 8 p.m. Friday against No. 9 UCLA in Fort Wayne as part of the Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne Soccer Showcase. The team's exhibition tuneup will finish at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Bloomington against University of Illinois-Chicago.
IU adds All-American soccer recruit for 2006
\nAfter rounding up the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation for 2005, the Hoosiers already got a jump on their 2006 crew by signing Under-17 U.S. National Team defender Kevin Alston to a letter of intent. Alston will enroll in IU in January following the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships in Peru.\nIU head coach Mike Freitag specifically cited the athleticism of the 5-foot-8, 150-pounder. Freitag said Alston's quickness and speed caught IU's eye, as well as his versatility. (He should be able to play defense and midfield.)\nParade Magazine named Alston to its 2005 All-American team and the National Soccer Coaches Association also bestowed Alston with All-American honors in 2004.\nAlston currently ranks as one of the 2005 leaders in appearances for the Under-17 national team.
Men's Tennis: Team adds new assistant coach announces addition of new asst. coach
\nHead coach Ken Hydinger named Randy Bloemendaal as his new assistant coach earlier this summer. Bloemendaal has spent the last two seasons as the head men's and women's tennis coach at Charleston Southern University. He led the men's team to the Big South Championship in 2005 with a 16-11 record.\n"Randy Bloemendaal is a man of outstanding character," Hydinger said in a statement. "He comes to us with 10 years of head coaching experience and can see the big picture. His experience and passion for the game will enable him to contribute in all aspects of the Hoosier program."\nPrior to his stint at Charleston, Bloemendaal served as men's and women's head coach at his alma mater, Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, N.C. During his eight years with the Bobcats, Bloemendaal led the men to a 159-36 record and the women to a 110-63 mark.\nThe Lees-McRae men's team made seven straight NCAA Division II Tournament appearances while the women's team appeared three times in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Men's Track & Field: Indiana native joins staff adds assistant
\nThe IU men's track and field team hired Indiana native Scott Richardson earlier this month as an assistant coach. Richardson served as a volunteer coach with the Hoosiers in 1997 and has spent the last seven seasons at Army.\nIU head coach Randy Heisler announced the hiring last Friday and said Richardson will focus his work with the pole vaulters and multi-event participants.\n"We are thrilled to have Scott join us," Heisler said in a statement. "He has strong ties to the state of Indiana and has succeeded at every place he has worked ... We are really looking forward to having him join our staff and work with our student athletes."\nBoth Richardson and Heisler attended the University of Indianapolis. Richardson graduated in 1994 before helping several different track teams, including IU.\nAt West Point, Richardson coached several men to individual Patriot League titles, especially within the field competitions. His pole vaulters won 11 conference championships during his tenure. Richardson guided pole vaulter Ryan Keaton to three straight Patriot League titles and three consecutive trips to the NCAA East Regional.\n"I am very excited to join one of the top track and field programs in the nation," Richardson said in a statement. "Indiana has a very strong tradition, and I am honored to become a part of a great staff"
