Zayner's return should improve Hoosier defense

The last time junior defender Jed Zayner wore a Hoosier uniform he was celebrating IU's back-to-back national championship last season. \nAfter starting every game last season, Zayner has yet to see action four games into the 2005 season. The Hoosiers have gone 3-0-1 in their stint without their defender, who has to sit out to keep his NCAA eligibility after trying out for professional teams in France.\nZayner was ruled ineligible because the French teams for which he tried out helped pay his expenses following the 2004 national championship. \nOnce he decided to come back to IU, Zayner needed to gain clearance from the NCAA, whose rules say a player must repay the teams to regain amateur status. Zayner is excited to re-enter the Hoosier lineup in the second game of the Diadora Classic this Saturday.\n"I just thank God that I get to play," Zayner said. "The NCAA could have kept me out longer -- five games isn't too bad. I just thank God I can step in and do as well as everyone else has been doing."\nZayner has been a constant fixture in the Hoosier lineup during his first two seasons, starting in all 48 games he has played for IU. Last season he helped lead the Hoosier defense to the seventh best goals against average with .63 goals per game and was named second team All-Big Ten. Zayner assisted on IU's only goal in the national championship game and was a member of the College Cup All-Tournament team. Zayner, along with senior midfielder Brian Plotkin and junior forward Jacob Peterson were named to the preseason Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch.\n"Jed is just a quality player," IU head coach Mike Freitag said. "Any time you can add a player like that to your lineup you will be better."\nThe IU defense has been one of the stingiest in the Big Ten, allowing only one goal during the first four games of the season. The insertion of Zayner in the defensive lineup will add experience to the squad.\n"The coaches have instilled in me communication through the years, and I think that's what our team is needing right now," Zayner said. "I can talk from behind and help organize the team before the play \nhappens."\nAlthough the Hoosiers have not lost a game all season and have outscored their opponents 11-1, they are no longer the unanimous No. 1 team in the country. \nAfter placing second in the Mike Berticelli Memorial Classic last weekend with a 1-0-1 record, the Hoosiers maintained their No. 1 ranking in the College Soccer News, SoccerTimes.com and National Soccer Coaches Association of America polls. However, the Hoosiers dropped to No. 2 in TopDrawerSoccer.com and No. 4 in the Soccer America polls.\nThe schedule continues to be difficult for the Hoosiers, who will be playing their fourth ranked team in five games when they take the pitch tonight against No. 16 California State University, Northridge. IU plays host Oregon State University in the second game of the tournament Saturday.\nThe Hoosiers head into the tournament searching for consistent offensive production. IU has had games where it has exploded for four and five goals, and games where they have scored zero and one goal. As the season progresses, so will the offense, Freitag said.\n"Offense takes a little bit longer because it is easier to destroy than to create," Freitag said. "That creativity, it takes a little while for the players to get an understanding of one another and how they work together."\nWhile the addition of Zayner will bring more experience to the Hoosier defense, Freitag hopes they can keep the chemistry that has proven to be successful over the early part of the season.\n"I want to continue to be solid defensively, that's the key," Freitag said. "If we are solid defensively I feel we have enough firepower and offensive creativity to produce chances and goals"