IU drops out of top 25 rankings

Call it a freefall. \nThe IU men's soccer team plummeted from No. 9 to unranked in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll released Tuesday.\nThe Hoosiers didn't receive a single vote in the poll.\nHeading into the University of Akron tonight to face the No. 21 Zips, IU coach Mike Freitag is undeterred.\n"We've had a tough schedule, lost to some tough teams," Freitag said. "But I also felt very comfortable we could beat any of those teams. \n"We just have to work some things out. (We're) still not firing on all cylinders. It takes awhile, especially when you lose six starters from last year. We're a brand new team, and we got to find a way to play that fits us best, and we haven't found that yet."\nThe cream and crimson hope to recover from a disappointing weekend loss to Saint Louis University when they travel Akron tonight for what sophomore midfielder Brad Ring calls a "must-win" game. \nJunior defender Charley Traylor said the team is not dwelling on Friday's 1-0 loss to the Billikens.\n"The loss hurts, but at the same time we have to forget about it and start playing for the next game because there's nothing we can do about it at this point," he said.\nBut to get that victory, the Hoosiers must defeat one of their own. Caleb Porter -- who played for IU from 1993 to 1997 and was an assistant coach from 2000 to 2005 -- accepted a head coaching job at Akron this year. \n"It's going to raise the significance a little bit," Traylor said. "I think Caleb's going to have his guys ready to play us because we have history together."\nHistory or not, the players say this is a game they need to preserve their season. \n"If we have a hard time getting riled up for that game, then something's wrong with us," Ring said.\nThe Hoosiers have dropped three of the last four games, dating back to their overtime loss at home to Notre Dame Sept. 3.\nWith a loss, IU would drop below a .500 winning percentage.\n"It's not going to get any easier," Freitag said. "Akron is a very good team. ... The important part of this (IU) team is to see how we react mentally. You can throw it in or you can step up to the plate and get after it, and I think this team will step up to the play and get after it."\nTonight's game is the final game before the Big Ten season starts. The Hoosiers face Michigan Sunday at Bill Armstrong Stadium, heightening the importance to enter conference play with a winning record by beating Akron.\n"We have to get it done, no matter what," Ring said. "We have to get a 'W' when we go there"