IU is Big Ten favorite

The IU men's soccer team is the favorite to win the Big Ten conference title, according to the league's coaches.\nThe Hoosiers edged out defending champion Penn State for the top spot with Ohio State finishing third in the voting. Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan and Northwestern round out the rest of the conference.\nWhile the Hoosiers did not display their usual dominance against conference foes last year, IU is still the "class of the conference" in the eyes of opposing coaches. Even with plenty of new faces, the Hoosiers are the favorites to win the Big Ten.\n"They just seem to reload each year," Ohio State coach John Bluem said.\nThe cream and crimson is honored to be voted the favorite, but the team knows it cannot take any Big Ten game for granted, IU coach Mike Freitag said.\n"The Big Ten is a very underrated conference by a lot of people," Freitag said. "The (Atlantic Coast Conference) gets a lot of credit, but the Big Ten is a very competitive conference, and it seems it gets more competitive every year."\nThe Big Ten is full of talented forwards who are coming off successful rookie campaigns. Wisconsin forward Victor Diaz and Penn State forwards Jason Yeisley and Simon Omekanda were singled out by Bluem as players to watch this season.\nBluem also pointed out the play of IU sophomore forward Brian Ackley this season. Ackley and freshman midfielder Darren Yeagle lead the Hoosiers in goals scored.\nThe biggest obstacle facing the Hoosiers is Penn State, led by Yeisley and Omekanda. The Nittany Lions defeated the cream and crimson twice last season. \n"I know the Big Ten is one of the strongest conferences, if not the strongest," senior midfielder John Michael Hayden said. "Penn State in particular, and really all the teams, are good. Every team is strong so each game we need to go out and play strong."\nThe Big Ten has performed well so far this season against nonconference foes. Even Penn State and Ohio State -- which are a combined 3-6-3 -- have competed well against top competition. The depth of the conference will make the Big Ten season interesting, Freitag said.\n"There are a couple of teams that I think will be tough in the Big Ten that haven't had the best starts like Penn State and Ohio State," he said. "Michigan State is off to a good start and Northwestern is off to a good start, so it's up for grabs."\nWhile the Hoosiers are focused on winning the Big Ten title, they are using the games against some of the best competition in the country to prepare for their ultimate goal: success in the NCAA Tournament.\n"That's what we have to take first because that's what comes first," sophomore goalkeeper Chay Cain said. "Every Big Ten game we have to win and the Big Ten Tournament we want to win. So then eventually we are ready for the National Championship"