For the second consecutive season, IU men’s soccer was unanimously selected in the Big Ten preseason coaches' poll as the favorite to win the conference this season, the Big Ten announced Monday.
Junior forward Victor Bezerra, junior goalkeeper Roman Celentano and senior defender Spencer Glass were also named Big Ten Players to Watch.
Last season, the Hoosiers won the Big Ten regular-season title and the Big Ten Tournament for the third-straight season. IU advanced to the NCAA Championship game, but lost to this season’s preseason No. 1 Marshall University.
Bezerra scored 12 goals for IU and was runner-up for the MAC Hermann Trophy, and Celentano was named Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year after giving up six goals across 16 games for the Hoosiers last season. Glass led the Big Ten in assists with five but was out for IU’s entire preseason run after breaking his leg before the team’s regular-season finale.
Related: [Three IU men’s soccer players named preseason All-Americans]
IU finished its preseason exhibitions with a 2-0-1 record and opens this season on the road against the University of Notre Dame at 7 p.m. Friday. The Hoosiers’ home opener is at 8 p.m. Aug. 31 against Butler University.
