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The IUPUI men's soccer team enters the 2001 season with high expectations. After becoming the first team in the school's brief NCAA Division I history to participate in their respective national tournament, the team's goals have been set a little higher this season.

All eyes are focused on senior goalkeeper Armando Femia, who has ranked among the nation's elite the past three seasons. Last season, Femia finished seventh in the nation with 6.86 saves per game while being named MVP of the Mid-Continent Conference tournament. He has already set a bevy of school records including the career shutout record with 20.

"Defensively, we should be solid," IUPUI head coach Steve Franklin said. "We're pretty veteran in the back."

Senior Greg Weiler has also been a rock throughout his career, starting at center back for the Jaguars. He will be flanked by a number of veterans, including Jason Kunza, Matt Roy, Brandon Barrett and Mike Hart.

While defense isn't much of a concern for Franklin, offense may be another story.

"This season will depend on how the youth blends with the veterans," Franklin said. "And we have to find a go-to scorer; someone we can consistently look to for goals."

With the graduation of Thies Hermann, who holds the school record for career goals scored, Franklin will search from a lot of sources for offense.

The first choice may be junior Ben Higginbotham, who was recently named MVP of the St. Bonaventure Adidas Classic. Outside of Higginbotham, the offense will be built of a number of freshmen looking to find their niche.

Forward Jason Noyan may be just a freshman, but has extensive national playing experience, while early indications are that Matt Hodges, Vince Odorisio, Rhett Zych and Ian Peers will have an impact of the outcome of many games. Seniors Patrick King and Justin Poehler have also shown the uncanny ability to score goals in the clutch throughout their careers.

The regular season schedule is filled with rugged opponents to prepare the Jaguars for the postseason. Kentucky, Notre Dame and Indiana have opened their season well, and should provide stiff competition later this season. The Jaguars will also square off with Butler University for the first time since 1990, and the coaches are looking to put a little more on the line.

"We're trying to make this a Cup Game, where we have a traveling trophy between here and Butler, somewhat similar to the Oaken Barrel," Franklin said.

One other home match that bears great significance is the Oct. 27 matchup with UMKC. The Kangaroos are the Mid-Con favorite, and that date is also the final day of regular season play in the Mid-Con, which determines who goes to the postseason and who goes home.

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