Also see other stories at Men's Soccer Archives
Illinois Wesleyan 2005 Preseason Fact Sheet (pdf)
August 10
The Illinois Wesleyan men's soccer team was picked to finish seventh in the preseason College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin coaches poll. The Titans earned 15 points in the voting on the heels of a 5-10-3 campaign (1-5-1 CCIW) in 2004. Wheaton (18-5, 47 points) was picked first, followed by North Park (14-3-2, 43 points) and Augustana (7-7-1, 34 points). IWU will begin its 2005 campaign under new head coach Ryan Lakin on Sat., Sept. 3 against Lawrence at 2:30 p.m. at IWU's Neis Field. Lakin welcomes back 16 lettermen and the Titans will have exhibition tune-ups at DePauw (Aug. 27) and against Illinois College (Aug. 31 at IWU) prior to the season opener.
June 30
Ryan Lakin, a three-time College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin “Coach of the Year” while at Millikin, has been named head men’s soccer coach at Illinois Wesleyan, replacing David Barrett, who will concentrate on coaching the women’s team only. A 1995 graduate of Illinois State, Lakin was the men’s and women’s soccer coach at Millikin from 1998-2002. His men’s teams compiled a record of 54-29-3 (.645) in five seasons with a league co-championship in 2001 and he earned the CCIW coaching honors in 1998, 1999 and 2001. Most recently, Lakin has been assistant director of coaching at Barrington (Ill.) Area Soccer Association and FC Barrington, where he was responsible for the operation and oversight of 2,000 recreational players, 35 travel teams and 15 staff coaches.
