Geoff Smith

ADA — The Ohio Northern men's soccer team will be welcoming 15 incoming freshmen to join the team for the 2008 season.

Led by 11th-year head coach Brent Ridenour, the Polar Bears will be adding a wide variety of talent that includes five forwards, four midfielders, three defenders and three goalkeepers.

The 2008 team will open the 2008 season at Anderson (Ind.) on Sept. 2 before embarking on a trip to California for a pair of contests.

ADA — The Ohio Northern men's soccer team will open the 2008 season at Anderson (Ind.) on Sept. 2 before embarking on a trip to California for a pair of contests.

Northern will take on Redlands (Calif.) on Sept. 6 and California Lutheran on Sept. 7 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Redlands finished the 2007 season ranked No. 8 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The trip will mark the first time the men's program has played a game, or a team, from west of the Mississippi River.

Ryan Smith

ADA — Junior Ryan Smith (Miamisburg) earned National Soccer Coaches Association Academic Scholar All-East Region honors in voting conducted by regional committee members.

Smith also earned CoSIDA Second Team Academic All-District honors as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.