The ACC in 2011

Discussion in 'College & Amateur Soccer' started by Sandon Mibut, Aug 30, 2011.

  1. EasternWatch

    EasternWatch Member

    Sep 4, 2006
    I had the opportunity to go and see both the Maryland-BC and UNC-VaTech games last weekend.

    (1) Maryland-BC
    Maryland completely owned this game. While BC's forwards showed good speed and ability, BC's failure to link play through the midfield really hurt them. From the stands, it seemed like BC's midfield was a bit lazy, and most of the time they didn't combine with defenders to create space and then play up to their forwards.

    Maryland's front duo of Casey Townsend and Patrick Mullins played great, and as I said before, will give teams lots of problems through this season.
    Sunny Jane and Widener(?) Saint Cyr are athletic, technical, and versatile.
    This team should easily be in the ACC final.
    Anything less than the College Cup for this squad would be a disappointment.
    They do have a few flaws where teams can beat them, but I'll leave that to fellow scouts and coaches to find those.

    (2) UNC-Virginia Tech
    A surprising result, but really just bad luck for UNC. They hit the post, they completed dominiated possession, and well endured the physical abuse from VT.

    I thought VT often played like a handful of goons looking to beat up UNC.
    It seemed as though they knew that they could not keep up with UNC's passing game, so they decided to take hits (and a few cheap shots) when possible.
    Discouraging for the game of college soccer.
    VT's real bright spot, in my opinion, was the play of their left forward, #6 Robert Alberti.
    He had a good number of dribble fakes, beat UNC's right back several times, and was one of the few VT players that left a favorable impression on me.
    If VT plays through him more, they should win some close games.

    It was the first time I had seen UNC in person in about three years, but they were MUCH more attractive to watch than in years past. The ball was generally played using 1-touch and 2-touch, players linked and overlapped often, and their organization was good.
    True, they did loose the game on a corner kick in double overtime, but that team should keep their heads up and forget about their loss (as I write this, I now see they handled James Madison 4-1).

    Ben Speas is a big addition for them.
    I liked the way he made himself open for the ball and stretched out VT's defense.
    As everyone remarks, Billy Schuler is a big part of their attack.

    On this board, I've often seen remarks about the speed and work rate of Enzo Martinez.
    It was my first time to see him.
    As a scout and coach, I saw that he definitely has the speed, dribbling skills, and work rate that everyone talks about.
    But something concerns me about this player, and while I was watching the game, I thought to myself that he was missing something, namely that he cannot dribble with his head up in traffic, and as a result he frequently lost the ball.
    Anytime VT double-teamed or physically pressured him, he failed to look for or find a safe pass, and struggled.
    While it's true that VT's midfield was much bigger than him, as a scout I would be concerned about his ability to play the midfield at the professional level for the same reasons.
    If I were the head coach of UNC with this squad, I would change Speas to midfield and place Martinez as a wide midfielder or forward.

    Regardless, this UNC team was fun to watch, and I think it is worth your time to drive and see them play if they are playing within a few hours of you.
    I think if Cameron Brown was in this year's squad, they would be even more fantastic, but such is fate.
    Noticing how Brown was the last player off of the field after the team's loss at VT, I imagine it is eating him up to watch from the sidelines, and that he will make a big impact on the 2012 team.

    ---
    Seeing Maryland (especially at home) or UNC play is definitely worth your time and money. The fun of ACC soccer.
     
  2. xpowerout

    xpowerout Member

    Nov 17, 2010
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The name of Maryland's right back is Widner St. Cyr. The pronunciation is either with the 'W' as is, or pronounced as a 'V' (Vidner). The PA at Ludwig Field generally uses Widner.

    Also he is Haitian, so that's cool.
     
  3. Well Duh

    Well Duh Member

    Jul 17, 2008
    2011 Wake Forest Men's Soccer
    Cleveland State vs Wake Forest (Sep 14, 2011 at Winston-Salem, N.C.)

    Cleveland State (2-3-0) 1

    Wake Forest (2-2-1) 2

    Attendance: 782
    Weather: Great Evening at Spry


    SCORING SUMMARY
    Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
    1. 44:29 WF Ben Newnam (1) Teddy Mullin header off cross from 10
    2. 75:31 CSU Admir Suljevic (2) (unassisted) near post, scored off rebound from 15 yards
    3. 76:23 WF Andy Lubahn (1) Luca Gimenez breakaway, near post 12 yards out

    Good to see Lubahn get on the board
     
  4. Vilhelm

    Vilhelm Member

    Sep 9, 2005
    Expect to see that a lot against UNC this year.
     
  5. Focker

    Focker Member

    Oct 29, 2010
    Other than Matt Hedges we don't have a lot big guys.

    Plus theyre playing a different formation now.
     
  6. bisbee

    bisbee Member

    Sep 9, 2010
    That's exactly what happened to Akron when they played Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge.
     
  7. JoeSoccerFan

    JoeSoccerFan Member+

    Aug 11, 2000
    Sasho leaving isn't going to be solely about money, but more important will be the position and authority. I can't see him leaving MD for a coaching position, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had a GM/Coach offered that he'd seriously consider it.
     
  8. Vilhelm

    Vilhelm Member

    Sep 9, 2005
    Duke 5
    Clemson 2

    Hat trick for Wenger.
     
  9. xpowerout

    xpowerout Member

    Nov 17, 2010
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Maryland 3 - NC State 1.

    Maryland goals for Mikias Eticha, Jereme Raley, and John Stertzer. NC State goal for Monbo Bokar.
    Eticha's goal came with :16 to go in the first half; Bokar's came with :40 left in the match to prevent the clean sheet for Will Swaim.

    Additionally, starting goalie Fabian Otte left the game for NC State with an apparent leg injury.
     
  10. Well Duh

    Well Duh Member

    Jul 17, 2008
    2011 Wake Forest Men's Soccer
    #8 North Carolina vs Wake Forest (Sep 16, 2011 at Winston-Salem, N.C.)

    North Carolina (5-1-0) 1

    Wake Forest (2-3-1) 0

    Attendance: 4062
    Weather: overcast, cool but dry


    SCORING SUMMARY
    Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
    1. 57:03 UNC Jordan Gafa (1) Kirk Urso; Ben Speas header to far post off corner

    Wake getting better.... but another set piece snafu
     
  11. Well Duh

    Well Duh Member

    Jul 17, 2008
    Charlotte 49ers Soccer
    #19 Charlotte vs #10 Virginia (Sep 16, 2011 at Charlottesville, Va.)

    Charlotte (5-1-0) 2
    Virginia (4-3-0) 1

    Attendance: 2135
    Weather: Low 60s, cloudy, SE 8 mph


    SCORING SUMMARY
    Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists Description
    1. 70:18 VA Will Bates (5) Penalty kick
    2. 89:35 CHA GIBSON, Tyler (1) Penalty kick
    3. 90:42 CHA CAUGHRAN, Isaac (2) GIBSON, Tyler Header off rebound off crossbar

    Looks like the Wahoo's let one slip away late...
     
  12. Baron52

    Baron52 Member

    Apr 29, 2006
    Good game...stats even...unfortunate the Deacs didn't score in the 1st half...the goal scoring sequence for UNC in the second was unfortunate for the deacs...as you say the Deacs are getting better...a year from now they would win this game...imo
     
  13. Vilhelm

    Vilhelm Member

    Sep 9, 2005
    Charlotte has a habit of beating ACC teams.
     
  14. Well Duh

    Well Duh Member

    Jul 17, 2008
    Charlotte vs the ACC...

    W-L-T ... GF/GA

    27-57-6.... 104/229

    with games at Clemson and MD still on tap for 2011
     
  15. Vilhelm

    Vilhelm Member

    Sep 9, 2005
    What's their record in the ACC since Gunn has been there?
     
  16. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Well this would be interesting. Obviously, this wouldn't happen because of soccer, but it would certainly help the soccer programs at the schools in question.

    http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...ly-join-acc-ranks-florida-state-official-says

    And, if 'Cuse and Pitt do come aboard, don't for a minute think the ACC is gonna stop at 14 schools. They're gonna look to add 2 more and the rumor mill has UConn and Rutgers or Louisville as leading candidates, which would obviously make the ACC that much tougher a soccer conference.
     
  17. xpowerout

    xpowerout Member

    Nov 17, 2010
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    A potential silver lining of adding more northern schools to the Big East would be getting to possibly put the conference semi/finals in Red Bull Arena, which would be a much more classy venue than WakeMed.
     
  18. JBohland

    JBohland New Member

    Feb 6, 1999
    Sat, Sept 17th
    Chestnut Hill, Mass.

    BC 4
    Virginia Tech 3 (OT)

    Tough loss for the Hokies, but the team looks to be competing much better than the group last year.
     
  19. Well Duh

    Well Duh Member

    Jul 17, 2008
    Gunn's Charlotte vs the ACC

    2010--- 2-0 : Wake / Clemson
    2009--- 1-0-1 : Wake (w)/Clemson
    2008--- 0-1: MD
    [FONT=&quot]2007--- 0-0

    Overall 3-1-1
    [/FONT]
     
  20. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Wow, this happened fast. Apparently Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC is a done deal, the only question is when they join.

    http://espn.go.com/college-sports/s...burgh-panthers-syracuse-orange-14-team-league

    Pitt and Syracuse are gonna have to up their game in soccer or they're gonna get romped on. As good as the Big East is in soccer, the ACC is better and Pitt and Syracuse have struggled in that conference.

    The flip-side is that it should help recruiting for Pitt and Syracuse.

    Now we'll see what the ACC does next. Stay at 14 (which I doubt)? Go the Texas route and add the Longhorns and Texas Tech? Or continue to gobble up the Northeast and add UConn and Rutgers?

    If it's the latter, and Connecticut and Rutgers come aboard, the ACC becomes just a SICK conference for soccer.
     
  21. sitruc

    sitruc Member+

    Jul 25, 2006
    Virginia
    The ACC did a surprisingly good job of making a big move that cements themselves as one of the four major superconferences. They did a great job of keeping it quiet. The most under-reported portion of this expansion isn't that the exit fees were raised to $20 million so nobody is leaving for the SEC or Big Ten, but that at least 10 schools submitted applications. They're on their way to 16 schools on their own terms with no losses. Of course espn reports what is in their best interest regarding conference re-alignments, but I wasn't sure the current conference would stay intact before moving to 14. I've been a lifelong fan of the ACC and thought that may finally change. I'm glad it didn't.
     
  22. Hararea

    Hararea Member+

    Jan 21, 2005
    From a soccer standpoint, UConn would be a big addition and a great travel partner for BC. I'm not too sold on the others, though. Until they build up their programs, they water down the competition, and they permanently increase travel costs.
     
  23. 24Seven

    24Seven Member

    Jan 31, 2009
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The most encouraging part for soccer is that it will not end with the 'Cuse/Pitt move. The Big East will look to get teams back, so the movement of schools is not over.
     
  24. sitruc

    sitruc Member+

    Jul 25, 2006
    Virginia
    Have you heard of anyone wanting to join the Big East? There are even rumors of the SEC settling on WVU since they didn't get ACC targets. Likewise, TCU is definitely second guessing things. It could be too late for ECU to be a significant pull.
     
  25. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    Yeah, I think the Big East, at least as we know it, might not be long for this world.

    For a long time, there has been chatter about a "Catholic Conference" made up of Eastern and Midwestern schools that don't have big-time football like Georgetown, DePaul, Providence. Marquette, etc... and if the SEC snags West Virginia (and really, why would they stay if they have a chance to go to the SEC?) and UConn and Rutgers do join the ACC, the Big East is basically shot and the Catholic Conference idea will start to pick up momentum.

    Oh, and I suspect TCU will look to back out of their Big East commitment and join whatever becomes of the Big 12 leftovers (especially if Texas stays).
     

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