WIth the regular season and conference tournaments done and the season over for all but 48 teams, who were the top freshman players. Who should be the Freshmen of the Year? Who would make an All Freshman team? Here are some candidates. As always, other suggestions and opinions are welcome and encouraged, provided you explain the reasons for your suggestions. GKs Ryan Burke, GK, Virginia (4/16/84) 13 games, 12 starts, 5-6-2, 43 saves, .741 save percentage, 1.15 g.a.a. *Lance Friesz, GK, San Diego (9/12/83) 19 games, 19 starts, 12-4-3, 63 saves, .808 save percentage, 0.76 g.a.a. Brad Guzan, GK South Carolina (9/9/84) 18 games, 18 starts, 9-7-2, 69 saves, .793 save percentage, 0.96 g.a.a. *Luis Robles, GK Portland (5/11/84) 18 games, 18 starts, 9-8-1, 63 saves, .750 save percentage, 1.13 g.a.a. Josh Wagenaar, GK, Hartwick (2/26/85) 16 games, 14 starts, 13-1-1, 51 saves, .864 save percentage, 0.52 g.a.a. BACKS Greg Dalby, D, Notre Dame (11/3/85) 21 games, 21 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0.65 team g.a.a. *Sandy Gbandi, D, Alabama-Birmingham (7/12/83) 18 games, 17 starts, 0 goals, 2 assists, 0.94 team g.a.a. Brandon Owens, D, UCLA (1/23/86) 20 games, 17 starts, 2 goals, 0 assists, 0.40 team g.a.a. Steve Purdy, D, Cal (2/5/85) 20 games, 18 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists, 1.12 team g.a.a. Georgios Spanos, D, St. John’s (6/12/85) 20 games, 20 starts, 0 goals, 1 assist, 0.89 team g.a.a. Chad Steuck, D, Virginia Tech (1/27/85) 20 games, 20 starts, 0 goals, 1 assist, 0.91 team g.a.a. Jed Zayner (12/13/84) 18 games, 18 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0.68 team g.a.a. MIDS Steve Curfman, M, Wake Forest (10/8/86) 19 games, 12 starts, 3 goals, 6 assists John DiRaimando, M, Saint Louis (4/23/86) 19 games, 19 starts, 4 goals, 9 assists Brian Grazier, M, Saint Louis (3/17/86) 19 games, 19 starts, 0 goals, 0 assists, 1.09 team g.a.a. Ryan Guy, M, San Diego (9/5/85) 19 games, 19 starts, 3 goals, 3 assists Will Hall, M, Virginia (5/18/85) 20 games, 19 starts, 1 goal, 3 assists, 1.26 team g.a.a. Will John, F/M, Saint Louis (6/13/85) 19 games, 14 starts, 9 goals, 3 assists Chris Loftus, M, Duke (10/20/84) 18 games, 10 starts, 5 goals, 5 assists Ben Nason, M, Virginia Tech (11/8/84) 20 games, 17 starts, 3 goals, 9 assists Ramon Nunez, M, Southern Methodist (11/14/85) 18 games, 15 starts, 4 goals, 10 assists FORWARDS Omar Alfonso, F, Loyola (2/12/85) 21 games, 21 starts, 17 goals, 6 assists Gerardo Alvarez, F, Northwestern (12/1/84) 20 games, 20 starts, 9 goals, 7 assists Chad Barrett, F, UCLA (4/30/85) 20 games, 15 starts, 9 goals, 8 assists Robert Findley, F, Oregon State (8/4/85) 18 games, 11 starts, 10 goals, 2 assists Vedad Ibisevic, F, Saint Louis (8/6/84) 19 games, 18 starts, 15 goals, 4 assists Simon Omekanda, F, Penn State (9/15/84) 20 games, 20 starts, 3 goals, 8 assists *Willie Sims, F/M, Cal State Northridge (1/18/84) 19 games, 17 starts, 11 goals, 8 assists Jamie Watson, F, North Carolina (4/10/86) 19 games, 17 starts, 5 goals, 5 assists * Red shirt freshmen
Curfman You have Curfman listed as a Mid-fielder, just wondering why, b/c he has been playing center back for WFU ( and doing an exceptional job ).....just wondering why is not listed with the backs? Add on's: Randi Patterson - UNCG - F 20 GP/20GS - 11 G's and 2 assists Scott Jones - UNCG - MF/F 20GP/19GS - 6 G's and 11 assists Cass Baltz - Davidson - MF 21GP - 19GS - 3 G's and 5 assists all i can think of now....be back later with more
here would be my list of the rookie 11 (note i didn't list any red-shirt frosh) gk - justin hughes d - greg dalby, chad steuck, brandon owens, georgios spanos m - will hall, john diraimando, brian grazier, ryan guy f - omar alfonso, vedad ibisevic r.o.y: vedad ibisevic
You also left off IU's Jake Peterson from consideration on your forwards. Has had a great year teaming with Ned Grabavoy up front--was 2nd team all Big 10 and 1st team freshman Big 10 team.
And Jed Zayner has had an amazing year. He and Drew Moor, in equal parts, have been the key to that defense's strong results. He is definitely in my top XI for the season (I might be a bit biased, and haven't seen much of the other teams, but he has been unbelievable so far from the Hoosiers).
All good candidates KD. I would add Will John from Saint Louis. 19 Games 9 Goals 3 Assists 21 Points and 5 game winning goals.
You biased? Huh? What? No! Could have fooled me.... In all seriousness and this is coming from a very biased SLU fan, you Mr. HoosiersUnited Man are without question the most biased fan on the BigSoccer Boards!
Vedad is not only the best freshman in the country, he's maybe the best forward in the land. Fearless, and relentless, he attacks with great passion. As far as frosh defenders, he was hurt for a good part of the year, but you have to put Duke's Kyle Helton in there. That guy is a baller.
Tarheel Frosh I am not sure about the other guys, but we have a great group of young ones at UNC: Fwd: Jamie Watson 5 goals, 5 Assists Fwd: Corey Ashe 4 goals, 2 assists GK: Justin Hughes 5-1-2, 0.35 GAA, 5 S.O. These three are the best of a big group (13) of newcomers
ldb and soccertom: i could go with both will john and kyle helton. but there were already a dam bunch of stl guys on the list and i thought i would try to spread the wealth a little. stl is going to be even more awesome next year. as far as helton is concerned his injuries kept me from including him on the list, but i do think he is promising. S'onM: thanks for getting the list going you stat man you.
Re: Tarheel Frosh I would definitely add Michael Harrington to this list ... 1 goal and 2 assists ... his play from end to end was stellar ... started all 19 matches, and did not sit for many minutes throughout the season ... created lots of opportunities for others.
Speaking of Tar Heels...I'm hearing that Watson is going Project 40 as soon as the season is over for UNC, and Ashe will likely go next year because he battled some injuries this fall. Also heard Harrington is considering the move to the pros.
Big East Frosh To add to the Big East Frosh - Rutgers Lubos Ancin GK 5 starts 1.14 gaa Bart Kaffman D 1 G 2 pts. 1.17gaa Seton Hall Sacha Kljestan M 17 starts 4 G 6 A 14 pts. David Roman M 16 starts 4 G 2 A 10 pts. Teddy Niziolkek D 18 starts 1A 1 pt. 0.95 gaa Ian Joyce GK 6 starts 0.67 gaa UCONN Steve Sealy F 19 starts 5G 3A 13 pts. Villanova Marcelo Rodriguez F 9 starts 4G 6A 13 pts.
Curfman Steven Curfman hasn't played a second of center back. He's been an attacking mid on the left flank. And yes, he's having a hell of a year.
Sasha Kljestan from Seton Hall and Atha Kirkopolous were not only the 2 best freshmen I saw all year but also 2 of the best players on the country
Tarheels I agree about Harrington. Since everyone was putting up stats, his 1 Goal, 2 assists were not as striking, but he has been one of the most consistant producers during the season. Great footwork, vision, total package. As for those guys taking off.... I will leave that alone. You may be right on one of them, but do not hold your breath.
Re: Curfman Curfman played on the left side of a five man midfield almost all the time for Wake. Sophmore Micheal Parkhurst is solid as a rock as the central defender in a 3 man back line.
Brain Fart.... oops...serious brain fart, your right parkhurst has been in the back for WFU and been doing fantastic...my mistake... didnt see curfman playing any A-Mid though, alyways on the left with either Moose or Bastidas in the attacking role...i could be wrong only been to three games this year unfort
ive seen a lot of st john's this year and i'd actually take spanos off the list. he has been moved up to play wide in the midfield because he's a defensive liabiliy. most of those d stats you posted about st johns is because of wingert and chris leidner (THE most underrated defender in the country). Agree on Sacha from the hall and also add ricky schramm from georgetown. led the hoyas with nine goals and three assists.