Didn't see a thread on this yet so I thought I'd start one. Up-and-down start for the ACC teams this past week... FRIDAY West Virginia 1, Virginia 0 (neutral) http://www.virginiasports.com//pdf8/781582.pdf Maryland 3, St. John’s 0 (neutral but in Maryland) http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/stj11.html @Boston College 3, George Mason 2 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2011-12/box_score/stats_20110826aaa.pdf @UNC Greensboro 3, Duke 2 http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.d...833&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=205251178 @NC State 0, St. Francis (PA) 0 http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/st082611.html SATURDAY Howard 2, @Virginia Tech 1 http://www.hokiesports.com/msoccer/stats/showstats.html?14199 North Carolina 3, UNC Wilmington 1 http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/nc01.html South Florida 2, @Wake Forest 0 http://wakeforestsports.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/usf-wf.html @Alabama-Birmingham 2, Clemson 1 http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/recaps/082711aaa.html SUNDAY None MONDAY @Maryland 3, West Virginia 1 http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/wvu11.html @Virginia 7, Richmond 1 http://www.virginiasports.com//pdf8/782014.pdf @Boston College 2, Fairfield 1 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2011-12/box_score/stats_20110829aaa.pdf Duke 1, @Furman 0 http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.d...833&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=205252228 NC State 2, VMI 0 http://www.gopack.com/sports/m-soccer/stats/2011-2012/st082911.html Maryland: 2-0-0 6 GF, 1 GA Boston College: 2-0-0 5 GF, 3 GA NC State: 1-0-1 2 GF, 0 GA North Carolina: 1-0-0 3 GF, 1 GA Virginia: 1-1-0 7 GF, 2 GA Duke: 1-1-0 3 GF, 3 GA Clemson: 0-1-0 1 GF, 2 GA Virginia Tech: 0-1-0 1 GF, 2 GA Wake Forest: 0-1-0 0 GF, 2 GA This week… THURSDAY Quinnipiac @Boston College FRIDAY Stanford @Maryland Oregon State @ North Carolina Virginia vs. Cincinnati (in Blacksburg) Wisconsin @Virginia Tech NC State vs. Southern Methodist (in Durham) UC Santa Barbara @Duke Louisville @Wake Forest South Carolina @Clemson SATURDAY None SUNDAY Boston College @Dartmouth Louisville @North Carolina Virginia vs. Wisconsin (in Blacksburg) Cincinnati @Virginia Tech Radford @Maryland NC State vs. UC Santa Barbara (in Durham) Southern Methodist @Duke Oregon State @Wake Forest MONDAY UNC Greensboro @Clemson
A few thoughts and observations... *No shame in losing to Howard... in the 70s and 80s! In 2011, an ACC team that was in the Final Four when it's current seniors where HS seniors is inexcusable, ESPECIALLY at home. Howard's RPI last year 197 - seventh from the bottom. *Maryland looks strong. Interesting that fifth-year senior Will Swain is starting in goal over heralded freshman Keith Cardona. I wonder if he'll keep the job all year or, just as Sasho did when Seitz and MacMath were freshmen, if the holdover backup keeps the seat warm for a few games till he thinks the hot-shot freshman is ready. *Virginia is racked by injuries. Seniors Hunter Jumper, Brian Ownby and Mike Volk all DNP this weekend. Meanwhile, 5 freshmen started in the win over Richmond. *As a freshman, Duke's Andrew Wenger played D-mid. Last year he played defender. This year, he's playing forward and scored a brace against UNCG. Kid's just a baller. Since MLS started, Duke hasn't had a player leave early on a P40 or GA deal but I think Wenger will be the first. *Charlie Rugg is off to a great start for BC with 2 goals and 2 assists. He's a stud. Like all good BC players, I assume he'll sign with a Scandanvaian team this winter. (I say that only half in jest.) *Hard to read much into Wake and Clemson's losses to solid teams. Could be just a blip on the way to solid seasons but after having losing seasons last year they need some wins soon to get rid of the losing mojo. *NC State didn't play the toughest of opponents, but keeping a pair of clean sheets is always a good way to start the season, especially with a new coach and a new system. And they did it with Sonny Mukungu, one of the top defenders in the conference, not playing. *Finally, the Heels looked solid in getting their W but they'll get a much bigger test this week, especially against Louisville. That could be both a Final Four rematch and preview.
Coach Briz is in the last year of his contract, as I understand it. He's not exactly making a great initial case to stick around with this result. The program is really sinking at the moment and there is no reason it should be. I'd actually be shocked if he was still here next year. Early leader in the club house for the job next year? My money would be on Dustin Fonder from High Point. He's done a great job there and has SW VA roots (he's from Roanoke). Meant to be an excellent recruiter as well. Would be a good hire, IMO.
Makes sense. He's brought several national-level recruits to High Point, which can't be easy. At the same time, it's pretty disappointing that they don't face a single ACC team this year. They've got several teams only a stone's throw away, and they've got the talent to make a good game of it.
With Maryland,..... they won 2 games where they came back from behind and "don't" sleep on West Virginia. They're a tough physical bunch. Swain, so far has been solid but it's early. Cardona is a big time talent. There is "no doubt" that Maryland has covered the loss of Doug Rodkey with Sunny Jane, who might be the quickest player with the ball at his pheat in the ACC. I'll say this ...the biggest loss with Cassel for Maryland were his free kicks on set pieces. That's a spot I don't see Maryland having anybody that comes close to what Matt did. He was outstanding on the free kicks The foursome of Casey Townsend , John Stertzer, Sunny Jane, and Patrick Mullins is the best in the ACC (IMO)... I want to see North Carolina. I know they're the favorites but we'll see... Tman.
FYI - MD beat SJU 3-0 - no comeback. I think that the biggest loss was Ethan White - defense is where I would be worried about. I expect that Metzger is going to be a starter in the DM by year's end and that Shinsky may supplant Forbess.
BC spanked Quinnipiac 5-0. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools...o_pdf/2011-12/box_score/stats_20110901aab.pdf The Eagles have scored 10 goals in three games.
At the risk of piling on, to put Tech's loss to Howard in perspective, yesterday the Bison lost to George Mason.... 9-0. Yes, NINE.
Does not bode well for the season, that is for sure. If the rumors of Tech possibly going to the SEC are true, it won't help matters in terms of turning this thing around and generating interest in the program. I guess we'll end up in Conference USA or the Colonial (if they would have us).
Per Va. Tech's matchtracker, Virginia beat Cincinnati 1-0 on a Bates goal assisted by Span. http://www.hokiesports.com/msoccer/live/?SPSID=88789&SPID=10604&DB_OEM_ID=17800 Also, the game was called in the 85th minute due to lightning. No word on what that will do to the Hokies-Badgers game.
Very good win for NC State as they beat SMU 1-0 in 2OT on a goal by English freshman Ollie Kelly, his second of the season. http://www.goduke.com/newLiveStats/Soccer/index.html?GAME_STAT_ID=571079&db_oem_id=4200
North Carolina fell behind early to Oregon State on a goal by freshman Khiry Shelton but responded with 5 unanswered goals to win 5-1. Billy Schuler had a brace and Enzo Martinez had two helpers.
Clemson wins their in-state derby with South Carolina 2-0. Freshmen Ben Myers and Amadou Dia scored both goals. The Cocks played the last 30 minutes shorthanded after a player got his second yellow.
As some of you may have seen if you watched the game on FSC, Maryland jumped all over Stanford early and cruised from there. Pat Mullins scored before the game was 30 seconds old, Casey Townsend added a brace and Helge Leikvang scored a sceamer on a freekick to go up by four by halftime before the Terps took their foot off the gas in the second half and it ended 4-0. Keeping in mind that Stanford isn't a good team - they aren't bad, but I don't think any of their starting field players would start for Maryland - but they completely dominated this game and looked really good, both individually and cohesively. They weren't perfect but they were impressive.
Duke lost what appeared to be a barn-burner to UCSB 3-2 in OT. The Devils scored in the 1st minute, UCSB tied it up in the sixth and went ahead on a PK in the 80th. Duke tied it in the 87th (Wenger, again) but St. John's transfer Dom Sarle scored the game-winner in OT.
Very entertaining game. Duke scored in the first 30ish minutes, UCSB answered back about 7 minutes later. Duke looked pretty out of sorts the rest of the first half, had trouble possessing, looked less skilled in general. Second half was much better from Duke, better possession and much better defending. A couple of fantastic saves from the UCSB keeper kept it even at 1-1. With about 15 minutes left, a Duke man came flying into the UCSB box to come onto a high bouncing ball and was met by a flying studs up challenge to the chest a la Nigel deJong. Only got a yellow. I had a poor angle on the PK (was on the opposite end)--UCSB player dancing nicely in the box, Duke player leans in, maybe has a leg out a little too far, UCSB player falls over the leg and sells it well. Maybe soft, but hard to say. Duke tied it on a free kick (or maybe a corner? can't recall) after a huge scramble in the box with bodies flying--UCSB keeper got walloped in the tangle and stayed down for some time after the goal. Duke arguably had the better of the play in OT, but gave up a break that was finished well. Pretty exciting and a decent level of play overall. Some very skilled guys out there on both sides.
Sandon, I was at the Maryland-Stanford game. Great stuff from the Terps, especially early on. Leikvang's free kick will probably stick as one of the year's top goals.
Fear the Turtle.... What's scary about this team that Sasho has is don't focus on where they're at now, look to the end of the season as this club is still putting it together. They're not there yet but they're showing signs. Nobody should grab their chest , if this squad makes it to the cup We'll see........ Tman.
http://marylandfb.blogspot.com/2011/09/are-you-ready-for-some-futbol-terrapin.html I was at the Maryland-Stanford game last night and posted a few shots on my MD Football Blog. The lighting at Ludwig isn't the greatest but I was able to get a few shots.