NCAA Soccer Championships - 2006
Ok folks, November Madness is here! Ok, that name sucks but it is one that conjures up images of the most exciting American sporting tournament out there, the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Here's the fall classic version with the world's game, the NCAA Soccer Tournament. The bracket has been announced and games kick off this weekend. I was hoping the first round would make the FSC programming schedule, but it doesn't look like it at this point. Hopefully they'll televise some of the later round games.
So let's take a look at the bracket and see where the interesting match ups are going to happen.
First off, it is worth noting that the first round is a bye for the top 16 teams. With Duke topping Wake in the ACC final, they go into the tourney #1. Wake got the #2 seed so a rematch of the ACC final isn't possible until the championship and I'll say isn't likely with all the other talent out there.
In the first round I'll pick a few games not to miss if you live in the area. #1 - New Mexico at San Francisco. The loss of some big time seniors (Jeff Rowland the first to mind) hurt the Lobos this year but they managed a 13-3-3 record and finished the season on a high with a big 3-0 win over regional rival Denver. San Francisco has some strong talent led by leading scorer and FCTP-Pro prospect F - Aaron Chandler. Others to watch at USF: D - Rob Valentino & M - Jesse Henderson (former Bradenton resident). New Mexico has a young roster with their two leading scorers both being Sophomores and their freshman class including standout midfielder Zach Tierney (2005 adidas ESP All*Star). In fact, FCTP-Pro prospect, senior Andrew Boyens, was the only senior on the roster to get over 1,000 minutes of playing time this season. I think the big question in this match is can the Lobos' young roster carry them to a victory? Home field advantage should give the edge to USF. If USF wins, they have an easy trip across the Bay Bridge for round 2 at #13 Cal.
Match #2 on my list takes Creighton out to Washington to take on the Huskies. Both teams have consistent soccer programs and have sent some kids to the MLS Combine. Washington is another younger program but Junior F - Kevin Forest led the team in scoring with 13 goals after recovering from a foot injury that forced him to red shirt his 2005 season. Strike partner Junior F - Ely Allen played more of the assist man role this season but still scored 7 goals while creating 5. Freshman D - Taylor Hoss (2005 adidas ESP All*Star) led the defense playing in all of Washington's matches. On the other side of the field Sophomore F - Byron Dacy (2006 pre-season Hermann Watch List) will try to carve up that Washington defense. The Creighton defense has their freshman big man, D - Chris Schuler (2004 ESP All*Star, 2005 StudentSportsSoccer.com #7 top prospect, 2006 PDL Team Of The Week) who also played in every match this season. The winner of this match will have to travel to #10 Santa Clara.
The #3 match is Virginia Tech at UNC - Greensboro. Greensboro is home to one of the top FCTP-Pro prospects Senior F - Randi Patterson. This season he scored 12 goals and created one. He had a strong summer playing in the PDL for the Carolina Dynamo and he's been named to almost every honor list you can think of. He should be in the running for the Hermann Trophy when that is announced. Senior M - Scott Jones was also named to the pre-season Hermann watch list and had a productive season in midfield racking up 16 points on 6 assists and 5 goals. The #8 seed in the ACC tourney, Virginia Tech, got bounced in the first round by NC State and still made the NCAA field. I've been talking about how deep the ACC was this season and there is your proof. Sophomore F - Patrick Nyarko had a breakout 2006, scoring 15 goals and creating 8 assists. Junior M - Ben Nason (2003 Big East Rookie of the Year) had a nice season scoring 6 and assisting 10. Virginia Tech's biggest win came against Clemson in ACC play, but they failed to knock off any of the other big boys. UNCG's biggest win was 4-0 over Coastal Carolina so I think Virginia Tech had a tougher schedule this season. The winner of this match goes on to play West Virginia.
So there you go, those three matches in my opinion should be the toast of the first round. Now is the time to see how the top FCTP-Pro prospects fare in pressure situations. I'm sure some of the kids in these matches will get invited to the combine based on their success in the coming tournament.
Head on over to College Soccer News for a more in-depth analysis of the upcoming event. Get out there and support your local college if they're hosting a match. Next Wednesday will be the second round matches where we see all the big boys enter the fray. Check back before then for another highlight of the big games.
So let's take a look at the bracket and see where the interesting match ups are going to happen.
First off, it is worth noting that the first round is a bye for the top 16 teams. With Duke topping Wake in the ACC final, they go into the tourney #1. Wake got the #2 seed so a rematch of the ACC final isn't possible until the championship and I'll say isn't likely with all the other talent out there.
In the first round I'll pick a few games not to miss if you live in the area. #1 - New Mexico at San Francisco. The loss of some big time seniors (Jeff Rowland the first to mind) hurt the Lobos this year but they managed a 13-3-3 record and finished the season on a high with a big 3-0 win over regional rival Denver. San Francisco has some strong talent led by leading scorer and FCTP-Pro prospect F - Aaron Chandler. Others to watch at USF: D - Rob Valentino & M - Jesse Henderson (former Bradenton resident). New Mexico has a young roster with their two leading scorers both being Sophomores and their freshman class including standout midfielder Zach Tierney (2005 adidas ESP All*Star). In fact, FCTP-Pro prospect, senior Andrew Boyens, was the only senior on the roster to get over 1,000 minutes of playing time this season. I think the big question in this match is can the Lobos' young roster carry them to a victory? Home field advantage should give the edge to USF. If USF wins, they have an easy trip across the Bay Bridge for round 2 at #13 Cal.
Match #2 on my list takes Creighton out to Washington to take on the Huskies. Both teams have consistent soccer programs and have sent some kids to the MLS Combine. Washington is another younger program but Junior F - Kevin Forest led the team in scoring with 13 goals after recovering from a foot injury that forced him to red shirt his 2005 season. Strike partner Junior F - Ely Allen played more of the assist man role this season but still scored 7 goals while creating 5. Freshman D - Taylor Hoss (2005 adidas ESP All*Star) led the defense playing in all of Washington's matches. On the other side of the field Sophomore F - Byron Dacy (2006 pre-season Hermann Watch List) will try to carve up that Washington defense. The Creighton defense has their freshman big man, D - Chris Schuler (2004 ESP All*Star, 2005 StudentSportsSoccer.com #7 top prospect, 2006 PDL Team Of The Week) who also played in every match this season. The winner of this match will have to travel to #10 Santa Clara.
The #3 match is Virginia Tech at UNC - Greensboro. Greensboro is home to one of the top FCTP-Pro prospects Senior F - Randi Patterson. This season he scored 12 goals and created one. He had a strong summer playing in the PDL for the Carolina Dynamo and he's been named to almost every honor list you can think of. He should be in the running for the Hermann Trophy when that is announced. Senior M - Scott Jones was also named to the pre-season Hermann watch list and had a productive season in midfield racking up 16 points on 6 assists and 5 goals. The #8 seed in the ACC tourney, Virginia Tech, got bounced in the first round by NC State and still made the NCAA field. I've been talking about how deep the ACC was this season and there is your proof. Sophomore F - Patrick Nyarko had a breakout 2006, scoring 15 goals and creating 8 assists. Junior M - Ben Nason (2003 Big East Rookie of the Year) had a nice season scoring 6 and assisting 10. Virginia Tech's biggest win came against Clemson in ACC play, but they failed to knock off any of the other big boys. UNCG's biggest win was 4-0 over Coastal Carolina so I think Virginia Tech had a tougher schedule this season. The winner of this match goes on to play West Virginia.
So there you go, those three matches in my opinion should be the toast of the first round. Now is the time to see how the top FCTP-Pro prospects fare in pressure situations. I'm sure some of the kids in these matches will get invited to the combine based on their success in the coming tournament.
Head on over to College Soccer News for a more in-depth analysis of the upcoming event. Get out there and support your local college if they're hosting a match. Next Wednesday will be the second round matches where we see all the big boys enter the fray. Check back before then for another highlight of the big games.
posted by Bonji at
10:26 AM
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