CAA MEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY REPORT - SEPT. 7
CAA MEN’S SOCCER Co-PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Andrew Goldberg, DrexelJr., F, Southampton, Pa./William Tennent
Goldberg scored three goals to help lead Drexel to a 2-0 start. The junior forward recorded both goals in the Dragons’ 2-0 victory over Big East foe Villanova and had the team’s final goal in a 5-0 triumph over Canisius.
CAA MEN’S SOCCER Co-PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Paul Wyatt, James MadisonSo., F, Modbury, England/Ivybridge
Wyatt contributed three goals and an assist as James Madison opened the season with a 4-1 win over Rider. The sophomore became the first player in JMU history to record hat tricks in consecutive games and only the third Duke to have multiple hat tricks in a career.
CAA MEN’S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Sean Cote, George MasonFr., GK, Plano, Texas/Plano Senior
Cote didn’t allow a goal in 135 minutes of action as George Mason captured the D.C. College Cup title with a 2-0 mark. Cote made four saves and recorded the shutout in the Patriots’ 1-0 win against American and also didn’t surrender a goal while playing the final 45 minutes of a 3-1 victory over George Washington.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
Five CAA Teams Start 2-0: It was a sensational start to the season for CAA men’s soccer as the league’s 12 teams combined for a 15-7-1 (.674) record. Five conference teams opened with 2-0 marks - Drexel, George Mason, James Madison, Old Dominion and Towson.
UNCW Ranked In National Polls: UNC Wilmington is ranked #24 nationally by College Soccer News and #27 by Top Drawer Soccer in polls released on Sept. 6. The Seahawks defeated Binghamton in their opener last Friday before falling 3-2 in double overtime at West Virginia on Sunday, ending their 12-game regular season unbeaten streak.
CAA Dominates Regional Rankings: Six CAA teams were among the top 10 in NSCAA/HendrickCars.com South Atlantic regional rankings released on Sept. 7. George Mason was tied for #3 in the poll, Old Dominion was #5, Drexel was #6, Towson was #7, UNC Wilmington was #8 and James Madison was #10.
Seahawks Picked To Win CAA Title: Defending CAA champion UNC Wilmington was picked to repeat in 2010 according to a preseason vote of the league’s head coaches. The Seahawks received eight first-place votes and 114 total points, while second-place Old Dominion was next with 100 points. George Mason picked up one first-place vote and was third with 96 points and Northeastern received two first-place votes and was fourth with 89 points. The complete poll is located on page 3 of this release.
Three CAA Players On Hermann Trophy Watch List: William & Mary senior midfielder Nat Baako, James Madison senior forward CJ Sapong and UNCW senior defender Indy Smith are among a group of 39 players on the Watch List for the Hermann Trophy, which awarded to the nation’s top collegiate soccer player at the end of the season.
DELAWARE (1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Blue Hens split their first two matches, defeating Canisus 3-1 before dropping a 1-0 decision to Bradley. UD got goals from Courtney Hewitt, Chibsah Faisal and Demar Stephenson in the victory over Canisius. Kyle Ellis contributed assists on the first two scores. The Hens out-shot Bradley 20-8, including 11-3 in the second half, but were unable to get on the board.
DREXEL (2-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Dragons are off to a 2-0 start under first-year coach Doug Hess following shutout victories over Canisius (5-0) and Big East foe Villanova (2-0). Junior forward Andrew Goldberg scored three times in the two victories, including both goals against Villanova. All five goals versus CU came in the second half, with Malcolm LeBourne and Brandon Zeller each contributing a goal and an assist. Goalkeeper Tim Washam made six saves in the shutout of CU and Pentti Pussinen earned the shutout versus VU after Drexel limited the Wildcats to just one shot on goal.
GEORGE MASON (2-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Patriots captured the D.C. College Cup for the first time after posting wins over George Washington (3-1) and American (1-0). Mason fell behind GW 1-0 in the first 12 seconds and played a man down for the final 76 minutes but managed to rally. The Patriots got second-half goals from Eber Martinez, Alhagi Toure and Taylor Morgan. Senior Parker Walton earned tournament MVP honors after scoring the game-winner against AU on a header in the 24th minute. Freshman keeper Sean Cote didn’t allow a goal in 135 minutes of action and earned the shutout after making four saves against AU.
GEORGIA STATE (1-0-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Panthers opened the season with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory at Gardner-Webb and then battled to a 1-1 draw with USC Upstate at home. Sophomore Alejandro Reyes’ first career goal was the game-winner at G-WU in the 92nd minute. He also assisted on GSU’s first goal by Gimel Gordon. The Panthers took a 1-0 lead on Upstate in the 52nd minute as Alex Vivanco converted a penalty kick. All three GSU goals this season have been scored by sophomores.
HOFSTRA (1-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Pride rallied for a 2-1 victory at Iona, but lost home games to Stony Brook (1-0 in ot) and St. Peter’s (2-0). It was the first time since 2003 that Hofstra has lost back-to-back home contests. In the Iona win, sophomore Mike Annarumma tallied the game-tying goal in the 74th minute and junior Brett Carrington notched the game-winner in the 83rd minute off an assist from freshman Florian Popp. Hofstra started five freshman versus Iona, including four midfielders.
JAMES MADISON (2-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Dukes defeated Rider (4-1) and St. Francis (Pa.) (3-2 in ot) in the JMU/Comfort Inn Invitational. Sophomore Paul Wyatt scored three goals and assisted on the fourth versus Rider, becoming the first player in school history to record a hat trick in consecutive games. Wyatt also had three goals in last year’s season finale against Towson. He is one of only three JMU players to have multiple hat tricks in a career. Senior CJ Sapong tallied a goal and an assist versus St. Francis. Freshman Paul McAulay’s first career goal was the game-winner against St. Francis, as he knocked in a corner kick from Patrick Innes.
UNC WILMINGTON (1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Seahawks split their two contests at the WVU/Nike Classic, topping Binghamton 1-0 in the opener but losing 3-2 in double overtime to host West Virginia. Nassim Berhouni headed in a pass from Shaun Utterson in the 15th minute for the game-winner against Binghamton. Senior keeper Brock Duckworth recorded his 19th career shutout in the win, which ranks second all-time at UNCW. The Seahawks got goals from Seph Babbington and Daniel Roberts versus WVU, but saw their 12-game regular season unbeaten streak come to an end.
NORTHEASTERN (0-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Huskies suffered road losses to a pair of nationally ranked squads, falling 2-1 in double overtime at Georgetown and 5-0 at Maryland. Ricardo McDonald’s goal off a Mike Kennedy assist in the 84th minute tied the game with the Hoyas. Goalkeeper Oliver Blum made 11 saves in the first two contests.
OLD DOMINION (2-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Monarchs captured the VCU Classic with shutout victories over Coastal Carolina (1-0) and Florida Gulf Coast (2-0). Sophomore forward Chris Harmon earned tournament MVP honors after scoring both game-winning goals. He converted a penalty kick in the 68th minute against Coastal and gave ODU a 1-0 lead just 3:04 into the contest versus FGCU. Jordan LeBlanc added a goal and an assist in the FGCU victory. Harmon, LeBlanc, Adam Roscioli and Ryan Oakes were named to the all-tournament squad. Head coach Alan Dawson received a five-year contract extension last week.
TOWSON (2-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Tigers picked up road victories at Mount St. Mary’s (2-0) and Saint Joseph’s (3-2) to start the season. It’s Towson’s first 2-0 start since 2007. Towson got goals from Marco Mangione and Zach Hoffer at Mount, while keeper John Steele recorded his eighth career shutout. At SJU, freshman Enrico Skrypzak gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the 16th minute and freshman Kay Banjo scored the game-winner in the 78th minute.
VCU (1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Rams went 1-1 in their own VCU/Richmond Marriott Classic, rebounding from a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Florida Gulf Coast to beat Coastal Carolina, 2-0. Senior C.J. Gehin-Scott scored the game-winner against Coastal and freshman Peter Lee added an insurance tally on a 50-yard free kick. Akron transfer Yoram Mwila had the lone VCU goal against FGCU. Senior keeper Gabriel Rodriguez made six saves and earned the shutout in his first start of the season against Coastal. Mwila, Gehin-Scott and Alberto Fonseca were named to the all-tournament team.
WILLIAM & MARY (0-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):The Tribe will be the final CAA team to open their season with a trip to Loyola (Md.) tonight. W&M was impressive in its two exhibition matches, topping Virginia Tech and Liberty by a combined score of 6-1. Senior midfielder Nat Baako was named a third-team preseason All-American by College Soccer News and is also on the Watch List for the Hermann Trophy.