CAA MEN'S SOCCER WEEKLY REPORT - SEPT. 2
CAA MEN’S SOCCER PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Fabio Assumpcao, Drexel
Jr., MF, Sao Paulo, Brazil/Colegio Batista Brasiliero
Assumpcao scored the game-winning goals in Drexel’s victories over Hartwick (2-1) and Fordham (3-2 in ot) at the Black & Decker Classic at Loyola (Md.). The junior netted the winning score in the 63rd minute versus Hartwick and then put home the golden goal in the 100th minute versus Fordham. He also assisted on the game-tying goal versus the Rams. Assumpcao was named to the All-Classic team for his efforts.
CAA MEN’S SOCCER ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Matt Brown, UNC Wilmington
Fr., F, Charlotte, N.C./Olympic
Brown scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime to lead UNC Wilmington to a 3-2 upset victory over #20 Furman on Sunday. It was the first collegiate goal for Brown, who scored an amazing 57 goals as a senior at Olympic H.S. in Charlotte.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
Six CAA Teams Ranked Regionally: Six CAA teams are ranked among the top 10 in the South Atlantic rankings released by the NSCAA on Sept. 2. William & Mary tops the group of CAA squads at #4, followed by Drexel at #5, VCU at #7, George Mason at #8, UNC Wilmington at #9 and Old Dominion at #10.
ODU’s Banks Honored By CSN: Old Dominion senior midfielder Trevor Banks was chosen as a pre-season third-team All-American by College Soccer News. Banks, who was named the CAA pre-season Player of the Year along with VCU’s Gerson Dos Santos, contributed six goals and three assists last season for a Monarchs’ squad that reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
Monarchs Picked To Win CAA Title: Defending CAA champion Old Dominion was picked to repeat in 2008 according to a pre-season vote of the league’s head coaches. The Monarchs received eight first-place votes and 118 total points, while second-place VCU got three first-place votes and 109 points. Drexel was chosen third, followed closely by Hofstra, which got the remaining first-place vote, and Towson.
DELAWARE (0-1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Blue Hens fought to a 2-2 draw with Marist on Monday after dropping a 2-1 double-overtime decision to Rutgers in their opener. Junior midfielder Darren Christie gave UD an early 1-0 lead over Rutgers and also scored the team’s opening goal versus Marist. Sophomore midfielder Jon Scheer recorded his first goal of the year versus Marist, giving the Hens a 2-1 advantage early in the second half. Paul Danaher and Andy Streilein picked up assists on Christie’s two goals. UD was out-shot 41-24 in the two contests, but keeper Conrad Rusnak came up with 17 saves. The Hens travel to Fordham on Friday.
DREXEL (2-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Dragons opened the season with a pair of victories at the Black & Decker Classic in Baltimore, beating Hartwick 2-1 and Fordham 3-2 in overtime. Junior midfielder Fabio Assumpcao netted the game-winning goals in both matches, finding the net in the 63rd minute versus Hartwick and putting home the golden goal versus Fordham in the 100th minute. He also had an assist over the weekend. Pat McCaffery scored the other DU goal against Hartwick and Carlos Ruthner and Nate Baker scored in the Fordham win. Senior keeper Cory Robertson made four saves against Fordham, including a stop of a penalty kick. Assumpcao, Anthony Bafile and Greg Ermold earned all-tourney honors.
GEORGE MASON (1-0-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Patriots went unbeaten at the D.C. College Cup Tournament, edging American 1-0 in overtime after tying George Washington 1-1. Sophomore forward Parker Walton’s first career goal was the game-winner versus AU as he converted a cross from senior Hugh Fike in the 94th minute. Sophomore Patrick Barthold scored Mason’s goal against GW off a corner kick from Irvin Martinez. Junior keeper Sean Kelley made one save to earn the shutout against AU and had eight saves in the tie with GW. Walton, senior Michael Vallie and sophomore Eric Zuehsow were named to the all-tournament team.
GEORGIA STATE (0-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Panthers dropped a tough 3-2 decision to ACC foe Clemson in their season opener. State jumped out to a 1-0 first-half lead as senior forward Dathan Knott tapped in a great pass from junior Stephen Minyono at the left post. The Panthers upped the advantage to 2-0 in the 53rd minute as senior Linus Warendh converted a penalty kick, but Clemson rallied with three goals in the final 12 minutes of the match. Clemson had a narrow 15-13 advantage in shots, with State keeper Filipe Carvalho making three saves. The Panthers host Presbyterian on Saturday.
HOFSTRA (0-1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Pride fought to a 2-2 draw with Stony Brook in its home opener before falling 1-0 to Villanova. Hofstra got second-half goals on headers from sophomores Demont Mitchell and Steven Ehrichs against SBU, but couldn’t hold on to the 2-0 lead. The goal was the first of Mitchell’s career. Sophomore keeper James Winters made a save on a point blank shot in overtime versus SBU and stopped six shots against Villanova. The Pride is now 21-5-4 in its last 30 home games. Hofstra hits the road for games against perennial ACC powers Virginia Tech and Virginia this weekend.
JAMES MADISON (0-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Dukes suffered a pair of setbacks at the Louisville Tournament, losing 3-0 to Butler and 1-0 to the host Cardinals. It’s only the fifth time in 41 years of JMU soccer and just the second time in 23 years under coach Tom Martin that the Dukes have opened 0-2. JMU failed to score in its first two contests for the first time since 1969. The Dukes were out-shot 15-6 by Butler, with sophomore keeper Ken Manahan making five saves. Kyle Morsink had three of the JMU’s seven shots in the setback to Louisville. The Dukes host Mount St. Mary’s and Wofford in the JMU Invitational this weekend.
UNC WILMINGTON (1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Seahawks shook off a 3-0 season-opening loss to Campbell and stunned #20 Furman 3-2 in double overtime in their home opener on Sunday. Freshman forward Matt Brown’s first collegiate goal was the game-winner against the Paladins. Sophomore defender Indy Smith gave the Seahawks a 1-0 lead on a header in the 65th minute and then set up a game-tying goal by junior Devan Carroll with just seven seconds left in regulation. UNCW improved to 7-10-2 against ranked opponents under coach Aidan Heaney and it was the Seahawks’ first home win over a nationally ranked foe since 2004. The Seahawks face Syracuse and host Hartwick at the Mayor’s Cup in Oneota, N.Y.
NORTHEASTERN (0-1-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Huskies fought to a 1-1 draw with nationally ranked Louisville before losing 2-0 to Butler at the Louisville Tournament. Senior Lewis Ehrlich scored Northeastern’s goal versus LU in the 20th minute, just 30 seconds after the Cardinals had taken a 1-0 lead. Ehrlich had eight of NU’s 11 shots over the two games. Junior keeper Scott Partridge, who missed most of last season due to injury, made eight saves against Louisville and stopped seven shots versus Butler. Ehrlich and team captain Lars Okland were both selected to the all-tournament team. NU travels to Fairfield on Saturday night.
OLD DOMINION (0-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Monarchs went winless against a tough field at the UVA Soccer Classic, losing 2-0 to #17 SMU and St. John’s. Old Dominion was without All-CAA goalkeeper Evan Newton, who fractured the head of the radius on his left elbow in an exhibition game prior to the season. Freshman Michael Roura got the start in goal and made four saves versus SMU. The Monarchs were limited to just three shots in each of the first two matches. ODU faces Elon and UNC Greensboro this weekend at the UNCG Soccer Classic.
TOWSON (0-1 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Tigers were beaten 1-0 by Fairfield in their home opener last Friday. Towson was forced to play with just 10 men for the final 75 minutes after a red card. Freshman goalkeeper John Steele made his collegiate debut and came up with five saves. Towson was out-shot 15-7 in the contest, with Kevin Ruck taking a team-high three shots. The Tigers travel to Rutgers on Wednesday before hosting rival Loyola on Sunday. It will be the 56th meeting between Towson and the Greyhounds.
VCU (0-2 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Rams took two of the nation’s top teams to the wire on the opening weekend, but fell 2-1 to #1 Wake Forest and 1-0 in overtime to #24 North Carolina. Senior goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra was outstanding, making six saves on the weekend including four versus UNC. Dykstra was named to the Nike Classic All-Tournament team along with junior midfielder Owusu Sekyere, who had five shots on goal and added an assist. Senior David Rosenbaum scored the Rams’ lone goal early in the second half versus Wake Forest, beating the keeper from 10 yards out to tie the game. VCU hosts Bryant College and Seton Hall this weekend at the Nike/Alltel Classic.
WILLIAM & MARY (1-0 overall, 0-0 in CAA):
The Tribe rallied for an impressive 2-1 victory over UNC Greensboro in their home opener last Saturday. Junior forward Andrew Hoxie made a successful return to the W&M lineup with a goal and an assist. He tied the contest at 1-1 on a penalty kick in the 42nd minute, and then sent a header off the post in the 88th minute which was volleyed into the net by sophomore Nick Orozco for the game-winner. The goal was the first of Orozco’s career. W&M improved to 5-0 in home openers under coach Chris Norris and 31-6-2 overall. The Tribe out-shot UNCG 17-4. The contest was played before a crowd of 758 at Albert-Daly Field. W&M is back at home against Campbell on Saturday.