USL College Round-Up
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Babayele Sodade has had a standout season for the University of Alabama-Birmingham, but the Michigan Bucks forward achieved national recognition this week as he was named the College Soccer News Player of the Week, leading the USL PDL alumni honored by their conferences and national publications.
Sodade had three goals and an assist in the Blazers’ two games this week, scoring the only goal in their 1-0 victory against Memphis. He then had a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in a thrilling 3-2 win on the road against Marshall, picking up the Conference USA Player of the Week award as well. Sodade now has 11 goals and five assists this season, both team highs, helping the Blazers to a five-game undefeated streak that has seen them win their 10th game of the season.
Thanks to Sodade, the Blazers are also getting national recognition. With a 10-3-2 record, and 4-1-0 in Conference USA, they now sit No.14 in the NCAA RPI poll. They also sit just outside the NSCAA and College Soccer News Top 25s, trailing only South Carolina in the conference standings ahead of their crucial game with SMU tonight.
Davidson’s Chip Sanders was also nationally recognized, with the Baton Rouge Capitals goalkeeper taking the NSCAA Player of the Week award after recording a pair of seven-save shutouts. Davidson was outstanding as he shut out then No.2 North Carolina, allowing the Wildcats to earn a 1-0 overtime victory.
Sanders also earned the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week honors, recording his eighth shutout of the season in a 1-0 victory against Wofford.
ATLANTIC COAST
Boston College’s Charlie Rugg was named the ACC Player of the Week after playing a role in both of the Eagles’ game-winning goals this past week. Rugg, who played this summer for the MPS Portland Phoenix, assisted on Kyle Bekker’s goal in BC’s 1-0 victory against Boston University before scoring the overtime game-winner for the Eagles in a 2-1 win against ACC rival Duke.
Rugg is currently tied with Bekker for the team lead in both goals and assists, both players having seven and five respectively, as the Eagles have pushed their way up the rankings in recent weeks. BC is now ranked No.12 in the NCAA RPI rankings and No.13 in the NSCAA Coaches Poll.
BIG EAST
Providence’s Marc Cintron was named the Big East Offensive Player of the Week after the junior midfielder had a hand in all three of the Friars’ goals as they went 2-0 in conference play. Cintron provided the assist in a 1-0 victory against Pittsburgh before scoring twice in a 2-1 victory against West Virginia.
PAC-12
San Diego State forward Miles Byass won the Pac-12 Player of the Week award for the second time this season as the Portland Timbers U-23s standout recorded a goal in the Aztecs’ 2-1 victory against Michigan last week. Byass had six goals and an assist during the summer in Portland, and now leads SDSU with five goals and five assists in the fall. The sophomore ranks in the top five in the Pac-12 in points, goals and assists.
ATLANTIC SUN
Stetson’s Jonathan Mendoza was named the Atlantic Sun Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after the Central Florida Kraze standout scored game-winning goals for the Hatters against both Lipscomb and Belmont. The 2011 PDL All-League selection leads the Hatters with nine goals and 22 points this season.
Mendoza was joined in being honored by Stetson teammate Luis Ocejo, who was named the Defensive Player of the Week. The IMG Bradenton Academics defender held the former top two scorers, Belmont’s Brandon Tarr and Lipscomb’s Garrett Pettis, in the Atlantic Sun scoreless, and in fact without a shot on goal, during the weekend.
COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Reading United forward Evans Frimpong was named the CAA’s Co-Player of the Week after the Delaware senior had two goals and an assist in the Blue Hens’ two victories this past week. Frimpong had both goals in a 2-0 victory against William and Mary and then added an assist on the Blue Hens’ game-winning overtime goal in a 2-1 win against George Mason. Frimpong leads Delaware with 11 goals this season, making him the first Blue Hen with double-digit goals since 2004.
Joining Frimpong in being honored as Co-Player of the Week was former D.C United Super-20 goalkeeper Justin Epperson after recording back-to-back shutouts for James Madison in road victories against William and Mary and Georgia State. The Dukes are now ranked No.6 in the NCAA RPI Rankings and face a huge game against No.7 Old Dominion tonight that will see the winner take the lead in the CAA standings.
HORIZON LEAGUE
Former Des Moines Menace goalkeeper Kyle Zobeck was named the Horizon League’s Player of the Week after the senior recorded a pair of shutouts for Valparaiso. Zobeck now has eight shutouts this season, a school record, after a pair of 2-0 victories against IPFW and Milwaukee.
METRO ATLANTIC
Niagara’s Carl Haworth was named the MAAC Offensive Player of the Week after the FC London standout recorded two goals and an assist in a pair of games. Haworth scored twice in Niagara’s 3-0 victory against Rider before providing an assist in a 1-1 draw with Loyola.
MISSOURI VALLEY
Drake midfielder Matt Kuhn won the MVC Offensive Player of the Week award after becoming the Bulldogs’ all-time assists leader with 23. A former player for the Des Moines Menace, Kuhn had an assist in both of Drake’s games this past week, while also notching his team-high ninth goal of the season in a 2-0 win against SIU-Edwardsville.
Kuhn was joined in the MVC’s weekly honors by Chicago Fire Premier and Des Moines Menace alum Andrew Duran, who took the Defensive Player of the Week honors after a pair of strong performances for Creighton. The Bluejays, who are currently ranked No.3 in the NCAA RPI Rankings, recorded another pair of shutouts this past week, taking a pair of 1-0 road victories against Bradley and SIU-Edwardsville.