Welcome back to MLS On Campus, our weekly look at the goings-on in the college game. Every Monday, we'll give you the week's best highlight, the standout players, which games to watch in the week ahead and, of course, our national Top 10 list.
After all, the SuperDraft is only a few months away...
Big Men on Campus
New Mexico freshman Ben McKendry – The Vancouver Whitecaps Academy graduate and Canadian youth international had a monster weekend off the bench for New Mexico, scoring his first collegiate goal, a 66th-minute game-winner on Friday night vs. Dartmouth. He followed that up with a 109th-minute corner, headed in by Carson Baldinger in the Lobos' overtime victory over UC Irvine on Sunday.
NC State junior Alex Martinez – The Wolfpack may have seen their undefeated record go up in smoke in a 3-2 loss to Maryland, but it wasn’t for lack of quality from Martinez. The younger brother of RSL Generation adidas midfielder Enzo Martinez, the midfielder scored a fantastic opening goal against Maryland while earning and scoring a penalty kick in the second half. Martinez has seven goals and four assists through seven games, and could very well follow his older brother to MLS sooner than later.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Last </strong> |
<strong>College</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>Maryland<br><span style="font-size:12px;">(5-0-1)</span></strong></span> |
<p>The undefeated Terps are scoring goals for fun these days. Six goals in two games last week saw off UMBC and previously undefeated NC State to earn Maryland the top spot. Junior Patrick Mullins is making his case for a Generation adidas spot with two goals and six assists in his left-sided forward position while Zimbabwean freshman Schillo Tshuma is tied for the team lead with four strikes. </p> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center; ">Notre Dame<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(7-0-0)</span></strong> |
<p>The Irish are for real. Senior Ryan Finley, a projected first-round 2013 SuperDraft pick, struck the game-winner in overtime on Sunday at Michigan to keep Notre Dame’s record a perfect 7-0-0. Senior two-way midfielder Dillon Powers’ stock has to be soaring as well with two goals and two assists on the young season. </p> |
<strong>3</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/red-arrow-down2_0.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>1</strong> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center; ">North Carolina<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(4-1-1)</span></strong> |
<p>The Tar Heels wobbled a bit last week due to problems in front of goal. UNC lost their first game in almost a year, dropping a 1-0 result at James Madison in their first road game of the season before a scoreless draw on Friday night against Wake Forest. The only thing that can stop UNC this year will be scoring, as their defense has allowed just two goals in six games. </p> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">Akron<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(4-1-2)</span></strong> |
<p>A young Zips squad, playing without a couple of their major pieces, scuffled to a scoreless draw on Fox Soccer on Friday night against a good St. John’s side. However, with junior midfielder Aodhan Quinn back in the lineup on Sunday – as well as a likely verbal kick in the pants from coach Caleb Porter – Akron showed their amazing potential in throttling a Top 25 South Florida side 5-0. </p> |
<strong>5</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>6</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">New Mexico<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(5-1-0)</span></strong> |
<p>The Lobos have struggled to replicate their smothering defensive performances of 2011 in this young season, but the fact remains that they’re still winning. McKendry, a bright, young Canadian talent, scored the game winner in a 3-2 victory over Dartmouth on Friday.</p> |
<strong>6</strong> |
<img alt="" height="40" src="//league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" width="40"> |
<strong>2</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">Creighton<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(5-1-1)</span></strong> |
<p>Senior Jose Gomez, a potential early-round 2013 SuperDraft prospect, tallied in the first half for the Blue Jays, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the unbeaten Old Dominion Monarchs on Friday night in front of nearly 7,000 in Omaha. Losing that marquee game on Friday will hurt their perception with a relatively easy conference schedule remaining.</p> |
<strong>7</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<strong>NR</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">Old Dominion<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(6-0-0)</span></strong> |
<p>The best win of last weekend goes to the Monarchs of Old Dominion. They toppled previously undefeated Creighton at a packed house in Omaha to prove their spotless record is no fluke. </p> |
<strong>8</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>9</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">UCSB<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(5-0-1)</span></strong> |
<p>The Gauchos beat up on some lesser competition this weekend with wins at San Diego and Seattle, scoring nine goals in two matches. Look out for Frenchman Achille Campion. The junior forward joined the Gauchos this season after a prolific 2011 at NAIA school Belhaven and has five goals in six matches this year. </p> |
<strong>9</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>10</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">UConn<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(5-0-1)</span></strong> |
<p>The Huskies traveled to Boston this weekend, dispatching of Harvard 6-0 behind a double from prolific junior forward Mamadou Doudou Diouf. The Senegalese forward celebrated his 20th birthday with a pair of goals and looks to be as much of a lock as almost any forward in college soccer for a Generation adidas contract this winter.</p> |
<strong>10</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/arrow-up-with-shadow_1.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px; "> |
<strong>NR</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">Georgetown<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(7-0-1)</span></strong> |
<p>The Hoyas kept their unbeaten record through eight games beating up on Ivy League opposition. Ten of their 12 goals have come from their dynamic duo, Andy Riemer and Brandon Allen. Riemer scored all three goals in the 3-1 defeat of Penn to give him five goals on the year while New York Red Bulls product Brandon Allen scored the game-winner against Princeton to move the rookie to five goals on the year. </p> |
Highlight of the Week
Check out Martinez’s double in a losing effort against Maryland on Friday night including a sensational opening goal. If you’re a Terrapin fan, don’t complain to us that they didn’t include the three Maryland goals.
What to Watch For:
No. 1 Maryland at No. 7 Old Dominion (Tuesday, 7 pm ET, Fox Soccer)
What a match we have against two undefeated sides. ODU proved they were for real in their win over Creighton last weekend and they’ll have the opportunity to move into this year’s NCAA elite if they can grab a result at home in Norfolk against the No. 1 team in the country.
UCLA vs No. 8 UC Santa Barbara (Friday, 8 pm ET, Fox Soccer)
Games between UCLA and UCSB are can’t-miss no matter how good the teams are. But with one loss combined between the two sides this season, Friday night’s match at Harder Stadium will be one to watch.
