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
Georgetown freshman Brandon Allen – The Hoyas are one of the stories of the young NCAA season and they’re led offensively by this big freshman forward from the New York Red Bulls Academy. With 27 goals in 28 games at academy level last season, it’s no surprise Allen (above) has transitioned into the college game seamlessly.
The New Jersey native has eight goals and two assists in eleven games and has the game-winners in both of the Hoyas' Big East conference wins. He’s also the younger brother of 2012 Chivas USA draft pick R.J. Allen.
Maryland senior London Woodberry –Coming into this weekend, the FC Dallas Academy graduate had just one goal in more than 60 NCAA games. But he stepped up when his team needed him most, scoring two goals in Maryland’s 3-2 road win over College of Charleston. Woodberry’s 84th-minute game-winner extended the Terrapins' winning streak to seven games while FCD likely wait in the wings with a Homegrown contract offer this winter.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Last </strong> |
<strong>College</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
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<strong>2</strong> |
<span style="font-size:16px;"><strong>UConn<br><span style="font-size:12px;">(9-0-1)</span></strong></span> |
<p>The Huskies take over the top spot by virtue of their 2-1 win over Notre Dame, giving the Fighting Irish just their second loss of the season. The story again is senior playmaker Carlos Alvarez, who had a goal and three assists in two games this week to up his season total to five goals and six assists in 10 games. His stock is rising every time he steps on the field. </p> |
<strong>2</strong> |
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<strong>1</strong> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center; ">Maryland<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(8-0-1)</span></strong> |
<p>The Terps needed a late goal from Woodberry, their backline leader, to escape a tricky away trip to College of Charleston. Charleston are no pushovers, but that was cutting it too close for comfort – especially considering Maryland's surfeit of talent. It still may be a bit harsh to drop them from the top spot, but style points matter in college soccer. </p> |
<strong>3</strong> |
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<strong>4</strong> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center; ">Akron<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(6-1-2)</span></strong> |
<p>Caleb Porter’s boys are coming into dominant form, having won their last three games by a combined score of 11-0 while currently in the midst of a four-game shutout streak. The Columbus Crew must be looking forward to the end of the NCAA season to ink senior defender Chad Barson to a Homegrown deal. </p> |
<strong>4</strong> |
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<b>3</b> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">UNC<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(7-1-1)</span></strong> |
<p>The Tar Heels survived two tricky games this week, winning both in overtime. But the fact remains that UNC has a goalscoring problem, even with senior attacker Cameron Brown working his way back into the MLS radar after missing two years with a variety of injuries. Chances are an MLS side will take a chance on him come draft time, but he could help his cause with a few timely goals. </p> |
<strong>5</strong> |
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<strong>9</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">Georgetown<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(10-0-1)</span></strong> |
<p>The Hoyas scored two impressive road wins this past weekend behind two solid performances from junior midfielder Steve Neumann. The First Team All-Big East selection from a year ago had a goal and two assists in their 3-1 win over Pittsburgh, and there's reason to think he'll have serious Generation adidas interest.</p> |
<strong>6</strong> |
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<strong>8</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">UCLA<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(7-1-2)</span></strong> |
<p>The Bruins impressively rolled through their opening weekend of Pac-12 play with 3-1 wins at Stanford and Cal. The balanced UCLA attack has four players with at least three goals and six players with at least two assists – no surprise from a team that tries to keep the ball on the ground and get everyone involved. That draw at Maryland earlier in the year is looking better and better, too.</p> |
<strong>7</strong> |
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<strong>6</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">New Mexico<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(8-1-0)</span></strong> |
<p>The Lobos opened conference play with a tenuous 2-1 road win over a poor Houston Baptist team. It could be forgiven though, as weather forced them to play at 7 am local, and what college kid is going to be productive that early on a Sunday? The big question for them is will their light MPSF schedule help prepare for Tournament time? </p> |
<strong>8</strong> |
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<strong>5</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">Notre Dame<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(8-2-0)</span></strong> |
<p>The Irish dropped a close result at No. 1 UConn, fighting back and nearly finding the equalizer in the second half. But a 1-0 win at a good Indiana team in the middle of the week showed their strength. They'll need all of it once again as Georgetown comes to visit South Bend this weekend. </p> |
<strong>9</strong> |
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<strong>10</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">Marquette<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(10-0-0)</span></strong> |
<p>Are the Golden Eagles the real deal? At a perfect 10-0-0, they boast the best record in the country, but their non-conference schedule isn’t up to par with many other Big East teams – which explains why they're at the tail end of the top 10. They’ll have their chance to prove their merits this weekend – more on that below.</p> |
<strong>10</strong> |
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<strong>7</strong> |
<strong style="text-align: center; font-size: 16px; ">UCSB<br><span style="font-size: 12px; ">(7-0-3)</span></strong> |
<p>The Gauchos were shut out for the first time this season on Sunday at Cal State Fullerton, but remain undefeated on the year. Once junior forward Achille Campion, with six goals in his first seven games, returns from injury, UCSB will be fine. They tend to fly below the radar until tournament time comes, anyway. </p> |
Highlight of the Week
The UCSB video department takes you on a cool look at the sights and sounds of UCSB vs. UCLA, one of the biggest games in the NCAA schedule every year.
Old Dominion has one of the most offensively electrifying teams in the country with multiple MLS prospects on a side that has scored 25 goals in eight games. Check out the highlights from their 3-2 win over George Mason last Friday night.
What to Watch For:
No. 1 UConn at No. 9 Marquette (Saturday, 8 pm ET)
No one can improve their stock in the NCAA scene more than the Golden Eagles this weekend. Led by gigantic 6-foot-7 Swedish defender Axel SjÓ§berg, Marqueete welcome the UConn steamroller into town on Saturday night.
Oregon State vs. No. 6 UCLA (Friday, 6 pm ET, Pac-12 Network)
The Beavers have flown under the radar most of the season, but bring a talented squad to UCLA for a Friday night game on national TV. Look out for senior Canadian forward Emery Welshman, who scored a hat trick two weekends ago and has six goals on the season. He could look pretty tempting to one of the Canadian MLS sides come draft day. And UCLA, as always, are stacked.
