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 highlights, 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
Maryland senior forward Patrick Mullins – Maryland’s two draws this past week – 1-1 to Notre Dame and 3-3 to Virginia – prove that they still haven’t really gotten it right on defense. But they will remain in national title contention if Patrick Mullins (above, center) has anything to do about it.
Despite the Terrapins' up-and-down season, the reigning Hermann Trophy winner has still bagged himself eight goals and four assists to lead the team. A lot of that has to do with his performance this week, scoring the equalizer against the Fighting Irish while putting a brace in against the Cavaliers, and adding an assist just for fun. When you are responsible for every single one of your team’s goals for the week, you’ve had a good week.
Army junior goalkeeper Winston Boldt – Army aren’t going to be at the College Cup this year. Of that we are almost certain. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t have good players, and with that in mind, it’s time to give some love to Winston Boldt.
Army improved to 4-0 in the Patriot League this weekend with back-to-back 1-0 wins against Colgate and Loyola, and Boldt registered five saves in each contest. In 11 games this season, the 6-foot-3 ‘keeper has nine shutouts, 51 total saves and a 0.43 goals allowed average.
<strong>Rank</strong> |
<strong>Trending</strong> |
<strong>Last</strong> |
<strong>College</strong> |
<strong>Comment</strong> |
<strong>1</strong> |
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<b>2</b> |
<p class="rtecenter"><strong style="font-size: 16px;">California</strong><br><span style="font-size: 16px;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">(9-0-3)</span></strong></span></p> |
<p>Maryland. Georgetown. Washington. UCLA. Those are the Top 10 teams the Golden Bears have faced this season, and after a 3-2 overtime win over the Bruins on Sunday at Drake Stadium, Cal are now 3-0-1 in those games. In a season defined by wacky results and inconsistent performances, there is no question that they are the best team in the country.</p> |
<strong>2</strong> |
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<b>1</b> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Notre Dame<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(7-0-4)</span></strong> |
<p>Notre Dame missed out on a big opportunity against No. 5 Maryland on Tuesday, finishing with a 1-1 draw, but the Irish rebounded nicely on Friday with a 1-0 win in Blacksburg over Virginia Tech. It’s astounding that they've gone through the schedule that they’ve had and haven’t lost yet.</p> |
<strong>3</strong> |
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<b>3</b> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Washington<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(8-0-3)</span></strong> |
<p>The Huskies had a light week, with just one game against non-conference Seattle. Sophomore forward Josh Heard was the hero, scoring a brace in a 2-0 result. Washington have to wait until Oct. 21 to face another ranked opponent, but they’ve already done more than enough to prove their quality.</p> |
<strong>4</strong> |
<img alt="" src="https://league-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/mp6/straight-line.png" style="width: 40px; height: 40px;"> |
<b>4</b> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">UCLA<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(7-3-1)</span></strong> |
<p>Yeah, UCLA lost. To the best team in the country. It’s safe to say that the Bruins are no longer the favorites to win the Pac-12, but we’re talking about maybe the best conference in college soccer. The Bruins also beat an inconsistent but talented Stanford team this week. Add it all up, it’s good enough to hold steady at No. 4.</p> |
<strong>5</strong> |
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<b>8</b> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Maryland<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(5-2-5)</span></strong> |
<p>Strange as it is to say for a team with the reigning Hermann winner, but Maryland were probably underdogs heading into their Tuesday game with Notre Dame, so the draw is a good result. Maryland finished off their road trip with a 3-3 tie against Virginia. The Terps are still inconsistent, but things are starting to click.</p> |
<strong>6</strong> |
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<b>5</b> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Creighton<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(7-3-2)</span></strong> |
<p>They got their week started with a fairly routine 2-0 win over Xavier, but then got upset by Marquette on the road. On the one hand, it’s not a great result against the wildly inconsistent Golden Eagles. On the other, Marquette had themselves a week, beating No. 21 Butler and then the Bluejays. Creighton are a flawed team, but it’s too early to give up on them yet.</p> |
<strong>7</strong> |
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<b>6</b> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Cal State Northridge<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(11-2-0)</span></strong> |
<p>The Matadors fell into a trap at the start of their week, losing to a talented UCSB side on a penalty with eight seconds remaining in the first OT period. They rebounded on Sunday by blowing out Cal Poly 3-1.</p> |
<strong>8</strong> |
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<b>(NR)</b> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Wake Forest<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(6-2-4)</span></strong> |
<p>After losing two of their first five games this season, the Demon Deacons have gotten on something of a roll. Wake are unbeaten in their last seven games, and came out of this week’s action with a 2-2 draw against NC State in Raleigh before returning home and drawing 1-1 with No. 17 Clemson. The Deacs are now tied on points at the top of the ACC with Notre Dame and Maryland.</p> |
<strong>9</strong> |
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<strong>7</strong> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Georgetown<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(9-3-1)</span></strong> |
<p>Sort of a letdown for the Hoyas a week after winning their first conference game 8-0. Georgetown started off their road trip on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over conference rival No. 25 Providence. Then they went and lost to Xavier. They have a chance to shore up their credentials with a Big East showdown with Butler on Saturday.</p> |
<strong>10</strong> |
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<strong>(NR)</strong> |
<strong style="font-size: 16px;">Coastal Carolina<br><span style="font-size: 12px;">(9-2-0)</span></strong> |
<p>Beating the College of Charleston (2-9-0) and VMI (1-9-1) in the same week is not a spectacular accomplishment, but those two victories ran the Chanticleers’ win streak to eight. Over that stretch, CCU have allowed just four goals and posted five shutouts. The Chants only really tough game remaining is at Elon on Oct. 29, but they are a perfect 4-0 in Big South play, and are likely a shoo-in for the NCAA tournament.</p> |
Highlights
It took all of 32 seconds into overtime for Cal junior striker Stefano Bonomo to put away the game against UCLA. Here’s the video of the goal, along with the other four scored in the 3-2 win for the Golden Bears.
Indiana’s championship hangover continued this weekend with a loss on Friday to Wisconsin in Madison. The Badgers were down 3-1 with 72 minutes gone before storming back to win 4-3. You can see the winner, scored in the 85th minute by junior defender A.J. Cochran, here.
What to Watch for:
California vs. Stanford, Sunday, 5:30 pm ET (Pac-12 Network)
They don’t give out the Axe for this one, but Cal vs. Stanford is a big game no matter what the sport. With the Golden Bears sitting pretty at No. 1 in the country, the stakes are huge: Cal need a win over Stanford to keep their spot, and the Cardinal can wreak havoc on the national standings – and their rivals' Pac-12 prospects – if they come out on top.
Michigan State vs. Penn State, Sunday, 2:30 pm ET (Big Ten Digital Network)
Don’t look now, but Penn State are 3-0 in Big Ten play and have beaten Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan by a combined score of 8-2. The Spartans, on the other hand, are still jockeying for national attention despite beating Northwestern in Evanston and drawing Creighton in Omaha. A win for either team would likely shoot them up the rankings.
