One month of college soccer has passed and the picture as to who the top 5 teams are is starting to clear up.
Connecticut ranks #1 in the country. The Connecticut Huskies defeated Louisville 1-0 to improve their record to 10-0-0. The Huskies have surrendered 1 goal or less in every contest. #3 Maryland was 9-0-1 prior to defeating #2 ranked Creighton 1-0. Maryland will move up to the #2 overall spot. Forward Casey Townsend is really having a strong senior campaign after considering the possibility of going pro as a junior.
The defending National Champion Akron Zips are getting no respect from the critics. The Zips are 7-0-2 with 2 ties causing them to be ranked 3rd at this point. Akron’s next five games are a war of attrition.
The Zips open their 5 game test this season against #10 ranked UC Santa Barbara on the road. UC Santa Barbara will move up in the polls this week with #6 Indiana and #7 Louisville losing. After the UC Santa Barbara game Akron gets 3 straight home contests. Akron hosts #18 ranked conference rival Northern Illinois along with #19 ranked Penn State. Akron also hosts Hartwick in a potential trap game if the Zips look ahead to their road contest against the Michigan Wolverines.
North Carolina reclaimed a spot in the top 5 after losing to Virginia Tech when ranked the #1 team in the country. The Tar Heels should move up to the #4 ranking this week.
Nobody really wants the #5 ranking spot. Its up for grabs at this point. Creighton was 8-0-0 and ranked #2 in the country before losing to #3 Maryland 1-0. Its not like Creighton got put in their place against Maryland like Louisville did against North Carolina when the Cardinals were the preseason #1 team in college soccer. Another thing you have to account for with Creighton is that prior to the game against #3 ranked Maryland they played 8 consecutive games without allowing a goal. That feat alone is impressive which is why Creighton should get the #5 spot in the rankings even with their loss to Maryland. Below is a recap of my top 5 ranked teams in college soccer.
1. Connecticut 10-0-0
2. Maryland 10-0-1
3. Akron 7-0-2
4. North Carolina 8-1-1
5. Creighton 8-1-0
1. Montreal Impact Darren Mattocks Forward Akron Sophomore Mattocks is a franchise player and a can’t miss prospect. Mattocks has to be the clear cut #1 overall pick after his 18 goals scored during his freshman game. Despite losing 7 players to the 2011 MLS Super Draft and 2 players due to transfers with midfielder Scott Caldwell Akron’s goalie as the only returning players besides Mattocks. Mattocks has managed to step up to the plate becoming the leader for an Akron team that had 3 players drafted in the top 4 overall of the 2011 MLS Super Draft. Mattocks is my definition of a franchise player. Mattocks will be a generation adidas player and the #1 overall pick in January baring a season ending injury.
Mattocks has only generated 15 points this year with 7 goals and 1 assist which may make you think Mattocks isn’t worthy of the top pick. Mattocks has only one supporting player on offense with playmaker assist man Scott Caldwell at the midfielder spot who also has 15 points. Besides Mattocks and Caldwell who both have 15 points no one on the roster has generated more than 8 points. In fact Mattocks and Caldwell combine for 11 of Akron’s 22 goals this season along with 30 of the teams 65 points. I won’t sit here and tell Akron’s coach that Mattocks and Caldwell are the faces of the team. At the same time if you told me that Mattocks or Caldwell provided no relative impact to the Zips success then your clearly kidding yourself.
Akron won the 2010 Mens National Title in College Soccer Last Season and Mattocks scored 18 goals last season with his supporting cast.
Andrew Wenger has 11 goals, 6 assists, and 28 points in 10 games for the Duke Blue Devils. MLS Expansion teams usually build their teams around goal scoring strikers who play the forward position. Montreal may make an exception and take Wenger if he keeps his performance up. On the other hand Darren Mattocks is an exceptional prospect and one may consider him a franchise player.
2. Vancouver Whitecaps Andrew Wenger Defenseman Duke Vancouver has only tallied 29 goals this season. Defense was once the Whitecaps greatest weakness. Now Vancouver will settle for the best available player because their offense collapsed down the stretch after the Whitecaps offense generated team chemistry at certain moments during the regular season. Andrew Wenger has tallied 11 goals, 6 assists, and 28 points through 10 games. Vancouver needs a center back on defense. Wenger could give Vancouver some more explosion on both sides of the ball on offense and defense.
I dropped Wenger to 10th overall in my last mock draft because of Duke’s sluggish start in late August. Apparently Duke’s athletic department found this website and used this to motivate Wenger because he has been lights out with 11 goals, 6 assists, 28 points through 10 games for Duke so far.
Vancouver needs a center back on defense. Wenger could play that center back role and give the Whitecaps more explosion on both sides of the ball. Drafting Wenger allows the Whitecaps to kill 2 birds with one stone because they can address their offensive and defensive woes with a defensive player who displays amazing offensive ability at times.
3. New England Revolution McKauly Tulloch Forward Central Florida Sophomore McKauly Tulloch tallied an NCAA league leading 12 goals in 8 games. Tulloch transferred from Akron to Central Florida. Tulloch should be a Generation Adidas Player as long as he continues to match his numbers this season. Gyasi Zardes has tallied 11 goals in 7 games. Zardes should be a Generation Adidas Player as long as he declares.
4. Toronto FC Austin Berry Defenseman Louisville Senior Austin Berry is a top 5 defender and one of the most complete center backs from a defensive standpoint. Toronto FC has surrendered an MLS league high 56 goals. Toronto FC must draft Austin Berry to boost their defense.
5. San Jose Earthquakes Matt Lodge Midfielder Kentucky Junior Matt Lodge has 7 goals, 7 assists, and 21 points through 11 games. Earthquakes striker Chris Wondoloski has scored 12 goals this season. The Earthquakes have only scored 33 goals this season. 12 of those goals came from Wondoloski. Wondoloski could be more productive for San Jose if he had a midfielder with playmaker ability like Matt Lodge who is currently the league leader in assists while ranking in the top 5 in points generated for the 2011 College Soccer Season. Lodge could be a Generation Adidas Player in 2012 if he declares for the 2012 MLS Super Draft.
6. Chivas USA Colin Rolfe Forward Louisville Senior Rolfe has struggled so far this season with 2 goals and 3 assists racking up only 7 points so far. At the same time Rolfe is getting the hype that he is worthy of a top 5 pick. Someone will take a flyer on Rolfe in the top 10 because of his production at Louisville over the last 2 years. Chivas USA has scored 39 goals while only allowing 38 goals. I thnk Chivas USA would most likely be the team that takes a flyer on Louisville’s striker Colin Rolfe.
7. Chicago Fire Brian Holt Goalie Creighton Senior Senior goalie Brian Holt had a save percentage of 1.000 through 8 games prior to Sunday’s 1-0 loss against the #3 ranked Maryland Terrapins. Holt is a huge reason for Creighton’s success this season.
8. Portland Timbers Andrew Jean Baptiste Defenseman Connecticut Sophomore Andrew Jean Baptiste is 6 foot 2 205 pounds. Connecticut’s defense has allowed 1 goal or less in every game this season. Andrew Jean Baptiste leads Connecticut in team minutes among current starters. Connecticut is 10-0-0 and is ranked #1 overall in the country. Andrew Jean Baptiste should be a Generation Adidas Player as long as he comes out and declares in 2012.
9. DC United Casey Townsend Forward Maryland Senior Townsend was very close to declaring in 2011. Townsend would have been a Generation Adidas Player had he declared last year. Townsend has tallied 11 goals in 11 games. The DC United will be very tempted to draft the hometown prospect Casey Townsend with this pick.
10. Toronto FC from New York Red Bulls Gyasi Zardes Forward Cal State Bakersfield Sophomore Zardes has recorded 11 goals in 9 games for Cal State Bakersfield. The sophomore is playing like a top 10 pick with his performance right now.
11. Houston Dynamo Mamadou Diouf Forward Connecticut Sophomore Mamadou Diouf is the best player available. Diouf is probably one of the coolest names for a college soccer player. Diouf has recorded 6 goals in 8 games. Diouf would be a good best available player value pick with this selection. Diouf will declare either this year of next year. When Diouf comes out he should be a Generation Adidas Player.
12. Columbus Crew Will Bates Forward Virginia Junior Will Bates has recorded 9 goals, 3 assists, and 21 points this season. Bates should be a Generation Adidas Player if he declares early forgoing his senior year.
13. Philadelphia Union Sebastian Ibeagha Defender Duke Sophomore Duke uses a defense with 4 defenders and 2 center backs. Andrew Wenger and Sebastian Ibeagha are those 2 center backs. Wenger is more of a two way defender who leans towards the game of an offensive defenseman. Ibeagha is more of that blue collar defensive defender at the center back spot. If Ibeagha falls this far the Union should take a flyer on him.
14. Colorado Rapids Enzo Martinez Midfielder North Carolina Junior Enzo Martinez has tallied 6 goals, 7 assists, and 19 points through 10 games. Martinez is averaging nearly 2 points a game so far this year. The Rapids need a midfielder and Martinez is a top 15 lock who could end up going as high as #5 overall in January.
15. FC Dallas Tyler Riggs Forward Kentucky Sophomore As of September 26th, 2011 only 6 players in college soccer have tallied a total of 20 points or more. Tyler Riggs is one of those 6 players. Riggs leads Kentucky with 9 goals, 4 assists, and 22 points. Riggs would provide a serviceable depth role for FC Dallas. Riggs could work his way into the starting lineup.
16. Real Salt Lake Ethan Finlay Forward Creighton Senior Ethan Finaly has recorded 6 goals, 4 assists, and 16 points in his senior campaign. Finlay is playing like a late first round pick at this point.
17. Seattle Sounders Dillon Powers Defenseman Notre Dame Senior Dillon Powers has the ability to be effective as a defensive midfielder. Powers is the best player available at this point and he would be an ideal fit for the Seattle Sounders.
18. Sporting Kansas City Aaron Maund Defenseman Notre Dame Senior Aaron Maund is a center back for Notre Dame. Maund has played more minutes than anyone else on Notre Dame’s roster at this point in the season.
Sporting Kansas City has the forwards and midfielders to post a deadly offense for years to come. All that is left for Sporting Kansas City is to plug the defensive pieces in place. Once Sporting Kansas City does this they will emerge as a juggernaut in the Eastern Conference.
19. Los Angeles Galaxy Luigi Clendening Midfielder Georgia Southern Senior Just to clear things up were talking about Luigi Clendening from Georgia Southern not Luigi from Super Mario Strikers. Don’t get me wrong Nintendo fans Super Mario Strikers is an epic game if you ever played it for Nintendo Gamecube growing up.
Luigi Clendening has scored 9 goals, 4 assists, and 22 points for Georgia Southern. Luigi Clendening can play forward or midfielder. He has no true position in the pros and there are questions about his 5 foot 6 142 pound size. There are other questions about why he went to Georgia Southern rather than another school. Scouts may try to pick apart these flaws in Clendening’s game during the interview process in a few months. The LA Galaxy could always use a developmental role player who could step in for Donovan or Beckham down the road so Bruce Arena may take a flyer on Celdnening.
