|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|
SoccerTimes.com
Notre Dame junior forward Lake Charles, La. A week after he was named to the "Best of the Rest" category, Joseph Lapira is the SoccerTimes.com "Player of the Week" for the second time this season. He is the only repeat member of the weekly honor roll and for good reason -- he has become a virtual scoring machine and a key reason Notre Dame soccer success is in ascendancy. Lapira had four goals and an assist last week in two ND road victories, raising his NCAA Division I -leading totals to 17 goals and 36 points while the No. 12 Irish (9-3-2) won their fifth straight.
Three days later, Lapira made it four straight two-goal games in a 4-1 triumph over Georgetown. With the score even at 1-1, Lapira converted a cross from Justin Morrow for a 2-1 lead at intermission, then broke the game open with an another unassisted strike followed by the only assist on Greg Dalby's goal. Note: Since his selection to this honor roll, Lapira raised his totals to 18 goals and 38 points by scoring the Irish's final tally on a breakaway in a 3-0 win at home over Michigan State, giving Notre Dame a 10-3-2 record and six straight victories. Best of the rest
George Mason freshman goalkeeper Lexington, Ky. Standing 6-foot-4, Sean Kelley came up big in two games for George Mason with 19 saves, allowing the Patriots (10-2) to run their winning streak to nine with a pair of 1-0 Colonial Athletic Association home victories over Delaware and Drexel. Kelley made eight saves in holding off Delaware Friday and bettered that with 11 stops in the meeting with Drexel.
The Patriots' win streak is only the third of that length in GMU history and first since 1998. In those nine games, Kelley conceded only three goals as the Patriots assured their first winning season in three years and second in eight under second-year coach Greg Andrulis. For his efforts, the marketing major received the disticntion of being included in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of this week's Sports Illustrated.
San Francisco junior defender Cave Creek, Ariz. The talented and determined performances of players such as co-captain Rob Valentino has 15th-ranked San Francisco fans dreaming of a return to the glory days of the 1960s and '70s when the Dons captured four NCAA championships under legendary Stephen Negoesco. Last week, Valentino was his usual tenacious self on defense, while he also contributed the game-winning assists in a pair of West Coast Conference triumphs away from home.
In Friday's 1-0 nail-biter over Loyola Marymount, Valentino, the 2005 WCC "Defensive Player of the Year" headed Matt Languis' corner kick across the penalty area for Chris Rodd to knock in from short range with 19:38 remaining. Two days later, Valentino fed an open Brandon McDonald who tucked a dipping 25-yard blast into the right corner of the net in the 58th minute to give USF a 2-1 drcision over San Diego. Valentino brings the wholde package to the Dons. He is dominant in the air, composed on the ball and known for his high work rate. Honor roll
Coastal Carolina junior midfielder Grand Rapids, Mich. Kevin Van Den Berg found net four times last week for Coastal Carolina (6-6-2), which split a pair of games last week. Van Den Berg was at his best in Tuesday's 3-2 triumph over College of Charleston by scoring three times -- his first career hat trick -- each time giving the Chanticleers a lead. The double major in business management and finance, who maintains a 3.86 (of 4) grade-point average while matriculating in the honors Wall Fellows Program, also added a tally Saturday, but it was of little help in a disappointing 5-2 Big South setback to Radford. Van Den Berg, who has six goals on the season, is a target player, but has demonstrated an ability to bring others into the attack. Coach Shaun Docking has also counted on Ven Den Berg's leadership qualities, which has helped develop the younger players.
Hartwick senior midfielder London, Ont., Canada Tyler Hemming struck four times and added an assist for Hartwick which rolled to a pair of shutout victories at home. The Hawks (6-6-2) opened last week by blanking Colgate 2-0 Tuesday with Hemming's tally the decisive one. The sports management major made a long run and slipped behind the Raiders defense to receive a perfect ball from defender Adam Mitchinson, who was behind the midfield stripe. Hemming chipped his shot over keeper Doug Litvack from 18 yards out. Four days later, Howard didn't stand a chance against Hemming's onslaught and Hartwick prevailed 6-0 in an Atlantic Soccer Conference meeting. Hemming, last year's ASC "Player of the Year" assisted Chris Jackson's winning tally in the the fifth minute with a well-placed cross from the right touchline, then scored his three goals, all on headers off set plays.
Monmouth senior forward-midfielder Hamilton, New Zealand Steven Holloway scored three goals in Monmouth's three games last week with two demonstrating a flair for the dramatic as the Hawks (8-3-2, 3-0-1 in league) compiled a 2-0-1 record in conference games and climbed into first place in the Northeast Conference. The communications major, who has a goal in each of Monmouth's last five outings, started his week Monday by netting the game-winner in sudden death to defeat Central Connecticut State 2-1. On Friday, Holloway nailed a free kick from 25 yards with 1.7 second remaining in regulation for a 1-1 tie with Saint Francis (Pa.) for a result that stood through extra time. Two days later, he nodded home a cross from Tom Gray in the 11th minute to stake the Hawks to an early advantage in a 3-1 win over Robert Morris. Holloway leads the conference in goals with 11 and points with 25 while the Hawks stretched their unbeaten streak in league play to 14, dating back to 2004.
Stanford senior midfielder-defender Denver Galen Thompson helped Stanford to a road sweep of Pac-10 opponents last weekend, shutting out then-No. 10 Washington and Oregon State, both by 2-0 counts. After the league's coaches picked the Cardinal to finish last in their preseason poll, suddenly Stanford (5-4-3) is first in the conference at 3-0-1. In the two matches, Thompson scored two goals and two assists while providing defense from the midfield. Against UW Friday, he first provided an assist to Dan Shapiro's goal in the first half, then added an unassisted tally of his own after the break. Two days later, Thompson put Stanford ahead of Oregon with his third goal of the season, then added a second-half assist on Bret Shimizu's tally. Thompson leads the Cardinal in shots (21) and shots on goal (12), as well as total points (9), while being tied for the lead in both goals (3) and assists (3).
New Mexico junior forward Dunedin, New Zealand Andrew Boyens keyed the defense for No. 19 New Mexico (8-3-2), which turned in a pair of shutouts over the weekend by downing Mountain Pacific Sports Federation foes San Jose State 2-0 and Sacramento State 1-0 in overtime. The Lobos were 12th in NCAA Division I with a 0.59 goals-against average, leading the MPSF in that category, as well as with their seven shutouts. 2006 Players of the Week and Honor Rolls September 25 - October 1
|
| Home | MLS | U.S. Teams | World Cup | International | NCAA | Youth | Links | Whos Who | Talk Back | Archives | Op/Ed | Almanac | U.S. Pro Leagues | Site Map |