Best of the rest

Colgate University photos

David Cappuccio
Colgate
sophomore goalkeeper
Pittsford, N.Y.

With the regular season rounding into the homestretch, David Cappuccio is yet to concede a goal in the Colgate net this season, not to mention his college career. He needed to stop a penalty kick in the second half Saturday to preserve a 0-0 draw at American in a Patriot League match, thus extending his scoreless streak to 835:55 (including 95:12 played as a freshman last season), the fifth longest such streak in NCAA Division I history. It was also the first time the Raiders ever took a standings point from AU after dropping the first six matches in the series.

In the 71st minute Saturday, Cappuccio stretched out to his right, grasped his hands together and punched away Garth Juckem's low penalty attempt, one of five saves on the afternoon. It wasn't the first time the physical sciences major stopped a key penalty kick. His saved PK led the Rochester Junior Rhinos to a youth national championship, leading to his inclusion in Sports Illustrated's "Faces In The Crowd."

In eight games this season, Cappuccio leads Division I in goals-against average (0.00) and save percentage (1.000) as the only keeper who has played the majority of his team's minutes and not given up a goal. His seven clean sheets this season are the third most for a season in Colgate history.

Note: After his selection to the honor roll, Colgate blanked Cornell Tuesday to raise the Raiders' record to 7-1-5. Cappuccio, however, di dnot play with Soug Litvack getting the call.

Wake Forest University photos

Julian Valentin
Wake Forest
junior defender
Lancaster, Pa.

While the left central back provided the steady defense that was instrumental to No. 4 Wake Forest recording a pair of road victories against nationally-ranked opponents, Julian Valentin also scored game-winners in both outings.

The English major (who has a minor in journalism) started last week in dramatic fasihon in Wednesday's meeting with then-No. 23 Connecticut. He sent the Storrs, Conn, fans home unhappy when he headed home a free kick by Ryan Solle in the 103rd minute, three minutes into a second sudden-death overtime period, to down the Huskies 1-0.

Three days later, Valentin again made the difference in another 1-0 triumph, scoring the lone goal in the 19th minute to defeat then-ninth-ranked North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Valentin has helped Wake Forest to nine shutouts on the season, two shy of the school record, while registering three goals and an assist.

Note: After Valentin's selection to the honor roll, WFU (13-2-1) recorded another clean sheet, blanking North Carolina-Greensboro to win its third straight and is 6-0-1 in its last seven games.

Honor roll

Belmont University photo

Kent Walker
Belmont
senior defender
Cincinnati

Kent Walker provided Belmont a bonus last week. While playing his usual solid defense from his right back position, the exercise science major also contributed the first two goals of his four-year college career. Both were game winners and the Bruins (7-6-2) used then for a pair of crucial Atlantic Sun Conference victories.

On Thursday, Walker punched a shot over goalkeeper Joey Sanchez for a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute en route to downing Jacksonville 2-0. Two days later, he made a long run to receive a pass and stake the Bruins to a lead in the 35th minute of a 2-0 win over North Florida.

Despite his new-found offensive prowess, Walker is still most valuable on the defensive end, helping the Bruins limit Jacksonville to five shots on goals and North Florida to only one.

Bedoya (in white) Fairleigh Dickinson University photo

Alejandro Bedoya
Fairleigh Dickinson
sophomore midfielder
Weston, Fla.

Alejandro Bedoya’s late-game heroics helped keep first-place Fairleigh Dickinson (8-3-2) undefeated in the Northeast Conference at 5-0 following a 2-1 double overtime victory over Quinnipiac Friday and a 2-0 conquest of Central Connecticut State Sunday.

Bedoya recorded two goals and an assist for the weekend, allowing the Knights to stretch their win streak to five matches.

With just 1:30 left in regulation and FDU trailing Quinnipiac by a goal, Bedoya sent a long pass into the penalty area for senior defender Donny Mayard to head home, forcing overtime. With 1:19 remaining in the second and final 10-minute sudden-death period, Bedoya found the the lower right corner of the net from just inside the 18-year-line to give FDU the 2-1 triumph.

With the Knights nursing a 1-0 lead against CCSU, Bedoya converted a feed from Samson Malijani into a breakaway tally with seven minutes left. Bedoya, who has recorded at least a goal or assist in each league game this season, is fourth in the conference in assists (5), fifth in points (14) and sixth in goals (5).

Creighton University photo

Ryan Junge
Creighton
senior defender
Omaha, Neb.

Ryan Junge continued his outstanding defensive play and chipped in his first goal of the season last week, helping 22nd-ranked Creighton (9-3-3) increase its unbeaten streak to six matches and keeping the Bluejays unbeaten (3-0-1) in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The jounalism\advertising major started the week with a stellar performance in the 1-0 victory Friday over Drake. He put the Bluejays ahead for good with a goal in the 70th minute, his unassisted shot from above the penalty area finding the top right corner of the net. When the Bulldogs countered with a late attack, it was Junge's slide tackles in his box that turned away several scoring opportunities and preserved the shutout.

Junge and his defensive mates again combined for a 1-0 shutout Sunday at Eastern Illinois. The clean sheet was Creighton's seventh of the season, lowering the team's goals-against average to 0.87.

John Reha (in white) Gonzaga University photo

John Reha
Gonzaga
junior midfielder
Tacoma, Wash.

John Reha helped lead Gonzaga (6-5-2) to a weekend sweep of a two-game set with Pacific Northwest and West Coast Conference rival Portland, posting three assists including a dramatic game-winner in each 2-1 triumph.

The business administration major assisted on both goals Friday at Portland, allowing the Bulldogs to erase a 1-0 halftime deficit with Grant Lundberg's equalizer and Tim Muravez's winner with 37 second left.

On Sunday, Gonzaga again rallied from behind, tying the match on George Josten's tally in the 84th minute. Then, nine minutes into sudden death, Reha carried down the center of the field before dropping the ball to Tye Perdido for the decisive blast.

Reha's seven assists this season are tied for third with United States World Cup veteran Brian Ching on the GU single-season list, one behind co-leaders Jeff McAllister and current assistant coach Mike Thompson. Reha had just one assist in each of his first two seasons before missing last year with an inury. After starting 0-3, the Bulldogs are now 3-3-1 in the WCC.

Towson University web site photo

Angus Burke
Towson
junior forward
Delta, B.C., Canada

Angus Burke chipped in three goals and an assist to help Towson (11-1-2) hold onto first place in the Colonial Athletic Association with league victories over William & Mary and then No. 16 Old Dominion.

On Friday night, Burke scored a goal and added an assist in the Tigers’ 3-0 triumph at William & Mary. After 19:40, he found net to give the Towson a 1-0 lead. With 8:31 remaining, he assisted on a goal by freshman Kevin Ruck for the final tally.

On Sunday afternoon, Burke scored two goals in the first half en route to a 3-1 decision over ODU, leaving the Tigers 8-0-1 in their last nine outings and 7-0-1 in the CAA. He has four goals and one assist in 2006.