Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
By IVES GALARCEP
Undefeated Marquette sent a strong message with last week’s win against UConn, but now they must live up to their new label as national power when they travel to the nation’s capital to take on fellow Big East power Georgetown.
Ranked No. 7 in the latest SBI Top 25, the Hoyas suffered consecutive Big East losses to UConn and Notre Dame, but regrouped recently with a win against Lehigh, and their attack has the weapons to cause problems for Marquette. The No. 3 Golden Eagles have posted seven shutouts this season and are led by 6-foot 7 centerback Axel Sjoberg. The Hoyas tandem of Brandon Allen and Andy Reimer is one of the best strike forces in the Big East and will give unbeaten Marquette all they can handle.
A pair of Atlantic 10 powers face off in Missouri, where No. 18 Saint Louis takes on streaking No. 20 VCU. The Billikens have won four of five, but their defense will face a tough challenge from a VCU attack that has scored seven goals in their past two matches. Forward Jason Johnson leads the Rams offense with eight goals, while midfielder Mario Herrera Meraz gives the team a skilled midfield threat.
Here is a rundown of this weekend’s top college matches:
WEEKEND COLLEGE SOCCER SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
Duke vs. (1) Maryland, 7pm
(8) Xavier vs. Dayton, 7pm
Air Force vs. (11) New Mexico, 9pm
San Diego State vs. (13) UCLA, 10pm
(17) Elon vs. Georgia Southern, 7pm
(18) Saint Louis vs. (20) VCU, 7pm
(21) Charlotte vs. Fordham, 7pm
(24) Washington vs. California, 6pm
Virginia Tech vs. North Carolina State, 7pm
SATURDAY
College of Charleston vs. (2) North Carolina, 7pm
Northern Illinois vs. (3) Akron, 2pm
(7) Georgetown vs. (4) Marquette, 1pm
Seton Hall vs. (6) Notre Dame, 7pm
UC-Davis vs. (10) UCSB, 6pm
UNC-Wilmington vs. (14) Old Dominion, 7pm
VMI vs. (12) Coastal Carolina, 2pm
Louisville vs. (15) St. John’s, 7pm
(19) Furman vs. Appalachian State, 7:30pm
(23) Cornell vs. Yale, 1pm
(25) Cal-State Northridge vs. UC-Riverside, 10pm
Central Arkansas vs. Creighton, 3pm
South Florida vs. Syracuse, 7:30pm
SIU-Edwardsville vs. Missouri State, 8pm
SUNDAY
Denver vs. (11) New Mexico, 3pm
(16) Northwestern vs. Ohio State, 1pm
(18) Saint Louis vs. Richmond, 1pm
(21) Charlotte vs. LaSalle, 1pm
Central Florida vs. (22) SMU, 7pm
West Virginia vs. Hartwick, 7:30pm
Penn State vs. Michigan State, 3pm
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