Photo by Syracuse Athletics
By AARON CRANFORD
The ACC’s top teams highlight this weekend’s college soccer action, and many of them are looking to rebound after losing or tying last weekend.
SBI No. 21 Virginia is now 4-2-1, after suffering a midweek loss to an undefeated Davidson side that is 4-0-2. On Saturday, the Cavaliers will visit No. 18 Syracuse, who have turned a few heads this year.
The Orange are 7-1, with their only loss coming against reigning national champion Notre Dame. Led by goalkeeper Alex Bono, Syracuse has only allowed one goal in eight games this season, falling 1-0 to the Fighting Irish.
SBI No. 10 North Carolina had a full week to mull over last week’s loss to Duke, as they did not play a midweek match. UNC heads to South Bend, Indiana, on Friday to face another tough ACC opponent, No. 10 Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ESPN3).
The Fighting Irish battled it out with Virginia on Sunday, but the two settled for a 1-1 draw. The Irish are not having the best start to their season, as their record is 3-1-2, but five out of their six matches have been decided by a goal or less.
Meanwhile, UNLV hosts No. 2 UC Irvine on Friday. The Rebels suffered a shocking loss to Gonzaga, which had not won a match this season. Salvador Bernal has led the Rebels with six goals, and will look to help the team rebound as they head into the first of three straight home matches.
Gor Kirakosyan led the 6-0-1 Anteaters last weekend, and he received Big West Offensive Player of the Week honors for his game-winning goals against Loyola Marymount and San Diego.
No. 23 Charlotte and No. 13 New Mexico meet in an intriguing Conference USA battle Friday. Charlotte is 5-1 and led by junior midfielder Dominic Bonilla, who scored two goals and provided two assists to lead the 49ers past Wofford and Campbell.
The 5-1-1 Lobos’ only loss was to No. 3 UCLA, but they must travel to the East Coast for the first time this year in order to continue their successful season.
Here is a rundown of this weekend’s top college matches:
THIS WEEKEND’S COLLEGE SOCCER SCHEDULE
FRIDAY
7:00 p.m. — (23) Charlotte vs. (13) New Mexico
7:00 p.m. — Santa Clara vs. (9) California
7:00 p.m. — (12) Stanford vs. Gonzaga
7:00 p.m. — (16) Furman vs. James Madison
7:00 p.m. — (24) Coastal Carolina vs. Elon
7:30 p.m. — (10) Notre Dame vs. (6) North Carolina
7:30 p.m. — (20) Louisville vs. Pittsburgh
10 p.m. — UNLV vs. (2) UC Irvine
10 p.m. — San Diego vs. (3) UCLA
10 p.m. — Seattle vs. Oregon State
SATURDAY
1 p.m. — Dayton vs. Ohio State
4 p.m. — Villanova vs. (19) Creighton
5:30 p.m. — Butler vs. (7) Georgetown
7 p.m. — Portland vs. (1) Washington
7 p.m. — (18) Syracuse vs. (21) Virginia
7 p.m. — (5) George Mason vs. UMBC
7 p.m. — Lehigh vs. (17) American
7 p.m. — William & Mary vs. UNC Wilmington
7:30 p.m. — Florida International vs. (22) UAB
8 p.m. — (14) Marquette vs. Providence
8:30 p.m. — (15) Saint Louis vs. Central Arkansas
SUNDAY
1 p.m. — (8) Michigan State vs. Rutgers
1:30 p.m. — (2) UC Irvine vs. Utah Valley University
2 p.m. — Michigan vs. (4) Penn State
2:30 p.m. — (11) Indiana vs. Northwestern
4 p.m. — UNLV vs. UC Riverside
8 p.m. — (3) UCLA vs. Cal State Northridge