The North Carolina Football Club has over 90 soccer players with ties to the club’s NCFC Youth Academy or North Carolina FC U23 team taking part in men’s college soccer this season. This week, seven college teams in the state of North Carolina are ranked or receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Division I Coaches Poll.
No. 5 UNC Builds Momentum
The No. 5 UNC Chapel Hill men’s soccer team posted a pair of victories, downing No. 10 Virginia and Winthrop during the week to extends its winning streak to seven matches. The Tar Heels took down Virginia on the road with a golden goal in overtime. Former NCFC U23 member Alan Winn scored his seventh goal of the year in the victory and was highlighted as the Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week for his play. The squad then rolled to a decisive 4-0 victory over Winthrop, as Lucas del Rosario (NCFC Youth Academy) netted a goal and an assist. Alex Comsia (NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U23), John Nelson (NCFC U23) and Jeremy Kelly (NCFC Youth Academy) have all been features in the lineup during the unbeaten run. NCAA Division I top-10 saves leader Kenneth Perkinson started in goal for Winthrop.
No. 15 UNCW Continues to Climb in National Rankings
UNC Wilmington is up to No. 15 in the latest poll. The squad most recently grinded out a 2-1 victory over William & Mary. Dylan Chain was the latest Academy graduate to get in on the action. He played in his first match of the season and helped lead the Seahawks to an important conference victory, adding an assist. In total, eight former Academy products have earned playing time for the Seahawks this year.
No. 19 Duke Upsets Syracuse, Shuts Out App. State
The No. 19 Duke men’s soccer team continues to earn big victories. The Blue Devils locked up a 2-1 win over then No. 11 Syracuse over the weekend before adding a 1-0 victory over Appalachian State this week. Former NCFC U23 player Brian White scored in both matches, while Cody Brinkman (NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U23), Colby Agu (NCFC Youth Academy) and Will Pulisic (NCFC U23) all played during the week. The Mountaineers’ lineup featured NCFC U23’s Ian Bennett.
NC State Cruises Past UNC Asheville
NC State rebounded after a midweek loss to No. 7 Notre Dame with a decisive 3-0 victory over UNC Asheville. Manny Perez (NCFC Youth Academy) recorded an assist in the win. In total, seven different players with ties to the club earned playing time. On the other side of the pitch, NCFC Academy graduates Brendan O’Dowd and Brandon Millington started for the Bulldogs.
Elon Remains Undefeated, Receives Vote in Top-25 Poll
John Walden was the only Academy product to feature last week in Elon’s 0-0 draw with James Madison. The Phoenix have earned two-consecutive 0-0 draws to extended its undefeated record to 3W-0L-5D. Additionally, Elon became the seventh college team from North Carolina to earn a vote in the national poll.
Additional Notes:
- Hank Gauger (NCFC Youth Academy) and his Wake Forest side have moved up to No. 2 in the latest poll. Wake has won six in a row and are heading into a critical part of the season, as they face No. 6 Clemson and No. 5 UNC in the next week of play.
- Charlotte’s Ryan Spaulding (NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U23) and Dean Rutherford (NCFC U23) continue to earn playing time for the 49ers. The side fought to a 2-2 draw with FIU this week and is still receiving votes in the national poll.
- Bardia Asefnia earned his third shutout of the year, as UMass took down Hartford 3-0.
- Jason McCartney had a big week with Emory, leading the Eagles with a game-winning goal in over Maryville (Tenn.) and then adding a goal and an assist in Emory’s 3-0 victory over Carthage. McCartney leads his roster with five goals and an assist through eight matches this season.
- Nacho Miras (NCFC U23) earned his first shutout of the season with Valparaiso in a 1-0 victory over IUPUI.
- Cooper Duplantis (NCFC U23) picked up an assist in VMI’s match against Howard.
- NCFC U23 members Sheriff Secka and Baboucarr Njie ignited NC Wesleyan’s attack in 7-0 and 3-0 victories over the weekend. Secka scored a brace and Njie added a goal in a 7-0 win over Huntingdon and Nije added a goal and an assist and Secka recorded a goal in a 3-0 win over Brevard.
- Steeve Pouna added another goal to his season tally with the game-winning goal for No. 7 Baker University (NAIA) over Graceland University.
*All rankings based on Sep. 26 United Soccer Coaches Poll
The North Carolina Football Club has over 90 soccer players with ties to the club’s NCFC Youth Academy or North Carolina FC U23 team taking part in men’s college soccer this season. This week, seven college teams in the state of North Carolina are ranked or receiving votes in the latest United Soccer Division I Coaches Poll.
No. 5 UNC Builds Momentum
The No. 5 UNC Chapel Hill men’s soccer team posted a pair of victories, downing No. 10 Virginia and Winthrop during the week to extends its winning streak to seven matches. The Tar Heels took down Virginia on the road with a golden goal in overtime. Former NCFC U23 member Alan Winn scored his seventh goal of the year in the victory and was highlighted as the Top Drawer Soccer National Player of the Week for his play. The squad then rolled to a decisive 4-0 victory over Winthrop, as Lucas del Rosario (NCFC Youth Academy) netted a goal and an assist. Alex Comsia (NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U23), John Nelson (NCFC U23) and Jeremy Kelly (NCFC Youth Academy) have all been features in the lineup during the unbeaten run. NCAA Division I top-10 saves leader Kenneth Perkinson started in goal for Winthrop.
No. 15 UNCW Continues to Climb in National Rankings
UNC Wilmington is up to No. 15 in the latest poll. The squad most recently grinded out a 2-1 victory over William & Mary. Dylan Chain was the latest Academy graduate to get in on the action. He played in his first match of the season and helped lead the Seahawks to an important conference victory, adding an assist. In total, eight former Academy products have earned playing time for the Seahawks this year.
No. 19 Duke Upsets Syracuse, Shuts Out App. State
The No. 19 Duke men’s soccer team continues to earn big victories. The Blue Devils locked up a 2-1 win over then No. 11 Syracuse over the weekend before adding a 1-0 victory over Appalachian State this week. Former NCFC U23 player Brian White scored in both matches, while Cody Brinkman (NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U23), Colby Agu (NCFC Youth Academy) and Will Pulisic (NCFC U23) all played during the week. The Mountaineers’ lineup featured NCFC U23’s Ian Bennett.
NC State Cruises Past UNC Asheville
NC State rebounded after a midweek loss to No. 7 Notre Dame with a decisive 3-0 victory over UNC Asheville. Manny Perez (NCFC Youth Academy) recorded an assist in the win. In total, seven different players with ties to the club earned playing time. On the other side of the pitch, NCFC Academy graduates Brendan O’Dowd and Brandon Millington started for the Bulldogs.
Elon Remains Undefeated, Receives Vote in Top-25 Poll
John Walden was the only Academy product to feature last week in Elon’s 0-0 draw with James Madison. The Phoenix have earned two-consecutive 0-0 draws to extended its undefeated record to 3W-0L-5D. Additionally, Elon became the seventh college team from North Carolina to earn a vote in the national poll.
Additional Notes:
- Hank Gauger (NCFC Youth Academy) and his Wake Forest side have moved up to No. 2 in the latest poll. Wake has won six in a row and are heading into a critical part of the season, as they face No. 6 Clemson and No. 5 UNC in the next week of play.
- Charlotte’s Ryan Spaulding (NCFC Youth Academy and NCFC U23) and Dean Rutherford (NCFC U23) continue to earn playing time for the 49ers. The side fought to a 2-2 draw with FIU this week and is still receiving votes in the national poll.
- Bardia Asefnia earned his third shutout of the year, as UMass took down Hartford 3-0.
- Jason McCartney had a big week with Emory, leading the Eagles with a game-winning goal in over Maryville (Tenn.) and then adding a goal and an assist in Emory’s 3-0 victory over Carthage. McCartney leads his roster with five goals and an assist through eight matches this season.
- Nacho Miras (NCFC U23) earned his first shutout of the season with Valparaiso in a 1-0 victory over IUPUI.
- Cooper Duplantis (NCFC U23) picked up an assist in VMI’s match against Howard.
- NCFC U23 members Sheriff Secka and Baboucarr Njie ignited NC Wesleyan’s attack in 7-0 and 3-0 victories over the weekend. Secka scored a brace and Njie added a goal in a 7-0 win over Huntingdon and Nije added a goal and an assist and Secka recorded a goal in a 3-0 win over Brevard.
- Steeve Pouna added another goal to his season tally with the game-winning goal for No. 7 Baker University (NAIA) over Graceland University.
*All rankings based on Sep. 26 United Soccer Coaches Poll
