TOP NCAA DIVISION 1 PROGRAMS TO WATCH IN 2015
By: Aaron Nielsen (@ENBSports)
Charlotte 49ers
The 49ers are regarded as a mid-major team, but bring some exciting players this season including nine returning starters led by All-American Kyle Parker. Parker is a local player that can either play in the midfield or upfront and already has 22 goals and 11 assists in his time with Charlotte. He will be helped on the offensive side by Brandt Bronico, a junior that has 8 goals and 8 assists in 38 college games. The defense is lead by Irish center back Biko Bradnock-Brennan, a player that might attract attention from MLS clubs and senior keeper Austin Pack. While sophomore Matej Dekovic is a player to watch for the future. Charlotte will play Kentucky, New Mexico, Clemson and start the season playing Coastal Carolina and Virginia, so although probably not a favourite for the national championship they will be a school making an impact during the 2015 season.
Creighton Bluejays
The Bluejays return eight starters from the 2014 team that finished 16-3-3 and won the Big East title. The club is lead by three Germans in forward Timo Pitter, defender Vincent Keller and midfielder Fabian Herbers. Pitter and Keller are both seniors and should be available in the 2016 MLS Superdraft, Herbers is the player with the most upside including a seven goal and 17 assist season prior to arriving to Creighton with VfL Rhede in the German Oberliga. Creighton also include Sporting Kansas City potential homegrown signing Eric DeJulio and 2016 MLS SuperDraft potential picks defender Brendan Hines-Ike and keeper Connor Sparrow. While Colombian Christian Blandon and Liberian Zabarle Kollie are talented players, but not being American probably hurts their MLS potential. Expect the Bluejays to challenge for the number one spot in the polls and be a favourite to win the 2015 NCAA National Championship.
Georgetown Hoyas
Georgetown are PXI’s favourites to win the 2015 NCAA Division 1 National Championship. With the talk of other players Brandon Allen has kind of been forgotten, but the New York Red Bulls homegrown player is NCAA D1 active leader in goals with 38 goals. Junior Joshua Yaro was regarded by many in the top three players in college last season while Seniors Keegan Rosenberry and Cole Seiler are potential picks in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. Future prospects include Junior winger Alex Muyl and Sophomore Arun Beuljevic, both New York Red Bulls homegrown prospects as well as San Jose Earthquakes Homegrown player and freshman JT Marcinkowski, who could be the starting keeper in 2015. Georgetown play Creighton, UCLA, Maryland, and Akron during the regular season and all must watch games.
Maryland Terrapins
The Terps still haven’t found a replacement from 2013 draft pick striker Patrick Mullins, but have a collection of exciting midfielders that should make the Terps favourites in the Big 10 and team to follow in 2015. New York Red Bulls Homegrown player Mael Corboz might be one of the most offensively gifted attacking midfielder in NCAA Division 1 for sometime, including his ability to score from free kicks with Tsubasa Endoh and Micheal Sauers being your more traditional possession midfielders. The addition of freshman DC United’s Homegrown player Jorge Calix and Real Salt Lake’s Homegrown player Amar Sejdic gives the Terps the best midfield in the country. The defense is lead by Chris Odoi-Atsem and Alex Crognale and if sophomore George Campbell proves to be a goalscorer, Maryland could return to National Championship game as they did in 2013.
North Carolina Tar Heels
The Tar Heels lost some key players including Andy Craven, Rob Lovejoy, Boyd Okwounu and Tyler Engel all 2015 MLS SuperDraft picks, but are still one of the deepest schools in the country in terms of talent. Jamaican midfielder Omar Holness will be expected to provide more of an offensive punch helped by Swedish Midfielder Raby George and sophomore Zach Wight. The defense of Jordan McCrary, Alex Olofson, Walker Hume and Jonathan Campbell should be one of the strongest back fours in the country with Campbell and Hume high draft picks with Freshman and Philadelphia Union homegrown player Sean Wilson. Its a strong ask to replace both Craven and Lovejoy upfront, but if underclassman Alan Winn and Nyambi Jabang can add some goals North Carolina should compete for the ACC Championship and the National Title.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Not as strong as the past Notre Dame teams, including the 2013 National Champions, this Notre Dame team should still challenge for the ACC and be in the picture for the national championship led by Attacking Midfielder Patrick Hoden. Hoden has 26 goals and 10 assists in 65 games with the Irish and along with seniors Connor Klekota and Evan Panken provide a core to the Irish midfield. To help with the offense the Irish are expecting a greater return from Jeffrey Farina and Jon Gallagher. The defense should also be strong as Max Lachowecki returns and will be helped by juniors Brandon Aubrey and Matt Habrowski. Notre Dame will have to replace Nick Besler, striker Vince Cicciarelli and keeper Patrick Wall and start the season with a game against Maryland but once the team gels they should be in the National Championship talk by November.
Saint Louis Billikens
Another mid-major school and a team that lost key players such as striker Robbie Kristo, Kinsgley Brice and defender Anthony Manning. However, the transfer of Evansville Midfielder Faik Hajderovic and Notre Dame Forward Vince Cicciarelli along with USSDA goal scoring sensation Nash Popovic makes the Bilikens and an exciting team to watch this season. St Louis also return German Marco Heskamp and Irishman David Graydon that along with Hajderovic should provide a very exciting offense. Defender senior Tyler David also returns and along with Max Karcher and Goalkeeper Sascha Otte should make the Billikens well rounded and favourites to win the Atlantic 10. One concern is a weak schedule, so games against Akron, Louisville and Indiana are important to improve the sides RPI for tournament time.
Stanford Cardinals
Stanford will be on the radar this season because of US National team and Seattle Sounders homegrown player Jordan Morris who decided to return to school for his junior season oppose to signing a homegrown contract. However, the Cardinals are made up of more than Morris and should compete for the PAC 12 title with UCLA and the national championship. Left-back senior Brandon Vincent should be a top five pick at the 2016 MLS SuperDraft while midfielders Ty Thompson and Eric Verso are also potential draft prospects. The club also have younger prospects that have received a lot of attention in midfielders Corey Baird and Tomas Hillard-Arce, both starting their second seasons with Stanford. Junior Andrew Epstein looks to be the starting keeper. Ironically its been Morris inability to score more goals that has hurt the Cardinals in the past, so better production from him could make Stanford a title favourite.
UCLA Bruins
After a national championship run to the finals last season, the Bruins are most preseason pick to win the championship this year based on a collection of young talent who could all have a breakout season. Greatest expectation is on sophomore forward Abu Danladi and Seyi Adekoya and when you add fellow sophomore Chase Gasper and when you add freshman forward Jackson Yueill and LA Galaxy Homegrown Malcolm Jones the Bruins are stacked. However, they also have Generation Adidas favourite Michael Amick and quality seniors in German Larry Ndjock, New Zealander Jordan Vale and Grady Howe while some rank Junior Brian Iloski the best player in the bunch. The question will be how does head coach Jorge Salcedo keep everyone happy, give minutes and put the best eleven out there when it matters.
Virginia Cavaliers
Last year champions return with a strong lineup despite losing senior Eric Bird, Ryan Zinkhan, keeper Calle Brown to graduation and the potential suspension of Darius Madison. The club will be lead by Todd Wharton and New York Red Bull homegrown prospect Scott Thomsen, both adapting well to George Gelnovatch defensive system despite also having offensive potential as well. Junior Pablo Aguilar and Sheldon Sullivan and Sophomore Jake Rozhansky are expected to play a greater role with more responsibility and should turn into potential MLS prospects this season or next. Well the return of injury of Marcus Salandy-Defour and newcomer Edward Opoku will be vital if Madison does not return to the team. Not always pretty, the Cavaliers will not be many favorites to repeat but you can never look beyond a well coach team.