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TDS Ranking out next week!!!! http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...nt-ranking/men/

Where did you hear that?? BTW -- the idea that David Mayer is a very good player should not come as any surprise, if you know he started for Wigan's Academy team (U19 I guess). As someone over at BigSoccer boards shouted out -- get him a Green Card fast, the USA needs a left back BAD. Z.I.P., Mayer looked really skinny to me. Good, but scrawny. Cristian Arboleda is already 22, a grown man. What is this business about Holmes having to miss 7 games? I do not believe it. Why would he transfer here knowing that beforehand? Maybe he did not know this would happen. I think it has to do with now being at a D1 NCAA school vs his previous NAIA (which it did not matter). Needless to say, he will get quality minutes and more than likely start once he returns from suspension. He was probably willing to take the suspension knowing he would get half a season and postseason to make his MLS/Pro statement. That is a huge blow to our title hopes! Holmes is a fine player. I do not buy your theory. Another season as NAIA POTY is more marketable than 1/2 season of @ NCAA Champs. Pro scouts do not care where the players are; they will find the talent. Look at all the players on the USMNT without any collegiate experience whatsoever. If this was an oversight, then it was a big one. Somebody did not do their homework. Very UN-Porter! I guess that moves Chiu into starting 11. Maybe Chiu... as Akiel Barrett is more of an unknown commodity at this point... but it wouldn't surprise me to see another Jamaican (Barrett) in the lineup... But... let's hope that Holmes is not suspended... can't find any info on that. Holmes looks like a leader out there. Hope to get to another practice this weekend.

Oh and I have to disagree with Dagillis or Balogun on the the backline. I still think it'll be Mayer-Barson-Gallego-Yedlin. We saw Balogun play as an outside back last year and he wasn't that great. If Yedlin is supposed to be better than Kofi then Balogun isn't starting above Yedlin or Mayer. Furthermore, Balo has never been a centerback and I don't expect him to play there either. I also don't know why Dagillis would start now if he hasn't started in the last two years. He wasn't better than Zarek and I don't expect him to be better than a kid who just finished playing three full games for the U-18 national team under which Porter wan an assistant coach. I think it's back to the bench for Matt and if Balogun is going to play it will be as a defensive midfielder. Even then, I'm not convinced he will be in the starting XI. Also though, even if mine or anyone else's predictions aren't correct on August 27th, that doesn't mean it will be the case for the whole season. I think it could be a few games before we have a concrete starting line-up. I think last year Porter tried starting a few guys at would would eventually be Darren's spot and Scotty's spot. It could take a few games to figure out which guys work together the best. Where does Arboleda fit in? Has maturity advantage but heard he is not fast. Anyone see him play? Well my first thought was that perhaps he plays centerback with Barson and Gallego is used as a DMF in the same way Porter had Kitchen play there last year. That is just my guess, but who knows. Also... Kyle Culbertson... the #42 ranked guy in the incoming Freshmen class... is MIA from the Roster now. Anyone have any new knows on him?

The Big Poll is out! Even though Akron loaded up the schedule with traditional College Soccer powers… only 4 teams on the schedule are currently ranked… Akron opens against #10 Creighton in an exhibition game… then… We play #15 Ohio State at home We are at # 14 UC Santa Barbara We have #18 Penn State at home We play #9 Michigan away We also play St Louis and New Mexico who are not ranked… and Tulsa and Wake Forest who are “others receiving votes”. RPI-wise… we should be as good as most non-ACC teams… but Louisville… has a loaded schedule… http://www.uoflsports.com/sports/m-soccer/...ccer-sched.html Louisville plays Michigan in an exhibition game... then... UCLA, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Butler, Ohio State, Notre Dame, UConn, & Indiana. If they get through that schedule with only a couple of losses… watch out! They also play Wake Forest and Cincinnati. GREAT SHOWING for AKRON though... loose 7 players to the Pros... and ranked #2 going into 2011. Great job Coach!

The Big Poll is out! http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men/d1/nscaa_coaches

The Big Poll is out! http://www.ncaa.com/rankings/soccer-men/d1/nscaa_coaches

There's not much to see... I was there last Thursday night... no grandstands... nothing else is up yet... mostly work under the stands... and foundation for the SW Consession Stand. In this GoZips video from the ladies game Sunday... you can see a backhoe working on the consession foundation... and a brick wall going up behind the stands... http://gozips.com/sports/wsoc/2011-12/rele.../2011080779hzie

Cool...

True... size matters... sometimes... as we saw with the WNT against Brazil and Japan... but Barson and Gallego are 5' 10"... Yedlin is 5' 8"... and Balogun is 5' 9"... and Mayer... ???... what happened to Mayer? The new roster shows numbers assigned to everyone now... and Mayer is MIA. Anyone have any info on Mayer??? Nope still not everyone. Bonilla, Portillos, Walls, the seventeen incoming goalkeepers, all still not on the roster. You can relax, I'm sure he's still on the team, they are probably just updating the roster a little at a time. Oh and I have to disagree with Dagillis or Balogun on the the backline. I still think it'll be Mayer-Barson-Gallego-Yedlin. We saw Balogun play as an outside back last year and he wasn't that great. If Yedlin is supposed to be better than Kofi then Balogun isn't starting above Yedlin or Mayer. Furthermore, Balo has never been a centerback and I don't expect him to play there either. I also don't know why Dagillis would start now if he hasn't started in the last two years. He wasn't better than Zarek and I don't expect him to be better than a kid who just finished playing three full games for the U-18 national team under which Porter wan an assistant coach. I think it's back to the bench for Matt and if Balogun is going to play it will be as a defensive midfielder. Even then, I'm not convinced he will be in the starting XI. Also though, even if mine or anyone else's predictions aren't correct on August 27th, that doesn't mean it will be the case for the whole season. I think it could be a few games before we have a concrete starting line-up. I think last year Porter tried starting a few guys at would would eventually be Darren's spot and Scotty's spot. It could take a few games to figure out which guys work together the best. Let's hope that the roster still needs more work. I see that more are missing now... so that's likely the case. I agree with your lineup of defenders... and I agree that there will be changes after the season starts. I said almost the same things on the bottom of page 1. Guessing at the starting lineups isn't all that constructive at this point... it's just amusing... and it's good to see that we have a load of talent... and a coach who's pretty good at putting championship-caliber teams together. I'm sure that some of our players are toying around with lineups too... maybe just in their minds. Our guys can be assured that Coach Porter will have a team of talented guys who just perform well together... all season long... whoever they might be. I would think that Porter released some of the guys who he felt adversely affected the chemistry a few months ago... ... and everyone who is left at this point has a real shot at starting and contributing. Even the guys who are not U-14, U15, U16, U17, U18 standouts... can rise above their expectations now. All that they need to do is listen to the coahing staff... work harder than most... and apply what they learn.

Also... remember the Cal match last year... Cal was a lot bigger than us... and gave us fits. Cal is also bigger this year too... http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-soccer/mt...soccer-mtt.html Sort by position... and you can see 6' 2" - 6' 3" Defenders... and the Forwards are about the same... Big team... Still looking for Mayer... can't find any new news.

True... size matters... sometimes... as we saw with the WNT against Brazil and Japan... but Barson and Gallego are 5' 10"... Yedlin is 5' 8"... and Balogun is 5' 9"... and Mayer... ???... what happened to Mayer? The new roster shows numbers assigned to everyone now... and Mayer is MIA. Anyone have any info on Mayer???

A consensus at this stage doesn't really matter as CP has a few weeks to go to unveil his starters. Looks really good though... loose 7 and still deep! I was just looking at Soccershins posting on the "Top 100 Pro Prospects"... http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=23473 based on this Top Drawer Soccer feature that will be updated periodically... http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...cked-every-week and had to look at this ranking as it applies to some guesses of the 2011 starters... So... if Balogun is regarded (at least by TopDrawer) as a top 50 Pro Prospect... and the 4th best Pro Prospect on the 2011 Akron team... you would think that he will start... probably as a Defender as we are loaded with Midfielders... So Barson is a lock... and you would think that Gallego would be too as he was a Milk Cup starter (and consequently regarded as one of the best U18 Defenders in the country). Gallego also played all 90 minutes of all 3 Milk Cup matches. Who are the other D starters ? Mayer... because he has arguably played at a higher level than our academy guys... ? Or Yedlin... a higher ranked player than Gallego... if you go by rankings...? I realize that Porter hasn't even decided on the starters yet... as the coaching staff hasn’t started practices yet... but it's interesting guessing as there is a lot of talent on this team. If you’ve seen Coach Porter’s Pyramid of Success in the men’s locker room… the third (middle) tier is “Condition”, “Skill” and “Team Spirit”… “Poise” and “Confidence” make the second tier… and the Top Tier is “Competitive Greatness”. Competitive Greatness is next to impossible to predict… so the coming weeks will reveal the players with the most “Competitive Greatness”... the starters… At least at the beginning of the season… Then we will certainly have a Caldwell or two… who will emerge as starters during the season. I visit the stadium every so often to see how the work is coming (not much to look at now)… and I snapped a few cell-phone shots of the team… running around a lot… getting/staying fit… and seemingly looking for direction from a coaching staff. They score a lot… let’s hope that continues. Pics: Previous guess of the starting lineup... with a Purple circle indicating the Pro Prospect ranking from TopDrawerSoccer. So... how does this change the line-up now...or does it? The 2011 team... working out. Somewhere out there are our starters and stars for the 2011 season.

This was here: http://zipsnation.org/forums//index.php?showtopic=23420 July 29th

Finally... it's up Akron #4 http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page424.htm 1. Louisville – Ken Lolla knows how to build winners. He has worked wonders at Louisville in a short period of time. Nine starters return from the 2010 squad that was 20-1-3 with their lone loss at the hands of Akron 1-0 in the National Championship game. Junior All-American forward Colin Rolfe (9g, 7a) will power the attack up-top. Senior Nick DeLeon (8g, 3a) and sophomore Dylan Mares (8g, 4a) are talented midfielders who add another element to the attack. Senior All-American Austin Berry anchors the backline and senior Andre Boudreaux returns in goal. Off-season difficulties may prove to be a distraction but the Cardinals appear to be moving forward in a positive manner. Louisville will be tested right out of the gate when they open the season by hosting UCLA. They then travel to tangle with Wake Forest and North Carolina. 2. UCLA – This team has the Bruin faithful thinking big and rightly so. No team in the West, and few in the country, will have as many big game players as the Bruins. Jorge Salcedo, who usually has to contend with losing players early to enter the professional ranks, will have the luxury of having all eleven starters from the 2010 squad back in 2011. Last year a young Bruin team was an impressive 16-5-1 and advanced to the Elite Eight where they lost a heartbreaker to Louisville 5-4. Sophomores Victor Chavez (10g, 5a) and Reed Williams (5g, 4a) and junior Chandler Hoffman (6g, 1a) return up-top. Seniors Andy Rose (1g, 4a) and Eder Arreola (4g, 7a) and sophomore Kelyn Rowe (7g, 10a) will lead an outstanding midfield. Senior Shawn Singh (1g, 3a) and junior Matt Wiet return to anchor a very competent back line. Senior Brian Rowe returns in goal. The Bruins play a brutal schedule that begins on August 27 when tangle with Louisville in what should be a dandy of a season opener. 3. North Carolina – The Tar Heels are under new management in 2011 and they have more than the usual number of gaps to fill due to graduation but don’t expect a significant drop off in the level of play in Chapel Hill. Carlos Somoano takes over as the new head coach replacing Elmar Bolowich who traveled west to Omaha to assume the head coaching job at Creighton. The return of forward Billy Schueler after missing almost all of the 2010 season due to injury is a big boost for the Tar Heels. North Carolina has also helped their case by adding a top-notch recruiting class that features senior transfer Matt Hedges who was an All-American defender at Butler last year. Junior Enzo Martinez (10g, 5a) and senior Kirk Urzo (5g, 5a) are among returning players who can light up the back of the net. Senior Drew McKinnery will anchor the backline while junior Scott Goodwin returns in goal to give North Carolina a talented and experienced presence between the pipes. UNC has advanced to the Final Four for the past three years in a row. 4. Akron – It is an understatement to say that the Zips lost a lot of talent and experience. The 2010 National Champions will be without five stellar underclassmen that elected to enter the professional ranks as well as Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Chris Korb who graduated. Junior goalkeeper David Meves, sophomore forward Darren Mattocks (18g, 5a), junior midfielder Scott Caldwell (5g, 1a), and junior defender Chad Barson (2g, 1a) are the only returning Zips who played in the 2010 NCAA title game. It is tempting to focus on who will not be back instead of who will be back but in Akron’s case that would be a mistake. There are several things in Akron’s favor. The Zips have added another banner recruiting class with a ton of competitive experience. And, Caleb Porter, who has a record of 90-13-10 since coming to Akron in 2006, will still be leading the program. It may be a while before the Zips fully hit their stride but that doesn’t mean they won’t keep winning in the process. 5. SMU – Last year SMU was 16-2-2 overall and advanced to the Elite Eight in NCAA Tourney play before falling in a penalty kick shootout to North Carolina. If you like to attack then you must have forwards who can create and finish the opportunities that come their way. SMU does like to attack and they do have forwards that are finishers. The duo of senior Arthur Ivo (10g, 5a) who was an NSCAA Second-Team All-America selection and sophomore Juan Castillo (10g, 4a) who was the 2010 Conference USA Freshman of the Year gives the Mustangs a scoring combo up-top that is as explosive as any in the country. Ivo and Castillo will bring plenty of heat to opposing defenders in 2011. It is true that the Mustangs will miss the services of four very talented senior starters but the Ponies look to be well positioned to withstand the loss. SMU returns players who netted thirty-six of the forty-four goals that they scored last year. The Mustang midfield will include junior T.J. Nelson and super sophomores Robbie Derschang (5g, 5a) and Zach Barnes (5g, 0a). They will be able to run with anyone in the country. Senior center back Adam Still (1g, 1a) returns to anchor the defense along with seniors Ian Kalis (0g, 3a) and Diogo de Almeida. 6.Creighton – New Bluejay head coach Elmar Bolovwich, who directed North Carolina to the Final Four for the past three seasons, will seek to keep his string alive at Creighton. The Bluejays should be very good this year. Some have even suggested that they might win it all. That might be a stretch but then again maybe not. Eight starters are back including senior forward Ethan Finley (15g, 4a) who was the MVC Player of the Year and sophomore defender Tyler Polak who was the MVC Freshman of the Year return. The Bluejays return a dynamic midfield that includes Jose Gomez (5g, 9a), Greg Jordan (3g, 3a), Kris Clark (4g, 5a) and Dion Acoff (1g, 10a). Senior Jace Peters also returns in the back and talented senior Brian Holt, who holds the school record for career shutouts, is among the best netminders in the country. 7. Connecticut – The Huskies look to be a very dangerous team in 2011 on both sides of the ball. A ton of talent returns from the 2010 team that was 12-2-6 with a 5-1-3 mark in Big East play. Last year the Huskies scored a total of forty goals while holding opponents to a total of seven. All-American midfielder Tony Cascio (10g, 6a) who was the 2010 Big East Offensive Player of the Year returns to lead a cast of characters that can light up the back of the net. Junior Carlos Alvarez (4g, 14a), junior Stephane Diop (8g, 1a) and sophomore Mamadou Doudou Diouf (6g, 1a) are all playmakers. Factor in the likes of sophomore defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste and junior midfielder Jossimar Sanchez and you have a team that is very capable of making their presence known in 2011. The biggest challenge for Ray Reid will be finding a replacement for College Soccer News All-American goalkeeper Josh Ford who had fifty career shutouts during four stellar years in goal for the Huskies. 8. Maryland – With goalkeeper Zac MacMath, midfielder Matt Kassel, and defender Ethan White turning pro and forward Jason Herrick (11g, 6a), midfielders Billy Cortes (5g, 4a) and Doug Rodkey (1g, 5a) and defender Greg Young (1g, 0a) exhausting their eligibility, the Terps have some gaps to plug in order to maintain their usual standard of excellence. Despite the losses, there’s plenty to be excited about in College Park as there rarely is a significant drop-off in the level of talent. Senior forward Casey Townsend (9g, 5a), a 2010 All-ACC First team selection, will be Maryland’s primary offensive weapon in 2011. Sophomore Sunny Jane (3g, 1a) and senior Matt Oduaran are among potential running mates up-top. Returning midfielders include juniors John Stertzer (2g, 2a) and Paul Torres (5g, 4a) and sophomore Patrick Mullins (5g, 4a) who was the 2010 ACC Freshman of the Year. Freshmen midfielders Alex Shinsky and Dan Metzger should provide an immediate boost. Senior Alex Lee and junior Taylor Kemp provide a solid nucleus upon which to build the backline. The Terps may not be as experienced as they have been in years past but they still have considerable talent at every position. 9. UC Santa Barbara – Tim Vom Steeg may be the fastest gun in the West. It does not take him long to reload. UCSB lost defender Michael Boxall and goalkeeper Sam Hayden to graduation as well as midfielder Danny Barrera and defender Michael Tetteh who left early to the professional ranks. Vom Steeg subsequently added an experienced recruiting class that went a long way toward filling the void. The Gaucho midfield will feature senior Luis Silva (6g, 4a) and junior Machael David who were All-Big West First Team members. Transfers Dominick Sarle from St. John’s and Cesar Castillo from Cerritos College add to an already solid group of linkmen. The UCSB attack will be led up-top by junior Sam Garza (9g, 6a) and sophomore David Opoku (6g, 5a). Seniors Peter McGlynn and Tim Pontius are among returning defenders. The Gauchos will be athletic and soccer savvy heading into the season but it may take a little time for Vom Steeg to blend everything together. UCSB has early season matches with Duke and N.C. State and a big date with UCLA on September 16. 10. Brown – In his first season at the helm of the program in 2010 Patrick Laughlin guided the Bears to a 12-4-4 overall record. Brown advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for the fist time since 2000. A solid nucleus returns led by senior forward Sean Rosa (6g, 5a), junior midfielder Thomas McNamara (3g, 4a) and junior defender Dylan Remick. The Bears held opponents to a total of only twelve goals last year. Expect more of the same in 2011 with a defense that should be among the best in the country. However, replacing goalkeeper Paul Grandstrand who completed a stellar career at Brown with a total of twenty-four shutouts will not be easy. The lads from Brown gained valuable experience last year that should up their win total in 2011. 11. Notre Dame – There are some key pieces that need to be replaced. Gone are forward Stephen Perry (12g, 4a) and midfielder Jeb Browski (4g, 1a) who were 2010 All-Big East First Team selections. However plenty of talent returns including seven starters and an impressive group of newcomers who should immediately contribute. Notre Dame has become one of the most consistent programs in the Big East as reflected in the fact that the Irish have been in the NCAA Tourney field during each of the ten years that Clark has been at the helm of the program. Junior forward Ryan Finley who transfers in from Duke where he was the 2010 ACC Offensive Player of the Year has the potential to give the Irish a huge boost on the offensive side of the ball but he will need to fit into Notre Dame’s system of play. Junior Dillon Powers (4g, 4a) who was an All-Big East Second team selection and seniors Brendan King (3g, 6a), Chris Sutton and Michael Rose and sophomore Harrison Shipp (0g,6a) return to give the Irish a very productive and creative midfield. Senior Aaron Maud, an All-Big East Second team selection, will anchor the backline along with fifth-year senior Greg Klazura and junior Grant Van De Casteele. 12.Virginia – Eight starters return supplemented by an outstanding ten member recruiting class that should contribute immediately. The Cavaliers return players who produced thirty-one of the thirty-six goals they scored in 2010. Virginia is a team that will put the ball in the back of the net a lot in 2011 with senior Brian Ownby (7g, 3a) and junior Will Bates (8g, 4a) up-top. Both are dynamic finishers. Seniors Greg Monaco (1g, 0a) and Mike Volk who were starters on Virginia’s 2009 National Championship team return to anchor what should be a very good backline. Sophomore Brain Span (5g, 3a) and junior Ari Dimas (2g, 4a) are among returning midfielders. The Cavaliers must replace Diego Restrepo who recorded a total of twenty-four shutouts during his two-year tenure between the pipes in Charlottesville. The nagging question is whether this team has the fortitude needed to prevail against the very best opponents. The talent is clearly there but you can be good, really good, and still not have what it takes to prevail at the highest level. Time will tell. 13. Boston College – The talent level of this team is too good to overlook. This group will take a shot at the ACC Championship and a sustained run in the NCAA Tourney. The Eagles return a ton of talent from the 2010 team led by junior forward Charlie Rugg (8g, 2a) who was an All-ACC First Team selection. Senior Conor Fitzpatrick and junior Kyle Bekker (4g, 5a) who was a an All-ACC Second Team selection return in the midfield. The Boston College backline will be hard to crack with the return of juniors Colin Murphy and Kevin Mejic and sophomore central defender Chris Ager. Junior Justin Luthy, who has been the starter in goal for the past two seasons, returns between the pipes. Some other programs in the ACC have retooling to do, but that is not the case for Boston College who should hit the ground running. If the Eagles gain momentum they will be a difficult team to tangle with. 14.California –The Golden Bears are usually a pretty safe pick somewhere around the top ten spot. Kevin Grimes annually brings on board a recruiting class with impressive resumes. Last year the Golden Bears had one of the best seasons in the history of the program. They were 14-2-4 overall, won the Pac-10 Championship, and advanced to the Elite Eight in NCAA Tourney play. Some might think that Cal deserves a higher preseason ranking based but the concern heading into the 2011 season is that the Golden Bears will be without seven starters from the 2010 squad including three NSCAA All-Americans. Junior forward John Fitzpatrick (7g, 3a) who produced three game winnings goals last year is among returning players who Grimes will likely count on for offense in 2011. The Golden Bears are a team to be taken seriously but they have a host of unknowns and are a work in progress with the potential to become a very good team as the season progresses. An early season non-conference match-up with Connecticut in Storrs on September 4 should be revealing. 15. Indiana - The Hoosiers are in the Big Ten to win it. For that to happen they must fill the huge void that exists due to the decision of All-American striker Will Bruin to forgo his senior season to enter the professional ranks. Senior Alec Purdie (3g, 5a) is among returning players who Todd Yeagley will likely look to for offensive punch in 2011. Sophomores Harrison Petts (3g, 5a), Nikita Kotlov (3g, 6a) and Jacob Bushue (0g, 1a) who were named to the All-Big Ten Freshman team are among returning midfielders. Senior central defender Tommy Meyer who was a Second Team All-Big ten selection will set the pace in the back. Redshirt junior Luis Soffner, who has been in the starting lineup for the past two seasons, returns in goal. The Hoosiers also upped their stock with the addition of a recruiting class that includes NSCAA Youth All-Americans defender Eriq Zavaleta and midfielder Jack Coleman. A tough non-conference schedule includes, Notre Dame, Louisville, Creighton and Butler. 16. Duke - There is much to like about Duke heading into the 2011 season. Center back Andrew Wenger (0g, 2a) is one of best players in the country. In addition to Wenger, the Duke defense will feature the considerable talents that sophomore back Sebastien Ibeagha (0g, 1a) and junior goalkeeper James Belshaw, an All-ACC Second Team selection, bring to the pitch. This is a very gifted team whose stock climbed upward when John Kerr added an impressive eight member recruiting class that includes midfielders Nick Palodichuk who was the 2010 Parade National Player of the Year and NSCAA Youth All-American Sean Davis. Duke relied heavily last year on the scoring provided by Ryan Finley and Cole Grossman. Both have departed the building and the Blue Devils face the very real challenge of replacing the twenty-seven goals they contributed. Solve that and you have a team that everyone will have trouble matching-up with. Senior Chris Tweed-Can't (2g, 11a) is among returning players who Duke will likely look to as a solution to the problem. Senior Temi Mokinar and sophomores Jonathan Aguirre and Rob Dolot are among returning midfielders. 17. Ohio State – The Buckeyes earned their fourth consecutive NCAA Tourney berth last year while posting an 11-6-2 overall record with a 4-2-0 mark in Big Ten play. Eight starters are back from the 2010 team that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Tournament before losing 2-1 to Louisville. The Buckeyes lose midfielders Konrad Warzycha (8g, 0a), Matt Gold (0g, 2a) and Sam Scales (2g, 4a) to graduation but they return a talented and gritty team that will make their presence known in the Big Ten and should keep the Buckeyes streak of consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances intact. David Tiemstra, a College Soccer News Second Team All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, will anchor an experienced backline that allowed only fifteen goals last year. Tiemstra will be joined in the back by senior Dalton Summers, junior Chris Gomez, and sophomore Sage Gardner who was an All-Big Ten Freshman Team selection last year. Junior Matt Lampson who is the complete package returns in goal. Lampson, who has been a starter for the past two seasons, was a 2010 First Team All-Big Ten selection with a 0.72 goals against average and ten clean sheets. 18.Michigan State – The Spartans are coming off a thirteen win season in which they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. They will enter the 2011 campaign missing the presence of a tone-setting seven member senior class that became the first senior class in the history of the program to reach the NCAA Tournament in each of their four years. Key losses include goalkeeper Avery Steinlage, defender Colin Givens, and midfielder Spencer Thompson (3g, 8a). However, Michigan State has multiple key returning players, including their top three goal scorers, who should keep the Spartans in the upper tier of the Big Ten Conference which was represented in the NCAA Tournament by five teams last year. The Spartans return seniors Domenic Barone (10g, 3a) who was an All-Big Ten Second Team selection and Rubin Bega (5g, 1a) up-top. Seniors Cyrus Saydee (4g, 7a), Mark Barone (1g, 5a), and Brent Rosendall (8g, 3a) are among returning midfielders. Junior Kevin Cope (1g, 0a) who is among the best defenders in the Big Ten and sophomore center back Josh Barens (0g, 2a) who was named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team provide a solid foundation upon which to rebuild the backline. 19. Loyola Marymount University – The Lions were left standing at the alter last year without an at-large berth into the NCAA Tourney despite a solid 12-6-2 overall record and a 8-3-1 mark in WCC play. That and the fact that they return nine starters should make the Lions a very hungry and focused team in 2011. The challenge will be replacing All-American midfielder Rafael Baca who did everything but sell programs during his tenure at LMU and defensive center midfielder Vincent Ocampo who was a three year starter. However the cupboard is far from bare with junior David Ponce (6g, 5a), a 2010 Second Team All-WCC selection, and senior Phil DaSilva (6g, 2a) returning to power the attack up-top. Senior outside mid Arthur Jozkowicz (7g, 4a) and senior center mid Kyle Johnason (1g, 5a) should play key roles in 2011. Senior center back Roger Downes who was the 2010 WCC Defensive Player of the Year returns to anchor the backline along with senior Jonas Reiter. Senior outside backs Tyler Krumpe (0g, 3a) and Logan McDaniel round out what should be a very good LMU backline. Redshirt senior Jack McCormack returns to give the Lions an experienced presence between the pipes. Early season contests at Tulsa and at UCLA will test the mettle of this team. 20. Penn State – The Nittany Lions won fourteen games in Bob Warming’s first year at the helm of the program. Despite the loss of a handful of key starters including forward Corey Hertzog (20g, 6a) and midfielder Matheus Braga (5g, 17a), Penn State will compete for the Big Ten title in 2011, thanks in large part to the addition of several transfers. Forwards Hasani Sinclair from South Florida and Julian Cardona from Butler should help offset the losses of Hertzog and Braga. Junior midfielder Jacob Barron who transferred in from UC Davis is among other newcomers who should contribute. Seniors Mackenzie Arment (2g, 9a) and Justin Lee (1g, 4a) will set the pace in the midfield. The backline should be solid due to the return of seniors Mark Fetrow (2g, 0a) and Matt Smallwood (1g, 4a) and junior central defender Brian Forgue (0g, 1a). Sophomore forward Jordan Tyler (5g, 3a) is a dynamic player who should play a key role in the attack in 2011. Junior Daniel Burnham (1g, 2a) should also be in the mix up-top. The fate of Penn States season may rest on the play in goal which is an unanswered question heading into the 2011 season. 21. Michigan – The Wolverines had a truly memorable 2010 season in which they won their first Big Ten Tournament championship and advanced to the Final Four for the first time in the history of the program. The Maize and Blue will enter the 2011 season facing life after forward Soony Saad (19g, 5a) who left early to enter the professional ranks and forward Justin Meram (17g, 8a) who graduated. Having a successful season in 2011 means some new faces must take big steps forward. Junior midfielder Hamoody Saad (6g, 7a), a Second Team All-Big Ten selection last year, is among key returning players who will be called upon to assume a larger share of the offensive load in 2011. Senior Adam Shaw (0g, 2a), junior Latif Alashe (2g, 4a) and sophomore Fabio Pereira who was a 2010 All-Freshman Team selection are among other retuning linkmen. Juniors Brian Klemczak (0g, 3a) and Kofi Opare are among returning starters in the back. The euphoria surrounding the success the team enjoyed last year may help fuel momentum in 2011 or it could fade quickly if the Wolverines are unable to plug the very real hole that exists on the offensive side of the ball. It will be interesting to see if Michigan can capitalize on the momentum built by last season’s improbable run. 22. West Virginia – Things are looking up for the Mountaineers. West Virginia was a lot of fun to watch last year and the good times should continue in 2011. Ten starters return from the 2010 team that was 11-8-2 overall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tourney where they fell to eventual national champion Akron 3-2. This is a very balanced team that should be solid on both sides of the ball. Returning players include forwards Franck Tayou (9g, 1a) and Peabo Doue (5g, 4a), midfielders Shadow Sebele (5g, 11a) and Vwem Etuck and senior defenders Eric Schoenle, Raymon Gaddis and Uzi Taylor. West Virginia will miss the services of Zach Johnson in goal who had thirty-six career shutouts so look for that to be a crucial success factor in 2011. The Mountaineers may not win the Big East Conference but anything less than another NCAA Tournament bid and a win or two in NCAA Tourney play will be considered a disappointment. If this team plays to their potential the sky is the limit. 23. Charlotte – The 49ers have ten starters returning from a team that was 13-5-1 last year with an 8-1-0 mark in Atlantic Ten play. Charlotte’s season came to an unexpected end last year when Xavier advanced past them in the A-10 Tourney in a match that was decided by penalty kicks. The Forty-niners lone senior in 2010 was forward Andres Cuero (9g, 1a) who was an A-10 First Team selection. Cuero will be tough to replace but a ton of talent returns which bodes well for Charlotte in 2011. Senior Charles Rodriguez who was the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year returns to led what should be a tenacious Charlotte backline. Rodriquez will be joined by senior Issac Cowles, junior Kyle Griffin, and sophomore Anthony Perez. The Charlotte midfield will feature sophomore Tyler Gibson (4g, 4a) who was the 2010 A-10 Midfielder of the Year as well as sophomores Will Mayhew (3g. 4a) and Aidan Kirkbride (1g, 1a). Senior Evan James (4g, 4a) and junior Donnie Smith (6g, 2a), a First Team All-A10 selection, are among returning forwards who should play a key role in the 49ers offense in 2011. Sophomore Klay Davis and senior Gavin Dawson return in goal. 24. Florida Gulf Coast University – Ten starters are back from the 2010 team that was 13-3-2 overall with a perfect 9-0-0 mark in Atlantic Sun Conference play. The Eagles had non-conference wins over South Florida and Ohio State and will play a schedule in 2011that includes non-conference matches with Portland, Washington, UC Irvine, Saint Louis, Central Florida, and South Florida. Senior Adam Glick who was the Atlantic-Sun Defensive Player of the Year returns in goal. Seniors Josey Portillo (4g, 4a) and Christian Raudales (4g, 1a) are part of a midfield that is quick and has great touch on the ball. Junior defender Deion Jones (7g, 3a) is a prime timer who adds value on both sides of the ball. Sophomore Ryan Price (6g, 0a) returns up-top. Freshman forward Xavier Silva is among the newcomers who will add another dimension to the attack. The Blue and Green completed their four-year NCAA provisional period last year and will be eligible for postseason play in 2011. Coach Bob Butehorn is building something special at FGCU which is located in Fort Myers, Florida. The Eagles may not currently have nationwide name recognition but that is likely to change soon. 25. Wake Forest – The Deacons will be back in the national rankings, and back in the NCAA Tournament field in 2011, after taking a year off in 2010. Last year Wake Forest’s eleven year streak of consecutive NCAA Tourney appearances including four straight trips to the Final Four came to a halt when they were 8-9-2 overall. Not exactly the type season the Deacon faithful are used to. A solid contingent returns up-top led by junior Andy Lubahn (8g, 0a) who was a 2010 All-ACC Second Team selection and sophomore Luca Gimenez (5g, 2a). The midfield will be deep and talented with the likes of seniors Sam Redmond (1g, 1a) and Luke Norman (1g, 1a) and super sophomores Jared Watts (0g, 1a) and Kyle Emerson (1g, 2a) returning. NSCAA High School All-American midfielder Teddy Mullin who enrolled in January is among the newcomers who will contribute immediately. The backline will be stronger in 2011 than 2010 with junior Anthony Arena (2g, 0a) and redshirt junior Danny Wenzel among a solid contingent of very athletic returning defenders. The biggest question mark heading into the 2011 season pertains to replacing Akira Fitzgerald in goal. Fitzgerald was a three-year starter and finished his tenure in Wake Forest with a 0.83 goals against average. Junior netminders Michael Lisch and Doug Ryan are the top candidates for the job. 26. Old Dominion – Eight starters are back from the 2010 team that was 10-7-2 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. ODU was a much better team last year than their record indicates. At times during the 2010 campaign they looked like the cream of the crop with wins over the likes of North Carolina, William and Mary, and Virginia. They also had their share of ups and downs. Look for there to be more ups and fewer downs in 2011 as the underclassmen that were in key roles last year benefit from the experience they gained. The Monarchs look to be set up-top with the return of sophomore Gideon Asante (4g, 2a) who was a 2010 All-CAA Second team selection and junior Yannick Smith (0g, 2a) among others. Juniors Jordan Le Blanc (5g, 2a) and Chris Harmon (7g, 3a) and sophomore Alex Vaughn (4g, 0a) are among returning midfielders. The backline looks to be solid and experienced with senior Thomas Webb and junior Alex De John returning. ODU must overcome the loss of four-year starter Evan Newton in goal. No small order since Newton ended his tenure as the program’s all-time leader in saves and shutouts. 27. Monmouth – The days of Monmouth catching anyone by surprise are long gone. The program has been the dominant team in the NEC and nationally ranked for several years. The Hawks return seven starters from the 2010 team that was 14-2-4 overall and won the NEC regular season and tournament titles. However, they have some big shoes to fill due to the graduation of All-American midfielder Ryan Kinne (12g, 6a) and goalkeeper Bryan Meredith who had thirty-four career shutouts. It will all start at Monmouth in 2011 with junior midfielder Ryan Clark (3g, 6a) who has been a First Team All-NEC selection for the two years. Clark will be joined in the midfield by seniors Max Hamilton, a Second-Team All NEC selection, Cesar Blacido and Matt Beverin. The strength of the team may be in the backline, where senior Anthony Vazquez, R.J. Allen (2g, 4a) and Christian Nogueira (0g, 1a) return. Seniors Erkko Puranen (5g, 0a) and George Quintano (1g, 2a) and sophomore Jacob Rubinstein (4g, 1a) are among returning forwards who will have to take up the slack in the scoring since Kinne has departed. The Hawks may not run the table in the NEC like they have at times in the past but they are still the team to beat in the conference. The success that the program has enjoyed means that the Hawks will take every opponents best shot, especially in conference play. Anything less than a conference championship and a spot in the NCAA Tournament will be a disappointment for Monmouth. 28. University of Central Florida – UCF had a breakthrough season last year, posting a 12-5-3 overall record with a 4-1-3 record in Conference USA play. The Knights were awarded an at-large berth and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament where they were topped by Michigan in overtime. Nine starters return for coach Bryan Cunningham’s squad. The UCF midfield features seniors Warren Creavalle (4g, 4a) and Kevan George (0g, 4a) along with junior Nik Robson (11g, 9a) who led the Knights in scoring last year. All three were 2010 All-CUSA First Team selections and when the game is on the line all three are capable of coming up with a big play. Senior Cameron Cooksey (6g, 3a) and junior A.J. Nelson (4g, 4a) return to provide firepower up-top. Senior Scott Spencer (3g, 8a) and juniors Ben Hunt (2g, 0a) and Andrew Quintana were starters in the back last year who return in 2010. Junior Shawn Doyle who had a 0.82 goals against average and recorded eight shutouts returns between the pipes. The Knights are talented and hungry to prove that last year was a steppingstone, not a fluke. 29. Denver – The Pioneers improved significantly as the 2010 season progressed. It will be interesting to see if Denver can capitalize on the momentum they built last year. If so, they will have a very good 2011 season. The Pioneers will enter the 2011 season with eight starters back from the 2010 team that was 9-7-4 overall and earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tourney. Senior midfielder Jarod Stigall (9g, 8a) and senior forward Kellan Christensen (5g, 3a) return to give Denver a solid one-two punch on the offensive side of the ball. Juniors Alex Tarnoczi (3g, 6a) and Nate Sackeyfio (1g, 0a) also return up-top to add an additional dimension to the Pioneer attack. Junior Mark Weigand (2g, 4a), an All-MPSF Second Team selection, senior Matt Kirby (0g, 2a), and sophomore defensive midfielder Blair Jeralds are among returning linkmen who were starters last year. The backline will be anchored by juniors Drew Beckie and Blake Shannon. With a solid contingent returning supplemented by a very good recruiting class, the Pioneers are in the driver’s seat to win the MPSF championship. Early games with Creighton, Notre Dame and Indiana will be tough but provide an opportunity to make a statement. 30. Furman – This is the year that the Paladins will begin their return to national prominence. Nine starters return along with a recruiting class that is among the best in the country. Last year Furman was 10-7-2 overall and finished regular season play in a three way tie for the number one spot in the Southern Conference. Forward Coleton Henning who was the Southern Conference Freshman of the Year in 2008 is back after missing the 2010 season due to a knee injury. Returning midfielders include junior Danny Hojaij (1g, 1a) and sophomores Michael Gandier (2g, 1a) and Josh Fusan (2g, 2a). Seniors Walker Jernigan (0g, 2a) and Eric Cobleigh (0g, 1a) return to anchor what looks to be a very good backline. Senior Alan Kann, an All-Southern Conference Second Team selection last year, returns to give the Paladins an experienced presence in goal. Defenders Walker Zimmerman and George Fradenburg and midfielder Kevin Pahl are among the freshmen who figure to see significant playing time. Sophomore forward Martin Ontiveros who transfers in from Akron should add an additional dimension to the Furman attack. The Paladins may experience some growing pains but if the newcomers live up to their hype, this is a team that will steadily improve as the season progresses. Opportunity knocks early when Furman hosts Duke on August 29.

Finally... it's up Akron #4 http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page424.htm 1. Louisville – Ken Lolla knows how to build winners. He has worked wonders at Louisville in a short period of time. Nine starters return from the 2010 squad that was 20-1-3 with their lone loss at the hands of Akron 1-0 in the National Championship game. Junior All-American forward Colin Rolfe (9g, 7a) will power the attack up-top. Senior Nick DeLeon (8g, 3a) and sophomore Dylan Mares (8g, 4a) are talented midfielders who add another element to the attack. Senior All-American Austin Berry anchors the backline and senior Andre Boudreaux returns in goal. Off-season difficulties may prove to be a distraction but the Cardinals appear to be moving forward in a positive manner. Louisville will be tested right out of the gate when they open the season by hosting UCLA. They then travel to tangle with Wake Forest and North Carolina. 2. UCLA – This team has the Bruin faithful thinking big and rightly so. No team in the West, and few in the country, will have as many big game players as the Bruins. Jorge Salcedo, who usually has to contend with losing players early to enter the professional ranks, will have the luxury of having all eleven starters from the 2010 squad back in 2011. Last year a young Bruin team was an impressive 16-5-1 and advanced to the Elite Eight where they lost a heartbreaker to Louisville 5-4. Sophomores Victor Chavez (10g, 5a) and Reed Williams (5g, 4a) and junior Chandler Hoffman (6g, 1a) return up-top. Seniors Andy Rose (1g, 4a) and Eder Arreola (4g, 7a) and sophomore Kelyn Rowe (7g, 10a) will lead an outstanding midfield. Senior Shawn Singh (1g, 3a) and junior Matt Wiet return to anchor a very competent back line. Senior Brian Rowe returns in goal. The Bruins play a brutal schedule that begins on August 27 when tangle with Louisville in what should be a dandy of a season opener. 3. North Carolina – The Tar Heels are under new management in 2011 and they have more than the usual number of gaps to fill due to graduation but don’t expect a significant drop off in the level of play in Chapel Hill. Carlos Somoano takes over as the new head coach replacing Elmar Bolowich who traveled west to Omaha to assume the head coaching job at Creighton. The return of forward Billy Schueler after missing almost all of the 2010 season due to injury is a big boost for the Tar Heels. North Carolina has also helped their case by adding a top-notch recruiting class that features senior transfer Matt Hedges who was an All-American defender at Butler last year. Junior Enzo Martinez (10g, 5a) and senior Kirk Urzo (5g, 5a) are among returning players who can light up the back of the net. Senior Drew McKinnery will anchor the backline while junior Scott Goodwin returns in goal to give North Carolina a talented and experienced presence between the pipes. UNC has advanced to the Final Four for the past three years in a row. 4. Akron – It is an understatement to say that the Zips lost a lot of talent and experience. The 2010 National Champions will be without five stellar underclassmen that elected to enter the professional ranks as well as Anthony Ampaipitakwong and Chris Korb who graduated. Junior goalkeeper David Meves, sophomore forward Darren Mattocks (18g, 5a), junior midfielder Scott Caldwell (5g, 1a), and junior defender Chad Barson (2g, 1a) are the only returning Zips who played in the 2010 NCAA title game. It is tempting to focus on who will not be back instead of who will be back but in Akron’s case that would be a mistake. There are several things in Akron’s favor. The Zips have added another banner recruiting class with a ton of competitive experience. And, Caleb Porter, who has a record of 90-13-10 since coming to Akron in 2006, will still be leading the program. It may be a while before the Zips fully hit their stride but that doesn’t mean they won’t keep winning in the process.

First Poll Out... Goal.com is not the most important poll out there... but a good sign of respect... http://gozips.com/sports/msoc/2011-12/rele.../20110802edzh18 http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/2617/youth-...season-rankings Goal.com Preseason Rankings 1. Akron 2. UCLA 3. North Carolina 4. Louisville 5. SMU 6. Indiana 7. Notre Dame 8. Creighton 9. Georgetown 10. Maryland 11. Duke 12. Virginia 13. Connecticut 14. FGCU 15. Wake Forest 16. UCSB 17. South Carolina 18. Michigan 19. Denver 20. Providence 21. Penn St. 22. Univ. of Central Florida 23. Penn 24. West Virginia 25. NC State

Granted... but we had more to work with too. In 2007 we were 4-8... and coming off of a 5-7 season... not a 1 win season. Plus... the final score was 20-2 Ohio State... and the game was more of a matter of Ohio State almost beating themselves... with 5 turnovers... than Akron playing well. We had 3 first downs... 3 yards rushing... and 69 yards in offense. http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/boxs...id=200709080033

Getting back to a prediction... A lot of us Zips fans are just hoping to be competitive in MAC Football some day... but that's a year or two off... and ONLY if we are more competitive this year so that we have a chance for 2012 recruiting to improve/start. The reason for the pathtic 2012 recruiting to date... is the pathetic effort for the entire 2010 season. It's important to win a few more games this year. The facilities just aren't enough... neither is the cool campus. We are not competitive on a Big-Ten(11/12) level... or an Ohio State level (my other alma mater)... just too much of a talent gap right now. If we had a team of Wagner-level guys out there... it would be close... but we don't. Ohio State Starters... 35 Akron 0 Ohio State Bench...... 28 Akron 7 Ohio State will rack up 2-3 Defensive scores. I can't see Akron scoring in the first half... or coming close to scoring... or having more than 40 yards in offense against OSU's #1 defense.

I would be shocked to see a top 5 ranking let alone a top one. The Zips lost a lot of talent and even though it looks like a good set of replacements, these guys have never been on the pitch together. A lot of teams (e.g. Tulsa, UNC) return a lot of last years very good teams. I expect the Zips in the 6-10 range. 6 - 15 range, I would say. The important thing is to be ranked in the top four come tourney time in order to get home field throughout. Left out my Top # I was debating on Top 5 or Top 10... and meant to post Top 10... then Top 5. I think that UNC will be #1... and that ACC Teams will have 3 of the top 5... and maybe CAL being in there too... but I am still hopeful that Akron will get a Top 5... based more on the transfers than on the 3 top prospects. I do not think that UA will be ranked lower then a Top 10... not with that talent... not in the initial poll. I agree that gelling will be a key factor against high ranked teams that have played together. I also think that the lack of playing together will hurt the offense more than the defense. It will still be hard to score gainst this team. The offense will need a 1/3 of the season to come togther. But another issue... a bigger issue... is this killer schedule... maybe the most difficult ever for the Zips. But... voters will realize this... and even with 3-4 losses... we could be in the top 5. UNC finished with 4 losses and 4 ties and a #5 ranking. As far as the ranking at the end of the season... with this schedule... I'm not betting that we will be a top 4. But... we could beat a higher ranked team early and get home field advantage back for a game.

It is the end of July... http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page424.htm Where's the poll? And where will "The University of Akron" be ranked? Top 5 hopefully. NC Landed more of the top 100 recruits than Akron... but we had 3 of the top ten... and we added significant experience with transfers. I would not be surprisd to see a top ranking.

It's the end of July... College Soccer News... what are they waiting for: http://www.collegesoccernews.com/index_files/Page424.htm Akron has to be among the top few

I forgot about David Mayer as he wasn't on the roster that I used to fill in the graphic... http://gozips.com/sports/msoc/2011-12/roster?sort=last_nameThat's why I passed over him here... http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2011-12/.../20110712sguog1But... I remember looking him up when I heard about him... and seeing that he got released from his former club, Wigan Athletic. You have to think that this club is at least on the level of the MLS Academy Clubs in the US.He is listed as a MF... and looks like a Kofie-esque defender... covering some serious ground in this Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCKuCRoAOTg... and he scored here: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/Youth/0,...1791885,00.htmlSo do these two graphics look like the most likely senarios now?A consensus at this stage doesn't really matter as CP has a few weeks to go to unveil his starters. Looks really good though... loose 7 and still deep!

Any guesses for the starting lineup?With only 4 returning starters and a load of new faces… I really don’t see many issues with the 2011 team (looks awesome)… and I see just a few unknowns.First… Caleb probably didn’t go looking for another Jamaican striker who will not start… so he probably has high hopes for Barrett. If Barrett can start next to Mattocks… that means that Luke Holmes will probably be an attacking midfielder… and will join Caldwell and Trapp. That leaves just one opening for a Midfielder… with plenty of options. I penciled in Walls due to the fact that he was o the Hermann Watch List in 2010.The defense is looking pretty awesome too… with Barson, Gallego and Yedlin… and another opening where again… there are some great prospects. And of course… Meves will defend the net.I put together 2 charts… with just generic positions… not sure if there will be changes to the 2010 formation. Returning starters are Gold… returning players are Blue. Incoming freshmen are Red… transfers are Teal… and incoming Internationals are whatever color that is (quasi-Brown). Flags denote All-American HS or college… or the nationality… with some credentials in the white box above the name.So… what are your guesses for the second Striker… the Midfielders… and the 4th Defender… and formation/offense/defense?

GO for Tressel? He's a NE Ohio guy... BW and YSU... why not? One of the fundamental reasons that we cannot draw fans... is that the Akron/NE Ohio population is divided. There are many OSU fans here... including me. I went to OSU first... then Akron (then Case, then Chicago, then Akron... and soon Stanford). I'm an Akron Soccer fan... season ticket holder since '08... but an OSU fan for most sports. Tressel could draw some fans into the Stadium... plus... he could probably do wonders for recruiting.

Just looked at a few interesting matches from the past year... First... from GoZips.com... Akron at the USTA/ITA Regional hosted by Big Blue in the fall... http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPS...TCLID=205017818 So Zara lost a very close match to Michigan's #2 Singles player... 6-4, 7-5 and... Angelina beat a DePaul girl and then lost to Ohio State's #1 Singles girl... 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-4 Plus... the Big Ten... where #1 Seed and 10th ranked Michigan beat Ohio State... 2011 Big Ten Tournament Ann Arbor, Mich. No. 10 Michigan 4 (22-3), No. 58 Ohio State 0 (15-11) Singles No. 1 -- No. 7 Denise Muresan (U-M) vs. Paloma Escobedo (OSU), 6-1, 4-6, 1-0 abandoned No. 2 -- No. 74 Brooke Bolender (U-M) d. Kelsey Haviland (OSU), 6-1, 6-3 No. 3 -- No. 100 Whitney Taney (U-M) d. Gabby Steele (OSU), 6-2, 6-0 No. 4 -- No. 66 Sam Critser (U-M) d. Kara Cecil (OSU), 6-3, 6-0 No. 5 -- Rika Tatsuno (U-M) vs. Fidan Manashirova (OSU), 7-6, 0-3 abandoned No. 6 -- Mimi Nguyen (U-M) vs. Cami Hubbs (OSU), 7-6 (3), 2-2 abandoned Doubles No. 1 -- No. 9 Brooke Bolender/Denise Muresan (U-M) vs. Paloma Escobedo/Cami Hubbs (OSU), 5-2 abandoned No. 2 -- No. 65 Whitney Taney/Rika Tatsuno (U-M) d. Kara Cecil/Noelle Malley (OSU), 8-1 No. 3 -- Mimi Nguyen/Sam Critser (U-M) d. Gabby Steele/Fidan Manashirova (OSU), 8-1 Order of Completion: Doubles 3-2; Singles 4-3-2 OUR LADIES CAN COMPETE WITH Big Ten players... We have a nice little soccer rivalry with Michigan now... how about a Ladies Tennis Rivalry too...?