TopDrawerSoccer's Joe visits Akron for Big Board

[bobbyake]

Story:

This week is my adventures in Ohio and Indiana.

No snow this trip, but I had plenty of cold, wind and rain.

This article contains my previous week's travel to Akron, Ohio and Bloomington, Indiana. This article includes the following schools: Northwestern, Akron, Old Dominion and Indiana.

Next week is NCAA tournament 3rd round in Florida.

Just a reminder, this year, I'm concentrating on just a few players at each game.

Akron, OH - On a chilly, windy evening with wind chills in the 20s, Akron beat Northwestern 3-1 in an entertaining match.

In the 2008 NCAA tournament, Akron's home match against Northwestern was moved to Chicago because of Akron's field conditions. In this context, it seems destined that Akron would get a chance to play Northwestern at home. However, these 2 teams are good enough that having them meet in the first round is silly. Then, again having a 2nd round match-up in the first round makes for good viewing for the fans!

Starting Line-ups:

Northwestern: 4-4-1-1

F: Oliver Kupe

W/D F: Lepe Seetane

M: Kyle Schickel, Connor Holloway, Chris Ritter, Nick Gendron

D: Peter O'Neill, Jarrett Baughman, Nikko Boxall, Grant Wilson

GK: Tyler Miller

Akron: 4-2-3-1

F: Darren Mattocks

M: Luke Holmes, Scott Caldwell, Aodhan Quinn,

DM: Will Trapp, Bryan Gallego

D: David Mayer, Chad Barson, Matt Dagilis, Yedlin DeAndre

GK: David Meves

Akron Observations:

Senior Luke Holmes created the first goal in the 27th minute by some precise dribbling squaring the ball to Scott Caldwell who hit a "change up" that bounced into the lower corner.

The second goal was scored by sophomore Aodhan Quinn in the 55th minute. The play started with an early cross that hung in the air that Baughman didn't clear sufficiently under pressure by sophomore Darren Mattocks. Quinn picked off the loose ball at the top of the box and buried it first time into the corner.

Scott Caldwell (Jeff Harwell/Zips Sports Photography)

The insurance goal was scored in the 77th minute with tenacious ball handling by both Mattocks and Holmes in the box that wound up ended with Holmes touched forward and Mattocks blasted a left footed shot.

This was the first time that I've seen Holmes live (excluding PDL). He's a quick player with feet that are equally quick. I like that he has the agility to take a shot regardless where the ball arrives. For example in the 39th minute, he hit a slick side volley that hit the cross-bar. Hopefully, Holmes gets invited to the combine, because I can see that he could contribute to a MLS team if given a chance.

I suspected that Akron inserted senior Matt Dagilis into the starting line-up to try and contend with Kupe. However, I was informed that Akron wanted a better ball-hawking midfielder and moved freshman Bryan Gallego into the defense midfielder. This opened a slot for Dagilis to play. This explanation makes sense. Dagilis saved a ball off the line in the 37th minute after goalkeeper Meves punched a ball that wound up going backward.

After playing early in his career and not playing for the last 2 years, Dagilis has a terrific attitude, stating that he always prepares to play regardless. He seems like a nice kid who I suspect will be successful in the business world.

Meves made several nice stops but had a few mental mistakes. He needs to play clean.

Junior Chad Barson is a stable defender. He isn't flashy nor has electrifying speed, but he's a competent defender. I have spent many hours considering if he can play centrally in MLS. I'm still not sure. But, if he can, he might be in the league for the next 10 years.

I don't care for senior Michael Balogun's ball skills.

NOTE: Akron beat Southern Methodist, but UAB lost to Charlotte ruining my "master plan" to see Akron at UAB on 11/27. Drats!

http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soc...n-for-Big-Board