Covers games through 10/21/2014
With more than two-thirds of the college soccer season complete, now is as good a time as any to take a look at what all of the players with experience suiting up for the Philadelphia Union Academy have been up to and give out some premature end-of-the-season awards.
Player of the Year
Sophomore forward Connor Maloney has been without a doubt the most exciting player with Union Academy experience in college soccer this season. His eight goals - four of those game-winners - and two assists have helped propel the Nittany Lions into the national spotlight as they've climbed the polls. After starting out the season unbeaten in 11 games, the team has faltered with two straight shutout losses to a resurgent Maryland and one of the stingiest defenses in the country in Michigan State. Maloney will need to get the offense back on track if they hope to make a run in the postseason.
Goalkeeper of the Year
There's a reason Zack Steffen is the biggest prospect in the Union pipeline and might be opting for a European contract instead of a Homegrown Player deal. His Terps, so close to hoisting the championship trophy in Chester last December, struggled opening the season with only one win in their first six games, but they've turned things around lately thanks in part to Steffen's stellar goalkeeping. Steffen has a clean sheet in three of the Terps' last four games and has six clean sheets for the season.
Defender of the Year
Georgetown right back Keegan Rosenberry might be overshadowed by centerback Joshua Yaro on one of the toughest defenses in the country, but his consistent play on the right side has been critical to the Hoyas success. Rosenberry picked up his second Big East defensive player of the week award earlier this month for his play on both sides of the field. His 85th minute goal in a 2-0 win over DePaul on Oct. 11 was the first of his career. The junior also has an assist and has missed precious few minutes all season long.
Freshman of the Year
A bulk of the incoming class of Union Academy graduates have struggled for playing time this year but that hasn't been a problem for Lehigh forward Doyle Tuvesson, who has started in all but one of the Mountain Hawks games this season. Tuvesson has scored two game-winners and has four goals and two assists on the year while earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors twice.
Player-By-Player Reports
Let's check in and see what the rest of the Division 1 players with Union Academy experience have been up to this year.
Jared Martinelli, junior forward for Temple
Started 13 of 14 games for the Owls, scoring two goals and adding a pair of assists for a team that has struggled mightily at 2-10-2.
Darius Madison, junior forward for Virginia
Madison missed the first three games of the season with an ankle injury and after coming off the bench for three games was inserted into the starting lineup. He finally found the back of the net for the first time with a late equalizer against James Madison and then scored a winner in overtime. He followed that performance with his third goal of the season in a win over Pitt but missed another game after getting a red card in a game against Duke.
Colton Amidon, sophomore midfielder for George Mason
Amidon scored a hat trick off the bench for the Patriots in their 7-0 opening game win over Howard but only found the back of the net again last week in a 3-1 loss to Rhode Island. He's started three games and come off the bench in all but two of George Mason's other games.
Zach Herstek, sophomore midfielder for George Mason
Has started every game for the 9-2-2 Patriots, scoring a goal in a 2-0 win over Milwaukee and adding an assist in a 3-2 win over St. Louis.
Sam Frymier, junior goalkeeper for Duquesne
Has started 10 of Duqesne's 12 games this season, registering one clean sheet in a 5-0 win over St. Bonaventure on Oct. 12 and recording 13 saves in a 3-0 loss to West Virginia on Oct. 5.
Billy McConnell, sophomore defender for Indiana
Has started all but two of the Hoosiers games this season, registering his first points with an assist in a 4-2 win over UCF and adding another assist in a 3-1 win over St. Louis on Oct. 1.
Andrew Herr, redshirt sophomore defender for Michigan State
Has started and played nearly every minute for the Spartans, which have had one of the stingiest defenses in college soccer this season. With only five conceded the Spartans back line is second behind Syracuse in team goals against average at .37.
Colton Storm, sophomore defender for North Carolina
After starting the first seven games of the season for the Tar Heels, Storm has seen his playing time reduced, coming off the bench in five of the team's last six games.
Alex Shinsky, senior midfielder for Maryland
Has scored two goals in Maryland's last three games and added two assists in eight starts and one substitute appearance for the Terps.
Brandon Savino, junior midfielder for Penn State
Has scored a pair of goals for the Nittany Lions while starting all but one game for the Nittany Lions in his first year in State College after transferring from St. John's.
Michael Gonzalez, redshirt junior midfielder for Penn State
Has made two appearances for the Nittany Lions this season, coming off the bench for 14 minutes in a 3-0 win over St. Francis and 18 minutes in a 6-2 win over Penn.
Christian Kaschak, redshirt sophomore midfielder for Penn State
Has played in all 13 of the Nittany Lions games this season off the substitute's bench, averaging 18 minutes per game.
Shane Campbell, junior defender for Louisville
Has played in all but one game for the Cardinals at left back this season after transferring from Penn State. He's also taken free kicks and corners for the Cards, scoring one goal and adding two assists.
Joe Farrell, junior midfielder for La Salle
Has started in all but one of the Explorers games, scoring four goals - two game-winners, and adding two assists for La Salle.
Chad Craig, redshirt sophomore forward for Elon
Has appeared as a substitute in 12 of Elon's 15 games this season, scoring a goal in a 2-0 win over Drexel and assisting on another in a 5-0 win over Northeastern.
Jonathan Wenger, redshirt sophomore defender for Elon
Has made one appearance off the bench, playing 16 minutes this season.
Quincy Thomas, junior defender for Memphis
Has started in all but one of the Tigers games this season, assisting on a goal in a 4-0 win over St. Louis, one of six clean sheets the Tigers defense has registered on the year.
Kyle Bitterman, junior midfielder for Fordham
Has three assists on the year, starting five games and coming off the bench six others for Fordham.
Kyle Morton, goalkeeper for James Madison
Has recorded five clean sheets for James Madison this season, starting in goal in all 15 of their games.
Matt Jeffery, senior defender for Monmouth
Has started in all of Monmouth's games this season, anchoring a back line that has nine clean sheets and a 7-2-4 record.
Jelani Williams, junior forward for Monmouth
Has scored two goals, including a game-winner over Albany while starting five games and coming in off the bench in two others. He's missed five straight games.
Todd Pratzner, sophomore defender for Xavier
Has started all of the Muskateers games, is third on the team in minutes played and scored the first goal of his college career, a game-winner to beat Pitt, on Oct. 7. Xavier has seven clean sheets and a 9-3-2 record.
Melvin Snoh, junior forward for Georgetown
Has a game-winning goal and an assist - both were in the same game - and come off the bench in all but two of Georgetown's games.
Brett Campbell, sophomore forward for Georgetown
Has come off the bench in all but two of the Hoyas games this season, but has yet to register a point.
Cameron Kirdzik, sophomore forward for Yale
Has played in all but one of Yale's games, starting seven games and coming off the bench four times.
Colin O'Neill, sophomore midfielder for Colgate
Has started nine games and come off the bench in two other games for Colgate this season.
Alex Murphy, junior midfielder for Penn
Has not played this season.
Thomas Shiiba, junior forward for Navy
Has assisted on the game-winning goal in three straight games for the Midshipmen and has three goals and six assists on the season.
Mark Shiiba, sophomore defender for Navy
Has made eight appearances off the bench for the Midshipmen, logging 67 minutes.
Connor Ryan, redshirt freshman midfielder for Drexel
Has not played this season.
Joe Harding, freshman defender for Fairfield
Has come off the bench twice, logging 15 minutes total.
Noah Snyder, freshman midfielder for Duke
Has come off the bench four times for the Blue Devils, logging 19 minutes total.
Tyler Skwara, freshman midfielder for Boston College
Has not played this season.
Matthew Greer, freshman midfielder/forward for Dartmouth
Has come off the bench in four of Dartmouth's 12 games.
Patrick Berneski, freshman defender for Notre Dame
Has not played this season