A quick round up of how Fire Academy and PDL alumni did in the first week of the 2014 NCAA College Cup...
North Carolina
Senior forward Tyler Engel went 61 minutes in North Carolina’s 6-0 drubbing of James Madison last Thursday, setting up Sunday’s second round date with UNC-Charlotte (HIGHLIGHTS).
Engel shined in that match, scoring two goals, including a dramatic 89th minute winner off a feed from Andy Craven in the Tar Heels 2-1 victory over the 49ers Sunday (HIGHLIGHTS). The performance earned the Orland Park product a place on College Soccer News’s National Team of the Week.
Engel and North Carolina await the winner of Monday night’s match between Clemson and Coastal Carolina in Sunday’s third round.
SIU-Edwardsville & Northwestern
Redshirt Freshman Kyle Dal Santo got his first collegiate start after senior Kent Kobernus was injured ahead of last Thursday’s first round match with Northwestern. The Bolingbrook product had a fine debut, making eight saves in SIU-Edwardsville’s 1-0 upset of the Wildcats (HIGHLIGHTS).
Fire PDL goalkeeper Tyler Miller made six saves in the losing effort for Northwestern while Academy alums Joey Calistri, Peter Beasley and Connor Holloway also appeared in the match as the Wildcats finished the campaign at 9-4-6.
Dal Santo made six saves in SIU-E’s second round match Sunday at California, but conceded a rebound that saw Cal’s Bobby Sekine tally the game’s only goal in the 71st minute. Dal Santo and the Cougars finished the season with an 8-9-4 record.
Notre Dame
Freshman Jeffrey Farina went 45 minutes and tallied the game-winning assist in Notre Dame’s 2-1 home win over Ohio State during Sunday’s second round match in South Bend, Ind.
Farina threaded a beautiful ball through the Buckeyes’ backline to find fellow freshman John Gallagher who slotted his effort to the far post in the 69th minute (HIGHLIGHTS).
The Fighting Irish advance to host Virginia in Sunday’s third round.
Indiana
Big Ten Freshman of the Year Grant Lillard scored Indiana’s lone goal in the 34th minute of the Hoosier’s 2-1 home defeat to Xavier Sunday.
Senior defender Patrick Doody and junior forward Andrew Oliver also appeared in the match as the Hoosiers finished the 2014 campaign at 12-6-5.
Denver
Freshman midfielder Alex Underwood (Winnetka, Ill.) played seven minutes in the University of Denver’s 1-0 first round loss at Oregon State Thursday.
Underwood finished his first collegiate season with two assists in 18 appearances as the Pioneers went 11-8-1 in 2014.
Michigan State
Chicago Fire PDL forward Ryan Montague registered five shots in Michigan State’s 1-0 second round victory over Oakland University Sunday in East Lansing.
Montague and the Spartans next host Washington Sunday, November 30.
Louisville
The Chicago Fire PDL’s Will Vitalis and Daniel Keller both appeared for the Cardinals in their 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Saint Louis Sunday.
The Cardinals next host UMBC in the third round Sunday, November 30.
