UConn / New Mexico Region 1st and 2nd Round Breakdowns
New Mexico lost three games and tied one on the season. Two of those losses and the one tie, which UNM eventually lost in penalty kicks, came against Air Force. It looks like Air Force just has a knack for beating the Lobos, but they generally keep the score low and steal a late goal or two. But luckily it is quite unlikely that New Mexico will run into Air Force in the NCAA Tournament. If they did it would not be until the quarterfinals.
#4 Connecticut vs. Northeastern/Boston College
Boston College will head to Northeastern in the first round matchup. Both the Eagles and the Huskies can be a bit offensively challenged, so it should not take many goals to win this contest. Boston College went just 3-2-3 in the ACC, but they are a well-tested squad. Striker Charlie Rugg, who scored five goals and tallied four assists on the year, will need to have a big game. Northeastern has the offensive firepower in Don Anding to knock off the Eagles at home. Anding found the back of the net 14 times so far this season and one more could be all Northeastern needs to move on and face the Huskies of Connecticut in the second round.
Whether it is Northeastern or Boston College, they will have their hands full in Connecticut. UConn has had a great year and boasts a ton of talent. Mamadou Doudou Diouf is one of the best pure scorers in the country, Carlos Alvarez is an amazing midfielder who can set up his teammates or shoot himself and Andre Blake has a professional career between the posts waiting for him. All of that talent may be too much for Northeastern or Boston College, but Connecticut will have to battle through a grind it out match in the second round.
#13 New Mexico vs. Virginia/Lafayette
Lafayette earned an NCAA Tournament berth after beating American 2-0 in the Patriot League tournament. This is not a particularly potent or consistent Leopards squad, but they do have a solid scoring threat in Alec Golini and a good keeper in Nathan McDonald. However, Virginia should be way too much for Lafayette. The Cavaliers lost in the first round last season to Delaware, so they will not be overlooking Lafayette as much as the rest of us. Striker Will Bates tallied 11 goals on the year, but UVA does need to shore up their defense.
It is in the second round where UVA’s flaws could come out for all to see. They have not been very good defensively and New Mexico has the talent to take advantage of that. Devon Sandoval netted 14 goals during the regular season and Blake Smith tallied three goals and 13 assists. The Lobos averaged more goals per game than any other team in the nation and their defense should not be overlooked either. Kyle Venter is a great defender and Victor Rodriguez is second to only Andre Blake when it comes to current college keepers eyeing a move to the next level.
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