Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Overall Rank: #37
#3 American
Tulsa Team Page
Tulsa found themselves on the outside of the NCAA Tournament picture for the second time in three years. For a program that missed just two tournaments in the previous eight seasons, this is not familiar territory for Coach Tom McIntosh and his Golden Hurricane. A tough stretch right in the middle of the campaign doomed this team, but they were playing better at the end of the year and will hope to carry that momentum into 2014.
2013 Record: 11-6-3, 4-3-2
2013 Postseason: None
Coach: Tom McIntosh
Returning Leaders:
Goals: Akeil Barrett, Senior, F, 7
Assists: Akeil Barrett, Senior, F, 8
Shots: Akeil Barrett, Senior, F, 44
Saves: Jake McGuire, Sophomore, GK, 46
Other Key Returnees: M Abe Matamoros, M Cameron Drackett, D Tony Rocha, D Byron Knowles-Ramirez, D Bradley Bourgeois, D Quinton Duncan, D Quinn Starker
Key Losses: F Cristian Mata, M Omar Mata, F Bryce Follensbee, F Kyle Cumings, GK Cody Mumma
Strengths:
The Tulsa defense is often overshadowed by the offense, but this time around the defense may get the credit they deserve. Bradley Bourgeois, Quinton Duncan, Byron Knowles-Ramirez, Tony Rocha and Quinn Starker are all experienced defenders who started at least 11 games in 2013. Knowles-Ramirez and Rocha are the smaller defenders who will get up in attack. Starker, a senior, and Duncan, a sophomore, are both six feet tall and use that height well in the box. Speaking of big backs, Jordan Speed is one of the best recruits in a quality group of newcomers for Tulsa. Keeper Jake McGuire had an up and down season as a freshman last year, but started 11 games and recorded three shutouts. There are no experienced options should McGuire falter again this year. Walk-on Christian Camera or incoming freshman Kyle Daledovich would have to fill in. Up front, Akeil Barrett has kept getting better and better since he joined Tulsa from Akron. As a sophomore in 2012, he scored seven goals and added four assists for Tulsa. Last year he boosted his numbers up to seven goals and eight assists. He should be in for a big senior season.
Weaknesses:
But Tulsa needs somebody to get the ball to Barrett and emerge as a secondary scoring option. Losing Cristian Mata and Omar Mata is huge. Cristian led the team with ten goals and added seven assists. Omar totaled four goals and three assists and did a lot of the work in the midfield. Playmakers are needed and so are secondary goal scorers to compliment Barrett. Kyle Cumings, who scored four goals, and Bryce Follensbee, who netted three, are also gone. Midfielders like Abe Matamoros and Cameron Drackett are capable of stepping up, but freshmen like Geoffrey Dee will be given a shot too.
Final Projection:
Tulsa has proven over the last decade that they are at a point where they can reload. The losses are big, but there are not that many of them, so this is not even a total reloading job. The switch to the American Athletic Conference will create a few new rivalries and this is a team that can compete with Connecticut and South Florida. However, both of those contests are on the road. A tough non-conference slate, which includes Cal State Northridge, Virginia, Creighton and Akron, will provide Tulsa with plenty of opportunities to pick up a big win or two.
Projected Postseason: NCAA Tournament
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 1.85 (25th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Goals-Against Average: 0.91 (43, 3)
Shutout Percentage: 0.35 (55, 3)
Save Percentage: 0.80 (45, 1)
Madness 2014 Men’s Soccer Recruit Rankings:
#107 Jordan Speed
See All College Sports Madness Top 44 Men's Soccer Previews
