Spring Break
Top Offenses To Battle In Morrone Stadium
Men's Soccer: UConn To Face Talented Hokies In College Cup Quarterfinals
Mike Northup
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: Sports
It will be a battle of high-powered offenses Saturday as the third-seeded UConn men's soccer team faces No. 11 seed Virginia Tech at 1 p.m. at Morrone Stadium in the quarterfinals of the 2007 College Cup. The Hokies provide UConn with arguably its toughest matchup all year.
"It's the quarterfinals, so we've got to be ready to play," said head coach Ray Reid. "We know they've got one of the best players in the country in Patrick Nyarko up front - a very talented forward. They're very good defensively. They've got a very good team, we're very concerned."
Despite coming off a high-scoring 5-0 victory over South Florida in the third round of the College Cup, head coach Ray Reid said he doesn't know what to expect heading into the game.
"These games in the tournament tend to take on lives of themselves at this point," Reid said.
Virginia Tech has been on the fortunate end of a pair of close games in the College Cup so far. The Hokies received a first-round bye, defeated California 3-2 in the second round and won, 1-0 against Old Dominion in the third round.
The Hokies have averaged 2.38 goals per game, the fifth-best scoring offense in the NCAA as of Dec. 2. UConn currently ranks sixth in scoring offense with 2.30 goals per game.
"They've got Patrick Nyarko up front, they've got [Robert Edmans] who's very good, they're a bunch to prepare for," Reid said.
The Huskies have also held things down on defense as well, with a 0.51 goals-against average - good for third-best in the NCAA through Dec. 2.
While the Huskies have been consistent on both ends of the ball all season, they have kicked it up a notch since the playoffs. UConn has outscored opponents 19-1 dating back to the Big East Championship quarterfinals.
One of the key forces behind the Hokies' powerful attack is forward Nyarko, who ranks 18th in the nation in assists with 10, and is third on the team in goals with six on the season. Nyarko isn't alone, however, as six different Virginia Tech players have double-digit point totals.
"It's the quarterfinals, so we've got to be ready to play," said head coach Ray Reid. "We know they've got one of the best players in the country in Patrick Nyarko up front - a very talented forward. They're very good defensively. They've got a very good team, we're very concerned."
Despite coming off a high-scoring 5-0 victory over South Florida in the third round of the College Cup, head coach Ray Reid said he doesn't know what to expect heading into the game.
"These games in the tournament tend to take on lives of themselves at this point," Reid said.
Virginia Tech has been on the fortunate end of a pair of close games in the College Cup so far. The Hokies received a first-round bye, defeated California 3-2 in the second round and won, 1-0 against Old Dominion in the third round.
The Hokies have averaged 2.38 goals per game, the fifth-best scoring offense in the NCAA as of Dec. 2. UConn currently ranks sixth in scoring offense with 2.30 goals per game.
"They've got Patrick Nyarko up front, they've got [Robert Edmans] who's very good, they're a bunch to prepare for," Reid said.
The Huskies have also held things down on defense as well, with a 0.51 goals-against average - good for third-best in the NCAA through Dec. 2.
While the Huskies have been consistent on both ends of the ball all season, they have kicked it up a notch since the playoffs. UConn has outscored opponents 19-1 dating back to the Big East Championship quarterfinals.
One of the key forces behind the Hokies' powerful attack is forward Nyarko, who ranks 18th in the nation in assists with 10, and is third on the team in goals with six on the season. Nyarko isn't alone, however, as six different Virginia Tech players have double-digit point totals.
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