College Soccer News National Team Of The Week – Week Ending November 3, 2013

MacKenzie Pridham – Senior – Forward – Cal Poly

Pridham netted a goal and contributed the assist on teammate Kevin Atkins' goal to lead Cal Poly past Sacramento State 4-2. Pridham, the 2012 Big West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, has thirteen goals so far this year and now holds the Cal Poly record for goals scored in a single season.  The Mustangs are 10-6-2 overall with a 3-3-2 mark in the Big West.

Riggs was on his game this week netting what proved to be the game-winning goal in Kentucky's 2-0 win over Marshall and scoring three second half goals to help power the Wildcats past Florida Atlantic University 6-1 to secure two big CUSA wins. Kentucky improves to 6-8-2 with a 3-3-2 mark in CUSA action. 

Wilson helped Liberty secure two good Big South Conference wins.  He scored out of a corner kick to help the Flames top Longwood 2-1.  He also scored twice to lead Liberty to a 3-1 victory over Campbell. Wilson has scored a total of eight goals so far this season. Liberty is 9-7-0 overall with a 5-4-0 mark in Big South Conference play. 

Velazco has been an impact player for the Cardinals.  This week in Louisville's wild 3-2 win over Saint Louis he served in a nice cross to set up teammate Andrew Brody's goal and assisted on teammate Jimmy Ockford's game-winning goal out of a free kick. He also converted a penalty kick. Louisville is 11-3-5 overall with a 5-1-2 record in the American Athletic Conference. 

Stolz is a playmaker and impact player who continues to make good things happen for the Bruins.  He scored what proved to be the game-winning goal in UCLA's 2-1 win over California when he drove a shot into the upper right hand corner from the top of the box. The Bruins improve to 10-3-4 overall with a 5-1-3 mark in Pac-12 action.   

Derschang came up big for the Zips scoring twice to lead Akron to a 2-1 win over Michigan in Ann Arbour. His first goal was from ten yards out and was set up by a cross from Saad Abdul-Salaam that Matt Foldesy flicked to Derschang.  His second goal was from ten yards out after he alertly controlled a loose ball in the box and deposited it into the back of the net.  Akron is 12-3-1 and is unbeaten in their past six games. 

Boateng scored twice including the game-winning goal to help power the Eagles to a 3-1 win over Virginia Tech.  His game-winning goal was a well placed ball from ten yards out with an assist from Matt Wendelken. Boateng also netted the insurance goal with freshman Zeiko Lewis contributing his twelveth assist of the 2013 season to date. Boston College improves to 7-7-2 with a 4-5-1 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play. 

Melitsanopoulos' first two career goals at Manhattan were huge as they gave the Jaspers the edge that they needed to come from behind to top Marist 3-2 in MAAC play and to keep their hopes of a berth in the conference tournament alive.  Reese Akers assisted on Melitsanopoulos' first goal and Tommy Amos provided the helper on the second.  

McCrary, who hails from Marietta, Georgia, was part of a rock solid North Carolina defense that shutout Virginia 1-0 in Charlottesville. The Tar Heel defense has allowed a total of only nine goals to date. McCrary and his teammates have now won four straight ACC matches and are 7-3-5 overall with a 4-1-5 record in conference play. Tyler Engel netted the UNC goal.

Parker was a key part of a tenacious and well organized St. John's defense that shutout highly regarded Georgetown 1-0 despite having to play a man down for a significant portion of the match. The Red Storm improves to 9-6-2 overall with a 2-4-2 record in Big East play. Teammate Rafael Diaz notched his eighth clean sheet of the 2013 season to establish a new program record thirty-one career shutouts in goal.      

Thomas won every ball that came his way in the process of anchoring a very stout Orange defensive effort that enabled Syracuse to shutout a very good Clemson team 1-0. Teammate Alex Bono notched the shutout in goal.  Syracuse improves to 10-6-1 with a 3-6-1 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference play.

Heemskerek made an impressive return to the pitch for the College of Charleston after missing eight-weeks of play due to an injury sustained in the Cougars second game of the 2013 season.  He had six stops including several big saves in the Cougar's 2-1 win over James Madison and had five saves to lead the College of Charleston to a 1-0 win over Northeastern.