It Takes A Team Effort To Prevail But It Is Highly Likely That The Play Of These Individuals Will Impact The Outcome Of The Sweet Sixteen Contests. The Stats Do Not Always Reflect The Contribution That Some Players Make.
Oregon State (10-5-5) vs. North Carolina – Saturday – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Oregon State
Forward Logan Farrington – Farrington is the go-to guy in Oregon State’s attack. He has produced 15 of the 39 goals the Beavers have scored including five game-winners.
Defender Turner Humphrey – Humphrey has been a key ingredient and stalwart on the defensive side of the ball for Oregon State all season.
North Carolina
Forward Martin Vician (10g, 2a) and Midfielder Quenzi Huerman (10g, 7a) – The Tar Heels needed to add punch to their attack. They accomplished through the addition of graduate students Vician from Harvard and Huerman from Seton Hall. They have combined for six game-winners.
Midfielder Sam Williams – Williams does not stand out on the stat line but he is a stabilizer and pace setter in the center of the park for North Carolina whose contribution should not be overlooked.
Indiana (15-4-4) vs. Notre Dame (12-2-5) – Saturday – South Bend, Indiana
Indiana
Forward Maouloune Goumballe – Goumballe is among the reasons why the Hoosiers have won eight straight. During that span Goumballe has been a key contributor finding the back of the net five times and contributing three assists.
Midfielder Patrick McDonald – McDonald is a stout presence and difference maker in the midfield for the Hoosiers. You can count on his play having an impact on which team gets the best of the run of play and possession.
Notre Dame
Forward Matthew Roou (10g, 3a) – Roou has been a difference maker for an Irish attack that has produced a total of 41 goals. The Irish, whose calling card under head coach Chad Riley has traditionally been solid play on the defensive side of the ball, is averaging 2.16 goals per game which is the most the Irish have averaged since the 2012 season when Ryan Finley powered the attack with 21 goals.
Defender Josh Ramsey – The junior center back is a mainstay in the back for a Notre Dame defense whose 0.624 goals against average is the third best in the country. Don’t underestimate his impact.
Stanford (11-3-5) vs. Clemson (12-3-5) – Saturday – Clemson, South Carolina
Stanford
Midfielder Zach Bohane – Bohane has had a breakout season for the Cardinal. The sophomore has been a catalyst on the offensive side of the ball with eights goals and eleven helpers on the season.
Defender Noah Adnan – Adnan is a stalwart who contributes stability, composure and tenacity to a Stanford defense that has only allowed a total of 12 goals. Adnan also has the ability to push forward and add to the attack.
Clemson
Midfielder Ousmane Sylla – Sylla is a baller with big play ability. With twelve goals and ten assists, he is clearly the go-to guy and the key ingredient in a multi-dimensional Clemson attack that has scored a total of 55 goals.
Midfielder Brandon Parrish and defender Gael Gibert – Parrish and Gibert add toughness, experience and consistency for the Tigers. They may not appear in the stat line but you can bet the farm that their play with be a factor in the outcome.
Loyola Marymount University (10-4-6) vs. West Virginia – Saturday – Morganton, West Virginia
Loyola Marymount
Forwards Ryan Kingsford and Tyger Smalls – Kingsford (6g, 3a) and Smalls (7g, 1a) have been at the center of the Lions offense. Chances are pretty good that they will play a key role in the productivity of LMU’s offense.
Midfielder Okeefe Cunningham – Don’t overlook the impact that Cunningham has on the level of LMU’s effectiveness. He has been a stalwart and catalyst all season for the Lions.
West Virginia
Forwards Marcus Caldeira and Yutaro Tsukada – Caldeira (12g, 3a) and Tsukada (11g, 9a) give the Mountaineers a one-two punch up top that is hard to contain. Both have big play ability.
Midfielder Otto Ollikainen – Ollikaninen is the glue in the center of the park for West Virginia. He may not stand out when you look at the statistics but there is no doubt that his play will factor into the level of success that West Virginia has.
Picture from Indiana Athletics.
