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The Northeastern men's soccer team is back in the NCAA tournament as the 2012 CAA Champions host Boston College on Thursday night (7p.m.) in the first round of the national tournament. The winner of the game will advance to play at Connecticut on Sunday at 1 p.m.
The first 1,000 students at the match on Thursday will receive free admission, pre-game BBQ and hot chocolate. Shuttle buses will depart from Chicken Lou's on Forsyth St. beginning at 6 p.m. All other student tickets to the match will be $2, while adult prices are $5 and children and Northeastern staff $3.
The Huskies are coming off a 1-0 double overtime victory against Hofstra in the CAA title game last weekend to earn the conference's automatic berth, while the Eagles earned an at-large bid after being eliminated by Clemson in the ACC quarterfinals.
Northeastern is led by CAA Player of the Year, and reigning College Soccer News National Player of the Week
Don Anding, who has 14 goals and six assists this season. His 34 points are the eighth most in the nation.
The NU back line and senior goalkeeper
Oliver Blum have held their opponents to one goal or less in 16 of the team's 19 games this season. The group has a CAA low goals against average of 0.79, and is one shutout away from tying the program record for shutouts in a season.
NU is unbeaten in their last 15 matches at Parsons Field (14-0-1), including a 7-0-1 mark this season, and hasn't lost there since Nov. 6, 2010.
Husky history in the NCAA tournament
Northeastern is making its second appearance in the NCAA tournament in team history. The first came in 2002, when the Huskies advanced to the Second Round of the national tournament.
In 2002, Northeastern battled Lehigh to a 1-1 draw before advancing on penalty kicks, 7-6. That set up a meeting with Boston College, where the Eagles triumphed, 2-1. The game was originally slated to be played at Boston College's Newton Soccer Complex, but was moved to Parsons Field and delayed one hour because of snow.
The Huskies jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the second half, but BC rallied with two goals in a span of 3:51 to advance. Michael Cipriano scored the lone goal for NU while Sergio Saccoccio made three saves in goal.
The matchup with Boston College
Boston College owns an 11-0-1 mark in the all-time series against the Huskies as the team's meet for the first time since 2005. The Eagles were victories in the last meeting seven years ago, defeating NU, 2-1.
Senior forward Charlie Rugg has led the Eagles into this year's NCAA Tournament. The Roslindale, Mass. native has compiled 14 points this season (five goals, four assists), and currently sits at sixth place in the Eagles record books in both goals (23), and points (60). Following Rugg is Derrick Boateng, a freshman midfielder who has had a great rookie campaign thus far. Boateng has three goals and three assists this season.
Also contributing to the Eagles' successful campaign this season has been senior classmates Kevin Mejia and Kyle Bekker. Mejia, a dual forward and defenseman, along with Bekker on the midfield line, have each provided six points apiece. From Mejia's three goals and Bekkers one goal and four assists, the Eagles have a number of scoring threats spread throughout the pitch.
In his senior year, goalie Justin Luthy, formerly a transfer from UMass, has come up with seven shutouts this season, accumulating a 6-5-5 record along the way. With his 37 career wins, and just over 5711 minutes played, he sits at second place all-time for Boston College in wins and time played. He currently holds a 1.01 goals against average and a .746 save percentage.
Husky-Eagle connections
Head coaches
Brian Ainscough and Ed Kelly will put their friendship on hold come 7 p.m. on Thursday. Ainscough was an assistant under the longtime Eagles head coach in 1992, and the two have been friends for the last 30 years.
In addition, NU assistant coach Adam Pfeifer played four years for Kelly's Eagles and finished his career in the Boston College top 20 in points (36) as well as in the top 10 in assists (16). The Newton, Mass., native led the team with six assists his freshman year, then paced the Eagles in goals (6) and points (15) his sophomore season while finishing sixth in scoring in the BIG EAST.
He was also a key contributor on the 2002 team that had a program-best 18 victories, won the BIG EAST Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals. In 2003 as a senior, Pfeifer led BC with four assists. Pfeifer also served as an assistant coach under Kelly for one season in 2005.
Sergio Saccoccio, a former Husky goalkeeper, is an assistant coach for Boston College in his fourth season with the Eagles.
Make it a double
Five of Northeastern's 13 wins this season have come in double overtime, a new program record. The previous record for overtime victories in a season was two, which was set in 2009.
The Huskies are the only team in the nation with five double overtime wins this season. The next closest is Charlotte, with four.
Just another record
It's been a season of records for Northeastern as the Huskies tied the program record for most wins in a season, originally set in 2001.
In addition, NU set the program record for longest unbeaten streak at 12 games. NU bested the previous mark of nine, which was set in 2009.
The Huskies also tied the program record for longest winning streak at six games, which was originally set in 2006. NU's 32 goals this season is its most since 2002, when the Huskies scored 42.
St-Anding atop the record lists
Senior forward
Don Anding has rewritten the Northeastern record books in 2012. The Amity Harbor, N.Y. native leads the team, and the conference, with 34 points (14 goals, six assists) this season. A three-time CAA Player of the Week honoree, Anding is seventh in the nation in points per game (1.79) and tied for eighth in total points.
His 34 points are the most since 1995 (Bjorn Hansen), while his 14 goals are also the most since 1999 (Petter Starnas).
For his career, Anding currently sits in fifth on the NU record list for career points (61), third in career goals (25) and tied for 10th in career assists (12). He is also second on the NU record list for goals in a season (14) and third for points in a season (34).
Anding had a night to remember on Sep. 25 against Holy Cross when he netted his first career hat trick, the first for a Husky since 2001 (Starnas).
Alexander The Great
Junior
Conner Alexander buried two goals in the CAA Semifinal match against James Madison, a new career-high. He is tied for third on the team in both points (eight) and goals (four.) Two of his goals have been game-winners, and he is one of two Huskies with multiple GWG (Anding).
Double-digit victories
Northeastern's victory against Hofstra on Oct. 17 got the Huskies to double-digit wins for the second straight season, and third time in the last four years. NU's 10 victories in 13 matches was the quickest Northeastern has reached double-digit victories is program history.
Last time out
Senior forward
Don Anding scored with 4:38 left in double overtime to give the Northeastern men's soccer team (13-2-4) its first-ever CAA Championship with a 1-0 victory against Hofstra on Sunday afternoon at Vidas Field.
With the win, Northeastern secured an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, the program's first since 2002. The Huskies also tied the team record for victories in a season, which was originally set in 2001.
On the game-winning play, junior
Dante Marini touched the ball over to Anding. The CAA Player of the Year took a couple of dribbles to create space and then fired a 20-yard left-footed laser that hooked into the right side of the net. It was the league-leading 14th goal of the season for Anding, who was honored as the Most Outstanding Performer of the championship.
In addition,
Conner Alexander, Anding,
Oliver Blum and
Jonathan Eckford were all named to the CAA All-Tournament Team.
Huskies crack national rankings
Northeastern earned national recognition on Oct. 30. The Huskies entered the NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division I Men's National Poll for the first time in program history at No. 25.
NU previously received votes in the poll at three different times this season, and was the first team receiving votes in last week's poll. Northeastern was also ranked at No. 26 in the College Soccer News Top 30 National Poll and 33rd in the TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 48 Poll that week.
Patrolling the box
Senior goalkeeper
Oliver Blum has provided a defensive spark for the Huskies in 2012, posting a 12-1-4 record in the regular season. His 12 victories are the most for a Husky goalkeeper since Sergio Saccoccio had 12 in 2002.
Blum leads the CAA with a 0.56 goals against average, and is second in the league with a .844 save percentage. The North Yarmouth, Maine native is also eighth and 17th in the nation in those categories, respectively.
A CAA Co-Player of the Week earlier this season, Blum is on pace to have one of the best career goals against averages in program history.
Cardiac kids
Northeastern has made a habit of coming from behind in 2012. The Huskies have tied the game in the final five minutes of regulation twice this season (vs. Providence, at William & Mary). In addition, NU has found a way to win in overtime in 2012, totaling five victories in extra time, a program record.
Home sweet home
Parsons Field proved to be a friendly venue to the Huskies in 2011 as NU went a perfect 7-0-0 at home. NU was the only team in the CAA to finish the season with no losses or ties at home.
The Huskies continued their winning ways this season, extending its streak to a program record 15-games without a loss. NU had won 14 straight at Parsons before a 0-0 draw on Senior Night, and has not lost at home since Nov. 6, 2010.
Northeastern outscored its opponents 14-4 at home this season, highlighted by a five-goal night against Holy Cross on Sep. 25, and hasn't trailed at home in the last 556 minutes played, dating back to the match against the Crusaders.
Stingy defense
Led by the back line of
Ambry Moss,
Simon Cox,
Nikko Lara and
Conner Alexander, as well as the play from senior goalkeeper
Oliver Blum, the Huskies have held their opponents to one goal or less in 16 of the team's 19 matches this season, including nine shutouts.
Northeastern leads the conference and is 10th in the nation with a team goals against average of 0.72, due in large part to the Huskies holding their opponents to an average of just 10.8 shots per game (4.3 shots on goal/game).
NU's nine shutouts this season are the most for the squad since 2008, and is one away from tying the program record for most shutouts in a season (10), which was set in 2008.
Huskies take home hardware
A program-record eight Huskies earned All-Conference accolades on Thursday night at the annual CAA Awards Banquet. Northeastern took home three major awards as
Don Anding was named the CAA Player of the Year,
Simon Cox the Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach
Brian Ainscough the Co-Coach of the Year.
Ainscough is the first NU coach to be named coach of the year since Ed Matz in 2002, while Anding is just the third Husky to earn Player of the Year honors, and first since 2002. Cox, meanwhile, is the first NU Defensive Player of the Year honoree in program history.
In addition, three Huskies (Anding, Cox,
Oliver Blum) were named to the All-CAA First Team, the most in team history, while
Dante Marini and
Ambry Moss earned Second Team accolades and
Jonathan Eckford joined the Third Team. Two Husky newcomers were also named to the league's All-Rookie Team, which is tied for the most in program history, including
Terence Carter and
Donovan Fayd'Herbe de Maudave.
Unfamiliar territory
When Towson took a 2-1 lead in the 57th minute on Oct. 24, it marked the first time in more than 639 minutes that the Huskies had trailed in a match. Before then, the last time NU trailed was on Sep. 29 at VCU.
Northeastern wasn't down to Towson for long, however, as the Huskies leveled the score at two just 3:23 later on a goal from
Simon Cox.
Quick and to the point
With the Huskies attempting to set the program record for longest unbeaten streak on Oct. 20 against UNCW, Northeastern came out firing. Just 61 seconds into the match,
Donovan Fayd'Herbe de Maudave scored his third goal of the season off a pass from
Don Anding.
The goal was the fastest NU tally to start a match since Sep. 14, 2003 against Air Force (34 seconds).
Additionally, NU's 3-0 halftime lead against James Madison on Friday was its largest Nov. 3, 2002 against Binghamton, when the Huskies led 4-0 at the break.
Offensive explosion
In Northeastern's 5-2 victory against Holy Cross on Sep. 25,
Don Anding became the first Husky since 2001 to score three goals in a game (Petter Starnas). Anding was also the first NU player since Alexander Volk to record six points in one game.
As a team, the win marked the first time that NU had scored five goals in a match since Nov. 3, 2002 against Binghamton.
Andre Ciliotta also got into the scoring act in the match with two assists, becoming the first Husky since 2009 to tally two helpers in a game (Santiago Bedoya).
An October to remember
Northeastern closed the month of October with a 6-0-2 record, all against conference opponents. It is the first time in the history of the program that the Huskies have finished a month (min. five matches) unbeaten.
Devoy honored by TopDrawerSoccer.com
Freshman forward
Devin Devoy is among the nation's top rookies, according to the TopDrawerSoccer.com Freshmen Top 100 list.
Devoy, who checks in at No. 88 on the list, has played in 12 games this season for the Huskies, including 11 starts. The North Attleboro, Mass. native has spent most of his time in the midfield in 2012.
Before arriving on Huntington Avenue, Devoy played four years of varsity soccer at Bishop Feehan High School, where he finished his prep career as the program's all-time leading goal-scorer. Devoy also played for the New England Revolution club program and coach Mike Pariseau, and was named the 2010-11 New England Revolution U16 Player of the Year.
NU unveils digital media guides
The Northeastern athletic department introduces the official 2012-13 digital media guide for the men's soccer team. In an upgrade from previous media guides, this year's digital guides provide a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate format to access information for all 18 teams at Northeastern.
This season's digital media guides provide a glance into the student-athletes, coaches and history of each NU team, as well as a multitude of information on the University and the City of Boston. The guide also allows fans to learn more about a specific topic with a simple click of the mouse.
Join the conversation
Follow the Huskies all season long on the team's social media outlets. The official Facebook (facebook.com/GoNUmsoccer) and Twitter (@GoNUmsoccer) accounts for the team provide up-to-the-minute information on all things Huskies Soccer. Be sure to like and follow all 18 Northeastern teams and join the conversation.
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