Men's Preview: 5 Games to Watch
After three weeks of men’s college soccer, only a handful of undefeated teams remain. Numerous ranked sides have dropped points to unlikely foes, or been toppled by someone above them. It’s only appropriate, then, that four of this weekend’s five best games feature at least one undefeated side.
Here is a week where records can be blemished, where top teams face their toughest tests so far. And although there isn’t a top five clash, week four offers plenty of intrigue. These are our five games to watch.
Friday, September 9
No. 22 Akron at No. 11 Indiana, 8 p.m. (BTN+)
Indiana hasn’t quite had the same bite Todd Yeagley usually gets out of its team so far. A 3-3 tie against Portland in which the Hoosiers surrendered a 3-1 lead exposed some defensive flaws. But the Hoosiers rebounded well, edging St. John’s(m) 1-0 at home. How it will fair against a high-scoring Akron team, then, is difficult to project. The Zips have been clinical thus far, averaging nearly four goals per game, and boast a real attacking threat in Jason Shakalook. If Akron can get on the board early, this might be a nervy one at home.
No. 23 Stanford at Creighton, 8:30 p.m. (FloFC)
Creighton started the 2022 season so strong that some kind of drop off seemed inevitable. And a winless week — highlighted by a frustrating 3-2 loss to St. Louis(m) in which the Blue Jays outshot their opponent — marked the first real adversity the team has faced thus far. A Friday night clash against Stanford isn’t the easiest matchup to recover in, either. The Cardinal scored seven goals last week alone, and have dismantled their last three opponents. Creighton has found the net plenty. This Friday will be a real test of how effectively it can keep the ball out of its own.
Saturday, September 10
No. 19 Maryland at No. 7 Georgetown, 1 p.m. (FloFC)
This matchup always seems to deliver. Here are two teams loaded with talent but perhaps lacking in big game experience. Still, both have shown real attacking quality over the past week, with Maryland putting six past Virginia and Georgetown scoring five against Temple. This could be a tighter matchup — especially between two rivals — but with so much quality going forward, it’s hard not to see goals in this game.
No. 3 Duke at No. 14 Louisville, 7:30 p.m. (ACC Network Xtra)
Louisville had its first real blip of the season, losing on the road to a well drilled Kentucky side. Things don’t get easier for the Cardinals, as they will host No. 3 Duke — which hasn’t lost a game. Duke, meanwhile, will face its first top 15 team. It has been solid defensively thus far, keeping three clean sheets in a row. But that record might be under threat, especially given Louisville’s quality in the final third.
Sunday, September 11
No. 9 Kentucky at No. 12 Tulsa, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Kentucky put in a strong performance to beat Louisville Monday night, eventually winning 3-2. It was the Wildcats' fourth win on the bounce and the first in which they’ve conceded. Tulsa presents a difficult type of challenge, though. The Hurricanes have scored four in every game, with eight different goalscorers chipping in. They’ve also only lost one home game across the last three seasons. It should be a thrilling contest in the last week of nonconference play.
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