PDL Feature

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Sounders FC U23 All-PDL selection DeAndre Yedlin and the Michigan Bucks’ Scott Caldwell will lead No. 9 Akron against the Jersey Express’ Rafael Diaz and No. 10 St. John’s in the NSCAA Game of the Week on Fox Soccer Friday night at 7 p.m. ET, leading the PDL players who will appear in a pair of nationally televised games this weekend as the Men’s Division I Soccer season continues.

Yedlin, who played a key role as the Sounders U23 claimed the Western Conference Championship this past summer, has continued to perform well for the Zips this fall. Starting four of Akron’s five games, he has contributed two assists while helping teammate and Chicago Fire PDL goalkeeper David Meves post a 0.96 goals-against average.

At the other end of the field, Caldwell has followed up his strong 2011 season with the Zips by leading the side in scoring with five points in five games. The creative midfielder has two goals and an assist so far this season, while his Bucks teammate Bryan Gallego and Yedlin’s Sounders U23 teammate Aodhan Quinn have each found the back of the net.

The Zips will face a test from the currently undefeated Red Storm, who are 5-0-1 entering the weekend. Diaz had a remarkably strong summer for the Express, recording a 0.727 goals-against average and recording seven shutouts in 11 appearances. That form has continued into the fall, where he has played a key role for the Red Storm, having played every minute of his side’s six contests while recording a 0.48 goals-against average.

While Diaz tries to keep things quiet defensively, the Red Storm’s Jimmy Mulligan will try to help his side find the back of the net against Meves. Mulligan, who spent this summer with the Long Island Rough Riders, has found the net once this season, and leads his side with 20 shots having started every contest. Mulligan is joined by Rough Riders teammate Sean Sepe, who has a pair of assists, and Brooklyn Knights midfielder Juan Aguiar, who has scored once in four starts.

Elsewhere, ESPN3’s continued coverage of college soccer continues on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET as No. 3 Maryland visits No. 18 North Carolina State in an ACC showdown. Maryland, which is currently on a three-game winning streak and 4-0-1 overall this season, has been led by the New Orleans Jesters’ Patrick Mullins, who has eight points in five games, leading the team with four assists.

A native of New Orleans, Mullins has been a standout for the Jesters for the past two seasons, recording 12 points in nine games in 2011 and 15 points in 12 games this past summer. He is joined on the Terrapins by former Central Jersey Spartan Christiano Francois, who has four points off the bench this fall, and the Baltimore Bohemians’ London Woodberry, who has started all five contests.

They will visit a North Carolina State side that has won all six of its contests this season to move into the NSCAA’s Top 25. Former IMG Bradenton Academics defender Jorge Risquez has played his part in the Wolfpack’s success, starting all six contests this season, and will be one of those charged with slowing Mullins and the Terrapins’ attack in the Wolfpack’s opening game of ACC play.