The Mike Berticelli Excellence in Coaching Education Award is aptly given in memory of a great coach. We had met him briefly a few years ahead of his passing and did leave impressed. The honoree selected this year by United Soccer Coaches is Neil Hill.
Named to honor the late USC DOC & VP of Education, Mike was also the HC at Notre Dame, lost in Jan. of 2000. This is awarded annually to a member of the USC Academy Staff as an appreciation for their excellence in educating coaches.
readVA Tech frosh fwd Tori Powell as well as Clemson Sr. fwd Kimarni Smith were given the nod based on their past week of work.
Powell lead her Hokies to a duo of big victories by way of her 2 goals and pair of assists as they gained their ACC Tourney bid. Facing Wake Forest, she hit for her first 2 goals in a game, one being the GWG with an assist in the 4-3 victory. Facing BC, she had her next assist, good for her 3rd game in a row with one. They ran their record to 5-0 when she has a point, VA Tech now has 12 points over their last 7 games.
readThe top of the chart this week has remained very close to the last with Pitt topping the men's side and UNC still atop the ladies.
The Panthers ran the table for the fall at 5-0 and are #1 for the 3rd week in a row, Wake Forest is #2 for the same duration and KY gained onto #3, UNC was #4 while Clemson closed out the top 5.
As for the Women, UNC, also perfect at 9-0, have been the best all year, FSU is #2 for the 7th week straight, as TCU gained 2 ranks to 3rd as West VA finally cracked the top 5 reaching 4th and Clemson matched the men as they feel to 5th.
readSamantha Chung of Ontario, playing for South Carolina has been so honored. Her GWG in the 71' brought her team to a 2-1 victory over the then unbeaten Arkansas, it was her 2nd such goal and her team has only defeated one team ranked higher in its history.
We at Soccer Long Island Magazine congratulate her on the goal and her team on the upset victory.
readA total of 32 teams have been selected to this high honor by the largest group of soccer coaches in the world, United Soccer Coaches, among them 23 High School & 9 College sides, for the 2019-'20 academic year.
A trio of women's college teams, Eastern CT State U, SUNY Geneseo & Webster U. along with a quartet of female HS teams.
Christ Presbyterian Academy TN, Mt Vernon HS IN, South River HS MD & Poly Prep in Brooklyn, the last pair have reached this milestone the last 2 years.
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