AU Men’s Soccer Moves Up In National Rankings

WASHINGTON - After starting the Patriot League season 2-0, American University's men's soccer squad jumped to No. 13 in the NSCAA/adidas poll this week. AU is currently 8-2 with victories over nationally-ranked squads Boston College and Penn State. The Eagles won the D.C. College Cup and the Penn State/Nike Classic.

AU is also ranked No. 19 in the Soccertimes.com poll and No. 22 in the College Soccer News poll. In the NSCAA/adidas regional rankings, the Eagles are currently second in the South Atlantic Region.

Last week AU defeated Navy at home, 3-0, in the Patriot League opener for both squads. On Saturday, the Eagles travelled to Lafayette and defeated the Leopards, 2-1, on Charlie Koniver's (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep) goal in the 87th minute.

Sophomore midfielder Shawn Kuykendall (Fairfax, Va./Madison) was named the Patriot League Men's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season after scoring a goal and adding two assists against Navy. Earlier this season, he was named to the Soccer America Team of the Week and the College Soccer News National Team of the Week for Sept. 15.

In a match recently moved to AU's Reeves Field, the Eagles will host Loyola on Wednesday at 3 p.m. Sunday, American returns to Patriot League action as the Eagles take on Bucknell at 1 p.m. on Reeves Field.

American University is beginning its second year of membership in the Patriot League. In its inaugural year it captured league championships in men's soccer, women's volleyball, men's tennis and women's tennis, and regular-season titles in men's basketball and women's lacrosse. The University fields a 19-sport NCAA Division I athletics program, featuring 10 women's sports and nine for men.

Michael Behonick and the Eagles have moved up to No. 13 in the NSCAA/adidas poll.