We hope understandably, a lot of our focus here at fcbuffalo.org has been on FC Buffalo’s 2019 preseason trip to Germany (MORE INFO HERE) to represent our city and country in Hamburg, Dortmund, and Frankfurt.
But even with a veteran-heavy roster in 2018, a lot of FCB players have gone back to school and written their names atop their team or conference leaderboards.
Here’s how the boys are doing ahead of the late season push for conference and national tournaments across the U.S. (and in Eastern Canada).
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Division I
Metro Atlantic: FCB goalkeepers Steve Casey and Bryce Tramuta aren’t just locked in the Niagara-Canisius “Battle of the Bridge” rivalry, the MAAC stars are in a statistical fight. Bryce’s 62 saves in 12 games have him third in the conference at an almost absurd 5.17 per match (.1 off the conference lead), while Casey is fourth in the MAAC with 54 saves.
Troy Brady‘s six goals for the Griffs have him fourth in the MAAC, and Troy has added three assists on the season. FCB and Canisius teammate Hunter Walsh is third on the team in goals and assists in just 826 minutes. Brother Evan Walsh has an assist in 13 appearances. Over at NU, two-year FCB roster member Bauti Pedezert has two goals and an assist in 12 matches.
SMU: Akean Shackleford has adjusted well to life in D-1 and is now tied for the Southern Methodist team lead in goals with five in 12 matches. Akean has scored four of his goals in his last four matches, including a brace against Cincinnati.
A-10: The race to reach Saint Louis for the conference tournament means qualifying to one of eight quarterfinal seeds for Duquesne’s Austin Stout and St. Bonaventure’s Isaiah Wilson. The Dukes (2-2-2) currently hold the eighth spot on the 13-team table with two matches to play, the next match on Saturday in Olean against the 2-4 Bonnies. Austin has a goal and two assists for the Dukes, while Isaiah leads St. Bonaventure in minutes as a newly-minuted center back. Kickoff at Bonas on Saturday is 7 p.m. ET
Canada
— Lewis White and Euan Bauld have again featured prominently as Cape Breton looks to win a second-straight Canadian college national championship. Left back Lewis has an assist while starting all 11 games, while center back Euan has a goal for the Capers in starting eight.
Elsewhere
Buffalo State: It’s no surprise to see the Bengals thriving again, with FCB players contributing with nine goals and eight assists. Powerful center back Robert Williamson has a team-high 1479 minutes, posting four goals and an assist. Ali Shawish has five goals and four assists on the season to sit second on the team in points, while Colin O’Keefe has started 15 of 16 matches and has three assists.
Medaille: An injury-hit summer meant Mitchell Ali is now making up for lost FCB time with a typical aplomb. Mitchell has nine goals and eight assists in 16 matches for the Mavericks, scoring with better than one-third of his shots on goal.
Other: Left-sided threat Charlie Livesey has returned from injury to post a team-best six assists in 12 matches for D-II Jefferson in Philadelphia. …. It was a baptism-by-fire for Cortland freshman understudy Noah Smith, who debuted for the Red Dragons after a sixth-minute red card to his senior goalkeeper. … Chris Camilli and Barton College are into the NJCAA Regional Tournament, with Chris posting a goal and an assist over 15 matches in the Cougars 14-1-2 start to the season. … JP Meibohm has an assist in 11 matches for Elon. …
