It's getting down to the end of the season in college soccer and that means tournament time around the NCAA. This weekend, every conference will crown a champion before the NCAA Tournament bracket comes out early next week. Let's check in on some of our FC Dallas Academy alumni that could be playing into the post-season:
Boyd Okwuono - Senior Defender - University of North Carolina
Okwuono leads UNC in starts and minutes played this season and earned All-ACC First Team honors for the third straight year at center back. One of the brightest FCD Academy talents in the college game, Okwuono has been ever-present for UNC in his four years there and the Tar Heels, who were upset by Louisville in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, will begin their NCAA Tournament play next weekend.
Damian Rosales - Senior Defender - SMU
Rosales has appeared in nearly every match during his four years at SMU as both an outside back and a winger. The senior, who was named to the All-AAC Second Team, is second on SMU with six goals this season and scored two in their 4-0 win over UCF in the AAC Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
The Mustangs will play Tulsa in today's AAC Tournament semifinals in Storrs, CT,. in a match that could determine who will advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Also on the Mustangs from FCD are freshman center back Jordan Cano, sophmore forward Abdul Yassine, freshman midfielder Marco Carrizales & sophmore goalkeeper Caleb Underwood
Skylar Hagan - Senior Defender - Old Dominion
Hagan has appeared in all but two matches this season for the Monarchs as an outside back. Hagan and the Monarchs have had an up and down season but seem to be peaking at the right time with six wins from their last eight matches including a 2-1 win over #22 New Mexico in the Conference USA Tournament quarterfinals.
They will host #5 UNC Charlotte tonight in a huge semifinal matchup.
Byron Knowles-Ramirez - Senior Defender - Tulsa
Ramirez has appeared in all 16 games for Tulsa this year who are in a similar position to SMU as a fringe tournament team. Friday's AAC Tournament semifinal against SMU will be huge for both teams.
Mark Ashby - Junior Defender - Harvard
One of the team captains, Ashby is one of just two players to start every game for the Crimson this year at center back. Pre-season All-Ivy League, Ashby has led the Crimson to a perfect 9-0-0 home record this year and they certainly have a shot of making the NCAA Tournament.
Mikey Ambrose - Junior Defender - Maryland
Ambrose, a team captain, has been fantastic at outside back for Maryland this season starting all 19 games and earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors. Ambrose has three assists this year for #13 Maryland who host #12 Michigan State this afternoon in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on the Big Ten Network.
Marco Ortiz / Bobby Edet - Sophomore Defender & Forward - Furman
The Furman Paladins are enjoying a nice season and FCD's Academy alumni have been big contributors. Ortiz scored his second goal of the season, a game-winner, to beat Wofford 1-0 in the SoCon Tournament on Wednesday. Edet, a sophmore forward, has contributed five goals in 19 games this season appearing in every match.
With the win, Furman(11-5-3) earned their first conference championship appearance since 2010 where they'll play Mercer on Saturday at 6:00PM in a match shown on ESPN3.
Kris Reaves - Freshman Defender - Wake Forest
The freshman outside back appeared in all 18 games for the Demon Deacons earning All-ACC Freshman team honors. The Demon Deacons fell in the ACC Tournament Quarterfinals but certainly have a shot at making the NCAA Tournament.
