1. 'Electric' Davies caps comeback with ACC award

• by Soccer America , Oct 31, 2006

Boston College's Charlie Davies, who missed all but one game of the 2005 college season, capped a comeback season by being named the 2006 ACC Offensive Player of the Year.

Davies leads all ACC players with 15 goals in 15 games and has the Eagles on the verge of making the NCAA Tournament after they went winless in the ACC in 2005.

Davies was the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2004, the Eagles' last season before moving to the ACC, but never got to play in an ACC game last season. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opening game against Fairleigh Dickinson and never returned. Without Davies, BC went 0-6-2 in the ACC and was the only conference team not to be selected to the NCAA Tournament.

But he rehabbed his knee and returned for spring drills, scoring two goals against MLS's New England Revolution in a scrimmage. This fall, BC finished 3-3-2 in the ACC. Davies had a hat trick in a 5-1 victory over N.C. State and scored two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win at defending national champion Maryland.

The Eagles face Maryland Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. At 8-6-2, BC may need to beat Maryland again to clinch an NCAA Tournament bid. Davies will once against go up against  Maryland goalie Chris Seitz, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. In their first meeting, Seitz was red carded for taking Davies down in the box.

The 5-foot-10 Davies doesn't have great size, but he makes up for it with great speed and tenacity.

"He's the best center forward in the country," said Boston College coach Ed Kelly told the Union-Leader, "and he's got an electric pace."

2006 ALL-ACC FIRST TEAM
G Chris Seitz, Maryland, Soph.
D Andre Sherard, North Carolina, Jr.
D Julian Valentin, Wake Forest, Jr.
M Nico Colaluca, Virginia, Jr.
M Maurice Edu, Maryland, Jr.
M  Ryan Solle, Wake Forest, Sr.
M Michael Videira, Duke, Jr.
F Charlie Davies, Boston College, Jr.
F Mike Grella, Duke, Soph.
F Patrick Nyarko, Virginia Tech, Soph.
F Dane Richards, Clemson, Sr.
Other awards:
Freshman of the Year: Jeremy Hall, Maryland.
Coach of the Year: Jay Vidovich, Wake Forest.