All four favorites won their Elite Eight match-ups in today's NCAA Men's Tournament action, setting up a loaded Final Four. Three ACC teams and Big East power St. John's will make up the field that will battle for the NCAA title next weekend in Frisco, Texas.
Defending champions Wake Forest thrashed South Florida, 5-0, as five different goal-scorers provided the difference. Junior midfielder Nelson Becerra converted an overtime penalty kick to help St. John's post a 3-2 victory against Indiana. Maryland scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory against Creighton, while North Carolina ended Northwestern's surprise tournament run with an overtime game-winner from Garry Lewis in a thrilling 3-2 victory.
North Carolina will meet Wake Forest in an All-ACC Final Four match-up, while Maryland faces St. John's in the other national semifinal. Both semifinals will be played at Pizza Hut Park on Friday. the College Cup final will be played on Sunday at Pizza Hut Park.
What did you think of today's Elite Eight matches? Share your thoughts on these results, and the Final Four match-ups in the comments section below.
The ACC is soooo good yet again. Are there other conferences?
Wake (as much as I don’t like Coach V.) should hammer UNC.
The final score of the UNC game was 1-0, Kirk Urso scored the lone goal for the tarheels in the 61st minute.
ACC! ACC!
Come on Terps, finish it off
Crap.
Well, best of luck to the Deacons. They showed us who deserves to advance.
wake forest is good. scary good for college soccer.
The St. John’s-Indiana game was cold, but quite worth it. Indiana went up 2-0 in about the 70th minute, then went into the old “prevent winning” defense. St. John’s made it 2-1 in the 80th minute, then tied it in the 88th.
In overtime, St. John’s had a 1 on 1 saved by the keeper, but the rebound left St. John’s a clear shot on goal which was batted away by the defender’s hand. St. John’s won it on the consequent PK.
Good crowd which did not leave despite the cold and the 2-0 Indiana lead.
I was at the Maryland game. It was cold, blustery and it started to snow late in the game. The quality of the play seemed pretty good to me.