No one could have predicted these final three teams heading to Cary, NC next weekend to compete for the 2014 College Cup, but UMBC, Providence and Virginia have usurped top teams again and again to reach this moment.
The Cavaliers are returning to the College Cup for a second straight year, but the Retrievers and Friars have never made it this far in program history.
The only team not to concede a single goal in the NCAA tournament have been the Retrievers. They have knocked out Wake Forest, Maryland, Louisville and now, Creighton after dropping them, 4-3, in penalty kicks. They will meet the Cavaliers, who scored a dramatic late goal and knocked Georgetown out in penalty kicks as well.
Three away sides won the quarterfinal matchups, and the Friars 3-2 win over one of the best defensive sides, Michigan State, was the most impressive result. The Spartans had only allowed 16 goals all year before this match, but Providence has been playing lights out since the beginning of the Big East tournament.
The featured quarterfinal match did not disappoint as UCLA and UNC exerted every bit of their energy in a 3-3 battle that ended with the Bruins winning, 7-6, in penalty kicks.
The Tar Heels went down a man within approximately 20 minutes, but that did not stop Tar Heel midfielder Omar Holness from scoring the first goal. But three quick goals from Brian Iloski, Christian Chavez and Abu Danladi saw UCLA climb to a comfortable lead in the second half. However, the 10-man Heels did not give up, scoring two late goals — one each from Tyler Engel and Andy Craven — to force overtime and penalty kicks.
The Bruins will play Big East champion Providence Friday in Cary, NC.
Check out the quarterfinal results and College Cup schedule below:
NCAA QUARTERFINALS SCOREBOARD
Creighton 0, UMBC 0. (UMBC wins, 4-3, in PKS) (RECAP)
Michigan State 2, Providence 3. (RECAP)
Georgetown 1, Virginia 1. (UVA wins, 5-4, in PKs) (RECAP)
UCLA 3, North Carolina 3. (UCLA wins, 7-6, in PKs) (RECAP)
COLLEGE CUP SCHEDULE
Semifinal
Virginia vs. UMBC (Friday, TBA) (ESPNU)
Providence vs. UCLA (Friday, TBA) (ESPNU)
Final
12 p.m. — TBA (Sunday, ESPNU)
UMBC is a nerd school. Its claim to fame, outside of academics, is its chess team. To say that the university does not lavish attention on any of its athletic programs is an understatement. If you’re looking for a team to pull for, that’s your team. Go Retrievers.
Didn’t catch this round but I was very impressed with UMBC in their game against Louisville. This may be their year.
I agree in principle, but there have been two total goals scored in their four NCAA tournament matches so far. That’s pretty rough.
I think of the starters in the US WC games, of those players who grew up in the US, Beasely, Bradley, Howard, Altidore and Beckerman did not play some college soccer. The USMNT who did play in college include: Dempsey, Yedlin, Besler, Zusi, Bedoya, Cameron, Gonzales, Guzan, Wondo, Rimando, and Evans.
Those who did not grow up in the US include: Jones, F. Johnson, Greene, Brooks, Chandler, Johannsson, and Diskerud
So 11 did play in college and and 12 did not of those 12, 7 did not grow up in the US.
Other notables: Donavon did not play in college, Charlie Davies did, Mc Bride did, …
Why do people continue to call him “Donavon”?
UCLA/UNC on Pac 12 Network right now…just started
college soccer is a big reason why our players do not develop
Law School – even more so
And yet there are a couple of gems every single year that do well, sometimes, right off the bat in MLS. Is college soccer the greatest development tool?? Absolutely not. But it has a place on the development chain in MLS and US Soccer — like it or not. So instead of being so negative about it — just embrace it. As time goes by college soccer will move further down the chart but our country is too big and too much talent goes undiscovered that we should totally discard collegiate soccer. I’m hoping the proposal to go to a split season — Fall and Spring — will help get collegiate players more games and experience.
It’s taken the NCAA and it’s coaches a long time to accept the fact that they lost most of the talent to the professional ranks each year. They are seriously looking at an extended season which would be great for the players and most importantly their futures after the playing days are over. There are some very good college coaches as we all know. I hope the NCAA pass this. It is not for everyone but it would be a great improvement in terms of optios..
Thank you for your powerful, original insight. Do you have any views on gravity you could also share with us?
That’s a really dumb comment. Most of these guys will have no career in soccer. At least with a degree, they have something to fall back on. Unlike the Euro system that throws you on the trash heap by 12 or 13 if you don’t “develop.”
I wonder what the percentage of American players in MLS or the NAT that have at least some college? I’m betting very high.