The 2006 NCAA Men's College Cup gets underway Friday with a semifinal doubleheader at Robert R. Hermann Stadium on the Saint Louis University campus in St. Louis, Mo.
The University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA) will take on the University of Virginia to kick things off at 6 p.m. ET in a match that can be seen live on ESPN2. The University of California - Santa Barbara (UCSB) will then take on Wake Forest University to determine the other finalist. UCSB vs. Wake Forest will air tape-delayed on ESPNU at 2 a.m. ET and on ESPN2 at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday. The championship match is set for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN2.
UCLA advanced to the College Cup after a 3-2 win against Duke University in the quarterfinal round. The Bruins overcame a 2-0 first half deficit to send the game into overtime, when Sal Zizzo found the net just 30 seconds after kickoff to send UCLA to its 12th College Cup.
Virginia defeated the University of Notre Dame 3-2 in the quarterfinals to book its first College Cup trip since 1997. Senior forward Adam Christman, who will be attending the adidas MLS Player Combine in January, led the way for the Cavaliers with two goals.
On the other side of the bracket, Wake Forest defeated Santa Clara 3-1 on Nov. 24 to secure a spot in St. Louis. Combine invitees Steven Curfman and Wells Thompson each found the net to help the Demon Deacons to victory.
UCSB topped Northwestern 3-2 on Nov. 25 to complete the final four. Midfielder Bryan Byrne, who will also be at the MLS Player Combine, registered an assist for the Gauchos in the win.
In all, five players who have been invited to the 2007 adidas MLS Player Combine will be on display in the College Cup. UCLA is the only side without a player on the initial list of 58 players that will attend the combine at Lockhart Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., from Jan. 5-8. The combine gives players eligible in the 2007 MLS SuperDraft a chance to shine in front the coaching staffs and general managers of all 13 Major League Soccer clubs.
The SuperDraft will be held in Indianapolis on Jan. 12 in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Convention.
Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
