The MLS season may be over, but if you’re still in the mood for some domestic soccer, look no further than Cary, North Carolina this very weekend for the semifinals and finals of NCAA Division 1 men’s soccer: the College Cup.
Friday
- Virginia vs. UMBC, 5 pm ET, ESPNU
- Providence vs. UCLA, 7:30 pm ET, ESPNU
Sunday
- Championship Game, 12 noon ET, ESPNU
To get you prepped for the big weekend, MLSsoccer.com takes a look at the last teams standing, how they got there and which players to look out for:
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE COUNTY
Mascot: Retrievers
Credentials: America East Regular Season and tournament champions, 14-5-5 record
Coach: Pete Caringi
College Cup Appearance: 1st
Player to Watch: Mamadou Kansaye, senior midfielder
Unseeded and mostly unheralded this season, UMBC has gone on an otherworldly run of upsets to book their tickets to Cary. Last Friday’s shootout victory over No. 12 Creighton was the third straight time they advanced over a top-16 opponent, knocking off No. 13 Louisville and No. 4 Maryland, the Big Ten Champions and the runners-up in last year’s College Cup, both by 1-0 scores. The Retrievers are the first America East team to reach the College Cup.
UMBC players from MLS academies:
(does not guarantee they are eligible to sign as a Homegrown Player)
Michael DiCesare, Columbus Crew SC - 14gp, 3g - 4 NCAA appearances as sub
Michael Burgos, D.C. United - 19gp, 1g, 1a - 2 NCAA appearances as sub
Kennedy O'Shea, D.C. United - 7gp - has not played since Nov. 1
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
Mascot: Cavaliers
Credentials: NCAA Tournament semifinalist in 2013, No. 16 seed this year, 12-6-3 record
Coach: George Gelnovatch
College Cup Appearance: 12th
Player to Watch: Eric Bird, senior midfielder
There was some head-scratching when it was announced that the Cavaliers had earned the No. 16 seed in the NCAA tournament – and a first-round bye – after compiling a disappointing 10-6-2 record on the season and getting smoked by reigning national champions Notre Dame in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament. To be fair, there was even more head-scratching about Virginia’s lackluster performances given how talented their squad is. Even after an NCAA Tournament run that has included eliminating Notre Dame and Georgetown, Virginia probably still have not played their best soccer yet, which should frighten everyone else in Cary.
Virginia players from MLS academies:
(does not guarantee they are eligible to sign as a Homegrown Player)
Patrick Foss, D.C. United - 13gp, 1gs - 1g, 1a - 1 NCAA game, scored in shootout win
Riggs Lennon, Real Salt Lake - 14gp, 7gs - 0g, 1a - 3 NCAA games, 1 assist, scored in shootout
Darius Madison, Philadelphia Union - 17gp, 14gs - 3g, 1a - start all 3 NCAA games
Nate Odusote, New York Red Bulls - 6gp, 0gs - 0 NCAA games
Scott Thomsen, New York Red Bulls - 21gp, 20gs - 1g, 8a - start all 3 NCAA games, 2 assists, scored in shootout
Injured or Redshirting - Marcus Salandy-Defour, Julian Cummings, Steven Gandy (all D.C. United)
PROVIDENCE COLLEGE
Mascot: Friars
Credentials: Big East Tournament champions, No. 11 seed, 16-4-2 record
Coach: Craig Stewart
College Cup Appearance: 1st
Player to Watch: Fabio Machado, senior forward (New England Revolution academy)
Providence have gotten hot at exactly the right time, storming through the Big East Tournament and now reaching the College Cup after beating No. 3 Michigan State 3-2 on the road. Those goals were the first two the Friars have allowed in the tournament, and goalkeeper Keasel Broome still had to make six saves against the Spartans to give the Friars the chance to win.
Providence players from MLS academies:
(does not guarantee they are eligible to sign as a Homegrown Player)
Brandon Adler, New York Red Bulls - 19gp, 18gs - start all 3 NCAA games
Manny Andrade, New England Revolution - 9gp, 0gs - 2g - 0 NCAA games
Dominik Machado, New England Revolution - 21gs - 5g, 2a - 3 goals in 3 NCAA games
Fabio Machado, New England Revolution - 22gs - 6g, 8a - 1 goal, 1 assist in quarterfinals
Redshirting - Lukas Ritzer, New England Revolution
UCLA
Mascot: Bruins
Credentials: Pac-12 runners-up, No. 2 seed, 13-4-5 record
Coach: Jorge Salcedo
College Cup Appearance: 14th
Player to Watch: Leo Stolz, senior midfielder
North Carolina took the Bruins right to the brink on Saturday, but after a 3-3 draw and eight rounds of penalty kicks, UCLA finally emerged on top. The Bruins have done a fair amount of Jekyll-and-Hyding this season, and they’ve played some close games in this postseason, but they have shown flashes of brilliance when it counts, and Salcedo is one of the best coaches in the game.
UCLA players from MLS academies:
(does not guarantee they are eligible to sign as a Homegrown Player)
Seyi Adekoya, Seattle Sounders - 17gp, 9gs - 5g, 4a - 0 NCAA games
Christian Chavez, LA Galaxy - 21gp, 8gs - 2g, 0a - 2 NCAA games, scored vs. UNC
Grady Howe, LA Galaxy - 22gp, 19gs - 0g, 2a - start all 3 NCAA games, 1 assist
Brian Iloski, LA Galaxy - 17gp, 9gs - 2g, 1a - 3 NCAA games, 1 start, scored vs. Cal
Alex Padilla, LA Galaxy - reserve goalkeeper
Willie Raygoza, LA Galaxy - 15gp, 9gs - 0g, 2a - 3 NCAA games, scored in shootout win
Nathan Smith, LA Galaxy - 13gp, 11gs - 0 NCAA games
Javan Torre, LA Galaxy - 18gp, 9gs - 1g, 0a - 3 NCAA games, 1 start
