NCAA men's soccer may have given Major League Soccer Danny Mwanga and Tim Ream, two of the three finalists for Rookie of the Year, but soccer still goes largely overlooked at the collegiate level. Fans working to give the professional game the support it needs don't get a chance to refocus until after MLS Cup, when MLS Super Draft-nicks start throwing out names of new players who may be adorning your team's kit come March.
Men’s College Cup: Undefeated Lousville Meets North Carolina, Favored Akron Gets Rematch With Michigan
But with the beginning of College Cup tonight, the domestic soccer world gives its attention to the collegiate game. Starting at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, Santa Barbara will be the stage for soccer’s version of the Final Four, with a regular season rematch between Michigan and Akron featured after undefeated and top-ranked Louisville open the night against North Carolina.
Akron is the big name here. The Zips having beaten Michigan 7-1 earlier this year, Akron’s heavy favorites to advance to Sunday’s title game (and win the title). Attacker Darlington Nagbe has seven goals, 13 assists, as well as a nomination for the MAC Hermann Trophy (soccer’s Heisman). Having own their conference five years running and currently sporting an array of pro prospects, Akron’s become a type of collegiate soccer royalty. Coach Caleb Porter has drawn the attention of Major League Soccer, but for now, he’s working on a repeat.
Michigan are the upstarts, carrying the lowest seed (10) into the tournament’s final stage along. During their October loss to Akron, the Wolverines were outshot 21-5 and, on the heels of a loss to Indiana, were forced into a reevaluation of their season. Since, Michigan has won nine in a row, including their double overtime, quarterfinal thriller against third seed Maryland, where Brazilian freshman Fabio Pereira sent the Wolverines to Santa Barbara.
In the night’s first match, undefeated and top seeded Louisville takes on North Carolina. The Cardinals will be led by their own Hermann Trophy finalist, Colin Rolfe. Rolfe’s posted nine goals and seven assists, leading Louisville past a surprisingly feisty UCLA (5-4 in the quarterfinals, thanks to a late goal from Aaron Horton). The difficulty Louisville had with the tournament’s eighth seed only adds to the perception that the top-ranked Cardinals are actually underdogs this weekend.
Whether they can get by North Carolina will depend in large part on Tar Heel Michael Farfan, the main creator in one of the nation’s best midfields. Where Louisville usually has their way in possession and chances created, North Carolina has the talent to control the match and stifle the Cardinals. While their main task will be limiting Rolfe, UNC will have danger men of their own, with Farfan and freshman Enzo Martinez potential beneficiaries of the midfield’s work.
If there’s a reason to worry for Tar Heel fans (beyond the quality of their opponent), it’s form. North Carolina was the top seed in their partt of the bracket, yet they needed penalty kicks in each of their three matches to get to Santa Barbara, scoring only two goals along the way. Against a Louisville team that’s scored ten times in the tournament, it’s difficult to see UNC getting to kicks without rising to the Cardinals’ level.
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