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Zach Pekale | krikya18.com | December 17, 2019

Georgetown outlasts Virginia in 2019 College Cup for first national championship

Georgetown wins their 1st Men's Soccer National Championship

For the first time in program history, the Georgetown Hoyas are College Cup champions. The juggernaut of the Big East held two separate leads in the national championship over Virginia, finally outlasting the Cavaliers in the seventh round of a penalty shootout.

FINAL STATS: No. 3 Georgetown 3, No. 1 Virginia 3 (7-6 PKs)

A game featuring the top two defenses in Division I men's soccer produced a total of six goals (three in 12 minutes) and 13 made penalty kicks before Hoyas' goalkeeper Tomas Romero denied Axel Gunnarsson on the game-clinching attempt.

CHAMPIONSHIP INFO: 2019 bracket | Printable bracket |  | Scoreboard

Virginia vs. Georgetown: Scores, live updates

The coveted College Cup trophy was lifted tonight by Georgetown after a thrilling, championship-clinching victory over Virginia. It was a night of firsts in Cary. For the Hoyas, most importantly, Sunday marked the end of the chase for an elusive championship. It will also go down as the first time an ACC team hasn't won the title at WakeMed Soccer Park and the only occasion in 2019 in which the Cavaliers conceded three goals.

To call this game unorthodox would be an understatement. The top two defenses in Division I men's soccer produced the highest-scoring national championship game since 1980. One goal was initially thought to be a difference-maker. In reality, it was one stop that proved pivotal.

SHOP CHAMPIONSHIP GEAR:

Tomas Romero lunged to his right to stop Axel Gunnarsson's attempt in the seventh round of a penalty shootout. In the waning moments of regulation, it was Gunnarsson who extended the game, finding Daryl Dike for an 86th-minute equalizer. But when the two freshmen met six yards apart later on, it was the Hoyas' first-year man that gained the upper hand.

Romero's place in net was earned despite his first-year status but his role in tonight's game was purely chance. Coach Brian Wiese has alternated him with Giannis Nikopolidis all season long, regardless of matchup or performance. Another game somewhere along the way and it would've been the sophomore in goal with a possibly different outcome.

While the goalkeeping remained a constant, the other 20 players on the field battled in what Wiese called a "war of attrition" using an uncharacteristic amount of offense for ammunition. Both sides reached Sunday's final with physically imposing defenses. Judging by the semifinals and the opening nine minutes of the championship, it appeared that a defensive stalemate would be the theme in Cary.

But then Joe Bell cracked a one-timer that ricocheted off of Sean Zawadzki and Daniel Wu for an early Virginia lead. Both the Cavaliers and Hoyas have been exceptionally potent goalscoring teams in the early goings of postseason matches. Coming into Sunday, the two had nine goals in the first 20 minutes of a combined ten games. By the 16th minute, two more were scored between Bell and Paul Rothrock's equalizer for the Hoyas.

Bell cracked the levee and Rothrock opened the floodgates to the tune of six total goals. Daniel Wu, a Cary native, scored the first goal of his career in his backyard, giving Georgetown a 22nd-minute lead with friends and family watching. The Hoyas would lead twice, both times the match was pulled level by Virginia. 

Daniel Steedman answered the first, resetting the game until Georgetown's Derek Dodson put the first-time champions up again in the 81st. But the Hoyas didn't even have time for the adrenaline to take over when Daryl Dike, the 2019 tournament's offensive MVP, collected a cross from Gunnarsson and put it in the roof of the netting with four minutes to spare; setting the stage for two overtimes, 13 penalty shot attempts and ultimately, the Hoyas' first College Cup title.

Watch the full College Cup penalty shootout between Georgetown and Virginia

Georgetown 3 (7), Virginia 3 (6) | FINAL

Seven rounds and 13 made penalties later, Tomas Romero came away with the biggest save of his brief collegiate career. Georgetown's freshman goalkeeper dove to his right, getting two hands on an attempt from Virginia's Axel Gunnarsson. Before Romero could return to his feet, the Hoyas' fight song blared as teammates rushed him as newly minted national champions.

Georgetown 3, Virginia 3 | 110'

Each side registered a couple of threatening chances in the second overtime period. However, this College Cup is going to come down to penalty kicks. One thing to note is that both of Virginia's titles in 2014 and 2009 were decided on penalties right here at WakeMed Soccer Park.

Georgetown 3, Virginia 3 | 100'

More free soccer here in Cary. Jacob Montes got a look at a free kick from about 25 yards as the clock ticked away but the chance was too high. The last College Cup final to go to penalties was 2016.

Georgetown 3, Virginia 3 | 94'

Rothrock had a chance to end it with a great shot from just inside the box but Shutler gets from post to post quickly to deny him.

Georgetown 3, Virginia 3 | 90'

Virginia had threatening position in the final seconds but Georgetown was able to clear. This is the third College Cup final in the past four years to require overtime.

Here are the stats at the end of regulation:

College Cup statistics —through second half

Georgetown 3, Virginia 3 | 86'

Daryl Dike with the equalizer in the waning minutes! After he and Sean O'Hearn received yellow cards, Virginia put a free kick into the box that reached Axel Gunnarsson out wide of the far post. The freshman then found Dike on a cross that was initially denied before collecting his rebound and burying it behind Romero. The Hoyas' keeper has allowed three goals tonight after conceding three total in his previous seven appearances.  

Georgetown 3, Virginia 2 | 81'

Derek Dodson breaks the deadlock with a tremendous run in the game's final 10 minutes. Achara broke down the Cavaliers' defense while his co-captain crept behind Henry Kessler and buried the go-ahead goal past Shutler, becoming the first team to score three times on Virginia this year. Nine minutes separate the Hoyas from their first national championship.

Georgetown 2, Virginia 2 | 70'

Henry Kessler is shown a yellow card. With him and Andreas Ueland booked, two integral members of Virginia's back line can't afford another at the risk of the Hoos going a man down.  Following the card, Achara checks back in for the Hoyas after exiting with an injury earlier.

Georgetown 2, Virginia 2 | 58'

Less than two minutes after Kessler's defensive heroics,, the Hoos draw level thanks to a perfect strike from Daniel Steedman. Irakoze Donasiyano fed the sophomore, who netted the equalizer past the outstretched arms of Romero and into the bottom left corner.

Georgetown 2, Virginia 1 | 56'

Potential game-saving play from Henry Kessler. Following a Virginia corner, Dodson broke out on the counter with favorable numbers but Kessler broke up the outlet pass to prevent a breakaway. 

Georgetown 2, Virginia 1 | 52'

Hoyas generate the first threatening chance of the second half. Dodson won the back line and had a last-minute attempt deflected. On the ensuing corner, Foster McCune won the first ball to Nealis but his header was swallowed up by Colin Shutler. Georgetown leads 7-5 in shots.

Georgetown 2, Virginia 1 | HALF

Virginia struck first but it's the Hoyas who lead after the opening stanza. Following the early deficit, Paul Rothrock and Daniel Wu answered with two goals only six minutes apart to put Georgetown 45 minutes away from its first-ever soccer national championship.

Here are the first half stats:

College Cup final — first half stats

Georgetown 2, Virginia 1 | 32'

Achara checks out with what appeared to be an injury of some sort. We will update with specifics when available. He sustained an injury against Stanford before returning in the second and has grappled with injury all season. His speed has really made a difference on the wing despite limited minutes. 

Georgetown 2, Virginia 1 | 22'

Daniel Wu's first career goal couldn't have come at a better time. The Cary native scores in his backyard to put the Hoyas in front. After Derek Dodson drew a foul outside the Cavaliers' final third, Riviere launched a free kick that found the head of Rio Hope-Gund, who flicked it ahead to Wu for the tally.

Georgetown 1, Virginia 1 | 16'

And just like that, Paul Rothrock has the equalizer for the Hoyas. An entry pass to the box from Zach Riviere was knocked around and fell at the feet of Rothrock who tapped it past an obstructed Colin Shutler. Bret Halsey was inadvertently blocking his keeper, allowing Georgetown to draw level.

What the stat sheet won't show is the run from Dylan Nealis to initiate the Hoyas' offensive buildup before finding Riviere.

Virginia 1, Georgetown 0 | 10' 

Who else but Joe Bell. The Cavaliers' MAC Hermann finalist collects a loose ball from the top of the box on a volley and his one-timer deflected off of Daniel Wu and behind Tomas Romero for a quick goal. This is Bell's fourth goal of the tournament and first from outside the six-yard box.

Georgetown 0, Virginia 0 | 8' 

Both teams appear to be feeling out its opponent in the opening minutes. Virginia's been looking to establish its pressure from the get go, almost daring Georgetown to make a mistake. The Hoyas have been playing a hybrid style early, waiting for counterattack opportunities while applying pressure on the Hoos. 

Pregame | 5:45 p.m. ET — Lineups

Only one minor change between the two starting lineups. Tomas Romero gets the nod in goal for Georgetown tonight. Nothing out of the ordinary though since Brian Wiese has alternated two keepers throughout the season. Here are the full lineups for Georgetown and Virginia:

Georgetown vs. Virginia starting lineups

Pregame | 5:35 p.m. ET

Both teams are getting loose. Georgetown is warming up on the north side of the field. The ball is being passed around in the northwest corner where the field was particularly inundated and looks visibly improved from Friday. Starting lineups to come shortly.

Pregame | 4:50 p.m. ET

The skies have cleared and the temperatures have jumped into the 50s. For the most part, the field at WakeMed Soccer Park no longer looks saturated and shouldn't carry the same impact on the games as it did during Friday's semifinals. We'll have a better idea once Virginia and Georgetown take the field for warm ups in 20 minutes. 

No. 1 Virginia vs. No. 3 Georgetown: Preview

Virginia

The Cavaliers were the No. 1 team in the polls for almost a third of the 2019 season. As of late, they’ve looked the part. They’ve got a chance to win another title at WakeMed Soccer Park, the site of the program’s 2009 and 2014 championships and a venue that has produced a champion from the ACC each of the four times it has hosted.

For the first time since 2011, the top seed at the NCAA tournament reached the College Cup behind a stifling defense. Virginia gave up its tenth goal of the season in the national semifinal, the team’s 23rd game of the season. Colin Shutler has 15 clean sheets. While the junior has come up with big saves when needed, the backline has been especially imposing. Opponents average fewer than eight shots per game and just over three get on target.

Offensively, MAC Hermann finalist Joe Bell is the engine that makes the Cavaliers go. But don’t be deceived, Virginia is much deeper offensively than you might think. The backline has Robin Afamefuna and Andreas Ueland among other playmakers and few teams have a striker as imposing as Daryl Dike. The sophomore’s 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame makes him a mismatch on most defenders and that’s before you factor in his deceptive speed or ability to quickly turn on the ball.

Georgetown

If there’s a team that can tactically match up with Virginia, it’s Georgetown. The Hoyas have rolled through the postseason, outscoring teams 14-2 along the way. All that separates them from their first national championship is Virginia. This opportunity presented itself once before in 2012 when Georgetown was the national runner-up. This time, they’re looking to finish the job.

The Hoyas came into the tournament as the No. 3 seed after being ranked in the top two for RPI over the regular season’s final month, finishing top five in Division I for goals scored (55) and goals allowed (11).

Defensively, coach Brian Wiese has a versatile group patrolling the Hoyas' defensive third. MAC Hermann finalist Dylan Nealis anchors a unit full of multi-faceted players. Nealis, along with Rio Hope-Gund and Sean O’Hearn, can start at most positions. But the defense, who all played 90 minutes on Friday, might be Georgetown’s only constant.

Wiese alternates two goalkeepers, meaning it’s Tomas Romero’s net on Sunday after Giannis Nikopolidis started against Stanford. Romero hasn't lost this year and has conceded three goals in his past seven appearances. 

Aside from 90 minutes out of Sean Zawadzki, Derek Dodson logged the next most non-defender minutes with 65. Dodson and Jacob Montes have been the biggest scoring threats, each notching double-digit goals. What makes them so dangerous is that they're able to constantly get quality looks. Georgetown used 18 players in the semifinals, allowing the front lines to pressure high and sustain attacks deep in front on consistently fresh legs.

What we learned from the College Cup semifinals

Here are five things we saw during the College Cup semifinals that could impact the championship game.

Adapting to surroundings

  • Rain came down hard almost all of Friday in Cary. While the ball moved well for the most part at Sahlen’s Stadium, a few patches of grass were visibly inundated with water, limiting the use of wing players. Still, Georgetown and Virginia conformed well, scoring three of four total goals without getting the ball out wide.
    • Sean Zawadzki’s volley for Georgetown came from beyond the top of the box while Daryl Dike netted his brace on a one-timer from a long ball over the top and another off a corner. Those adjustments could be a result of good positioning but were heady decisions that didn’t take Georgetown or Virginia out of its flow.

Form

  • Georgetown and Virginia were consistently quick to the ball throughout the two games, the point of contact on challenges occasionally corresponding with the opponent receiving a pass. Additionally, clear passing lanes and open space were also rarely available.
    • All of those things are a testament to the form of the Hoyas and Cavaliers. But what really stands out is the number of substitutions each side used. Georgetown held Stanford to two total shots using 18 players throughout the match. Virginia was steady until the final leg of the second half, showing a bit of vulnerability late. However, the Hoos only brought on two 11 substitutes for a combined 24 minutes.

Early goals dictate

  • Both sides have been dominant on defense through four matches, giving up a total of eight goals. The structure of the back lines have been sound, with some credit being given to the offenses. 
    • Virginia and Georgetown have combined to score 24 goals ahead of the national championship. Of those, nine have come in the first 20 minutes of a match. The Hoyas and Cavaliers pressure the opposing backline heavily in the opening minutes to establish a presence and the goals allow each to set the tone. 

Quick counters

  • Dike’s first goal for Virginia was the product of a quick counterattack. Foster McCune’s tally for Georgetown came off a Stanford turnover. If not for the immersed portion of the field, Achara might have added another score in the first half for the Hoyas.
    • The defensive solidarity of Georgetown and Virginia allow the offense to open up quickly. When it does, both have a number of capable creators and finishers as displayed on Friday.

Goalkeeping

  • Colin Shutler couldn’t have picked a better time to turn in one of his best performances of the season, stopping six shots in the second half. The sophomore had clear sightlines throughout the game and was able to react well to Wake Forest’s attempts. 
  • On the other hand, Giannis Nikopolidis only needed to make one save for the Hoyas. Due to coach Brian Wiese’s two-keeper system, Nikopolidis is unlikely to play again this season as Tomas Romero will alternate in for the national championship.

2019 NCAA men's soccer tournament: Bracket

2019 College Cup bracket

Tap or click here for a high-resolution view of the NCAA men's soccer bracket.

2019 NCAA DI men's soccer tournament: Schedule, scores

FIRST ROUND

  • Pittsburgh, making its third appearance and first since 1954, also recorded its first-ever postseason win. Edward Kizza and Bryce Washington scored for the Panthers in their 2-0 win over Lehigh. Here's the complete box score and statistics from that game.

SECOND ROUND

  • The first seeded team of the tournament fell on Saturday as No. 14 UC Davis was tripped up by Louisville. Izaiah Jennings scored the Cardinals' lone goal in a 1-0 win while Jake Gelnovatch made seven saves in a shutout. Up next, the Cardinal have a rematch with Georgetown, the Hoyas' only loss of 2019.
  • Moments later, UC Santa Barbara knocked out No. 12 Saint Mary's 4-0. Rodney Michael netted a brace and the Gauchos got additional offensive support from Will Baynham and Noah Billingsley to hand the Gaels their second regulation loss in the past 38 games.
  • Later in the day, Penn State became the third seeded team eliminated after Providence erased a two-goal deficit in the second half. Tiago Mendonca equalized in the 86th minute before Trevor Davock netted a golden goal halfway into the first overtime. Davock scored or assisted on all 3 of Providence's goals. 
  • No. 11 Marshall joined Wright State in winning its first-ever NCAA tournament game. In front of a sold-out Hoops Family Field, the Thundering Herd bested in-state foe West Virginia 2-1 as Milo Yosef broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute. 
  • Top seeds cruised in the first matches of the day. No. 1 seed Virginia notched its 14th shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over Campbell with Nathaniel Crofts and Spencer Patton carrying the scoring load. No. 3 Georgetown rolled to a 5-0 victory against Pittsburgh, led by a brace from Dylan Nealis. No.2 Clemson would advance later in the afternoon, needing overtime to outlast Charlotte.
  • Indiana played Kentucky to a scoreless draw on Oct. 9. The rematch featured more offense from the Hoosiers, who advanced 3-0 after forward Victor Bezerra netted the program's third postseason hat trick. 

THIRD ROUND

  • After winning in penalty kicks in last week's second-round match against Seattle, No. 7 Stanford savored its extra life in style, advancing to the quarterfinals after a nail-biting 2-1 victory over No. 10 Virginia Tech. Derek Waldeck's goal in the 53rd minute broke a scoreless draw for Stanford, but the Hokies' Camron Lennon responded nine minutes later to tie it once more. Enter Keegan Hughes, whose go-ahead goal in the 79th minute secured the Cardinal victory.
  • Third-round matches have not always come easy for No. 6 Washington, but times seem to be changing. With Sunday's 4-1 win over No. 11 Marshall, the Huskies are now 2-2-1 in third-round matches. Blake Bodily, Gio Miglietti and Ethan Bartlow (twice) teamed up to put a sizable gap between themselves and the Thundering Herd. Marshall's only tally of the match went to Jamil Roberts for a successful penalty kick in the 23rd minute. 
  • With an undefeated home record at risk, No. 2 Clemson's Robbie Robinson cashed in a penalty in double overtime to secure the Tigers' place to the quarterfinals. Clemson is now 13-0-1 at Historic Riggs Field this season. Robinson scored both goals for Clemson in its 2-1 victory over Providence. The golden goal followed Robinson's initial 8th minute tally and Providence's 44th minute equalizer off the foot of Tiago Mendonca.
  • No. 4 Wake Forest now has a 14-0-2 record when scoring first. The Demon Deacons added win No. 14  in a 3-1 victory over No. 13 Michigan. The Wolverines, who hadn't allowed a goal in three straight matches, were served a go-ahead header from Kyle Holcomb in the 49th minute. The second goal came from Bruno Lapa during the 69th minute; he spotted a penalty kick opposite Michigan's diving goalie, Owen Finnerty. Michigan's only response of the night was a Derick Broche goal during the 76th minute. Holcomb restored the two-goal lead with his second knock (ninth of the season) during the 83rd minute.
  • UC Santa Barbara is unseeded and unfazed. The Gauchos knocked off No. 5 Indiana — a rematch of the 2004 College Cup final — in double overtime. Will Baynham collected a loose ball off a turnover deep in the Hoosiers' final third. The senior settled and took one touch before his curling winner found the net in the 102nd minute. This is the program's first quarterfinal appearance since lifting the 2006 College Cup trophy.
  • No. 3 Georgetown became the first team on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals. The Hoyas' lone blemish on its 2019 record was a 1-0 defeat to Louisville on Sept. 24. In the rematch, it was all Hoyas in a 5-1 victory. Jacob Montes was the offensive catalyst, opening the scoring 98 seconds in as part of a career-high six-point day for the junior (two goals, two assists).
  • Top-seed Virginia had three first-half goals to advance to the quarterfinals. Andreas Ueland tallied the first two goals, both coming in the first 15 minutes of action. Joe Bell then secured the win with a penalty kick to finish the scoring.
  • American Athletic Conferences foes UCF and SMU met again for a third time, with the Mustangs coming out on top only 18 seconds into overtime with Eddie Munjoma scoring the winner. UCF led 1-0, but SMU tied it a little more than 10 minutes later in the first half.
  • No. 1 Virginia 3, No. 16 St. John's 0
  • No. 8 Southern Methodist 2, No. 9 UCF 1 (OT)
  • No. 3 Georgetown 5, Louisville 1
  • UC Santa Barbara 1, No. 5 Indiana 0 (2OT) 
  • No. 4 Wake Forest 3, No. 13 Michigan 1
  • No. 2 Clemson 2, Providence 1 (2OT)
  • No. 6 Washington 4, No. 11 Marshall 1
  • No. 7 Stanford 2, No. 10 Virginia Tech 1

Quarterfinals

The first two bids of the 2019 College Cup were secured as No. 1 Virginia and No. 7 Stanford advanced to the national semifinals. Both teams needed extra time to move on. The top-ranked Cavaliers edged No. 8 SMU in overtime while Stanford keeper Andrew Thomas made two huge stops in a penalty shootout to help the Cardinal hold off No. 2 Clemson.

Stanford was the first team to punch its College Cup ticket and goalkeeper Andrew Thomas played a pivotal role in doing so. After Tanner Beason and Clemson's Mohamed Seye exchanged goals in regulation, a scoreless 41 minutes followed, sending the teams to penalty kicks.

Thomas — less than two weeks removed from making four of five shootout saves in Stanford's second-round win over Seattle — came up with two more rejections, including the decisive stop on Felipe Fernandez to secure the victory and send the Cardinal to their fourth College Cup in five years.

Virginia booked its spot in Cary only minutes later, opposite Stanford in the bracket. The top-seeded Cavaliers outlasted SMU in overtime. UVA held two separate one-goal leads from tallies by Axel Gunnarson and Joe Bell in the 18th and 78th minutes.

But, the Mustangs' Gabriel Costa answered the first from the penalty spot and Henrik Bredeli equalized once again in the 84th minute. Three of the five goals in this game came directly or indirectly from penalties, including the winner. Bell was initially denied from the marker in the 94th, only to have the rebound come back to him for a redeeming second chance. The Cavaliers will play on the season's final weekend for the first time since 2014, the year of the program's last championship. Stanford returns to the College Cup after winning three consecutive titles from 2015 to 2017.

Georgetown survived after giving up an opening goal in the fourth minute. Following Jaret Townsend's strike for Washington, the Hoyas trailed for 68 minutes — their longest stretch of the season — before Jacob Montes equalized with a curling free kick in the 72nd minute. Just four minutes later, captain Derek Dodson netted the tie-breaking goal through traffic to send Georgetown to its second College Cup appearance.

Wake Forest never trailed in its 1-0 win against UC Santa Barbara, but the Demon Deacons did need to weather the Gauchos' first-half onslaught. USCB had seven shots in the opening stanza, none more dangerous than a point-blank chance from Noah Billingsley in the 40th minute. Wake Forest keeper Andrew Pannenberg came up with a huge stop to keep the match scoreless. Then, in the waning seconds of the half, captain Alistair Johnston maneuvered through the Gauchos back line unassisted to break the deadlock.

Semifinals (Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park — Cary, NC)

Championship

DI men's soccer championship: Live updates, scores

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 1 | FINAL

With Georgetown into Sunday’s final, Virginia and Wake Forest battled for the second spot in the championship. The two have a history at Sahlen’s Stadium, winning championships the past three times Cary hosted the College Cup. Less than a month ago, the Cavaliers edged the Demon Deacons at the ACC tournament semifinals. 

On Friday night, it was the top-seeded Cavaliers who survived a second-half onslaught, coming away with a 2-1 win to represent the ACC for a chance at bringing the conference a fifth consecutive title in Cary.

Sophomore forward Daryl Dike carried the scoring load for Virginia, netting a brace with the goals coming 3:35 apart in the opening half.  On a night where the field conditions limited both offensive opportunites out wide, his first tally was the end product of a perfectly placed, pass over the top from Andreas Ueland. Dike followed that with an impressive header on a corner by Daniel Steedman.

But the Demon Deacons wouldn't go away quietly. After registering one shot on target in the first 45 minutes, coach Bobby Muuss's side responded with seven formidable chances in the second half. Bruno Lapa buried a penalty in the 79th minute to cut the deficit in half. The other six attempts were handled by Cavaliers goalkeeper Colin Shutler, who finished with a season-high seven saves.

Chol nearly found an equalizing header in the closing minutes but Shutler pushed it away in what would be the Demon Deacons' final scoring chance. Behind Shutler's six second-half saves and a brace from Daryl Dike, Virginia will attempt to win its third College Cup in Cary on Sunday.

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 1 | 79'

The Demon Deacons cut the lead in half. Ueland took Machop Chol down inside the box and Bruno Lapa beat the outstretched arms of Shutler to keep Wake Forest in the game. 

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 0 | 77'

Wake found a rare pocket of space in the final third on a run from Max Diamond. The junior got a pretty good look on goal but Shutler's outstretched arms kept the Demon Deacons scoreless. Shutler has five saves in the second half.

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 0 | 64'

Three really opportunistic chances but no goal for the Demon Deacons. Machop Chol had two long runs along the east sideline that were broken up in the box and then rolled out of play. But the one that might be a difference maker later is Bruno Lapa's attempt from inside the 18 that was pushed right of Shutler and the far post.

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 0 | 58'

Both teams continue to press high, producing a lot of counters but none that have threatened Andrew Pannenberg or Colin Shutler. Each side has five shots, a total of five are on target.

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 0 | 47'

Wake's first attack of the second half looked a lot more composed. Steadier passes and a what looked to be a concerted effort to avoid the northwest corner of the field. Lapa gets a decent look but Shutler handles it off a bounce.  

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 0 | HALF

A brace from Daryl Dike less than four minutes apart has been the difference in the first half. Wake Forest has had chances with four shots but hasn't been able to execute in the final third and Virginia's done a good job timing tackles and capitalizing on misplayed touches.

Here are the first half stats:

Virginia leads Wake Forest 2-0 at half

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 0 | 39'

The two early goals have enabled Virginia to put an emphasis on defense. Particularly a focus on anticipating Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have been able to build their attack but the Hoos are not allowing them to sustain it beyond the middle third. 

Virginia 2, Wake Forest 0 | 23'

And just like that, Dike has a brace! The sophomore's size makes him a dangerous aerial threat and Daniel Steedman found his target man on a corner. The sophomore knocked it past an obstructed Pannenberg to give Virginia a commanding early lead. 

Virginia 1, Wake Forest 0 | 20'

Cavaliers strike on a bullet from Daryl Dike. Andreas Ueland started the counter with a long ball stretching nearly three quarters of the field. Dike tracked it perfectly and buried it past Andrew Pannenberg on his first touch.

Virginia 0, Wake Forest 0 | 17'

Wake Forest gets the first threatening chance of the game. After Calvin Harris was brought down 20 yards from the net, Bruno Lapa laced a free kick over Virginia's wall headed for the upper left corner. As good as the shot was, goalkeeper Colin Shutler's save might have been even better, leaping to the spot to prevent a goal.

Virginia 0, Wake Forest 0 | 8'

Both teams are settling in as expected with Wake Forest getting a couple of good possessions in Virginia's final third. The Cavaliers have been quick to close gaps. Biggest thing to note from the opening minutes? This does not feel like a neutral site match. The Demon Deacon supporters make up a majority of the crowd.

Pregame | Lineups 

Here are the starters for both Virginia and Wake Forest.

Pregame | 8:30 p.m. ET

Virginia and Wake Forest have taken the field at Sahlen's Stadium for warm ups. The field took on a lot of water throughout a rainy day in Cary. Now that the water is settled, it could play a factor in the second semifinal.

Georgetown vs. Stanford: Live updates, score

Following a 2-0 win over Stanford, Georgetown is back on the brink of program history. The territory is familiar to 2012, when the Hoyas finished as the national runner-up. This time, they're looking to finish the job.

Sean Zawadzki lifted Georgtown to an early lead with a stunning volley only four minutes in. Foster McCune put the Hoyas firmly in control in the 67th minute when he corralled a loose ball along the far post, his header blowing past Stanford keeper Andrew Thomas.

The Hoyas' veteran defense continued to impress, holding Stanford to two shots and one on target. Through four matches, Georgetown is outscoring opponents 14-2. 

Georgetown 2, Stanford 0| FINAL

Sean Zawadzki and Foster McCune provided the scoring and the Hoyas' defense was stifling, holding Stanford to two shots in a 2-0 win. One game separates Georgetown from the program's first national championship.

Georgetown 2, Stanford 0| '78

Achara checks back in. Great sign for Georgetown after what looked like a hard fall in earlier in the half. Stanford is now playing further upfield in an effort to get back into the match. Meanwhile, cheers from the Hoyas' supporters are beginning to echo a bit louder with the clocking ticking down in their favor.

Georgetown 2, Stanford 0| 67'

A clear by Thomas doesn't get past midfield and Georgetown capitalizes with a huge goal from Foster McCune. Zawadzki collected  the ball and  his run culminated with a deflected cross that McCune tagged out of the air on the far post. Time favors Georgetown as the match enters its latter stages. 

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 65'

Keegan Hughes is shown a yellow card for a hard takedown of Derek Dodson. The Hoyas' senior got behind the defense on a long ball by Zach Riviere and Hughes made the tackle to erase a breakaway chance.

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 61'

Achara and Derek Waldeck got tangled up outside Stanford's 18 and Achara comes off with what appeared to be a lower body injury. We'll provide an update when available. His absence would leave Georgetown without one its quickest and craftiest forwards. 

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 55'

A lot more offensive pressure from Stanford in the second half. The Cardinal have abandoned the long ball, instead opting to play more touch-and-go soccer with a lot more of a buildup. The move has benefitted them on both ends. 

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| HALF

Georgetown leads after 45 minutes thanks to an early goal from Sean Zawadzki. Riley Strassner nearly added another in the closing minutes but was ruled offside. Here are the first half stats:

Georgetown vs. Stanford first half stats

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 40'

Achara fed a streaking Riley Strassner on what could've been a backbreaking second goal if not for the offsides flag being raised. Stanford catches a break in a half that's been all Hoyas.

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 37'

A scrum for the ball ends up at the feet of Andrew Thomas in what could've been a dangerous situation. Hoyas controlling the pace in the first half and leading 4-1 in shots. That number would be higher if not for a saturated patch of grass in the northwest corner of the field that's abruptly cut a few of the Hoyas' counters short.

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 22'

Ousseni Bouda nearly drew Stanford level by playing a cross off his knee on the Cardinal's first scoring chance. The freshman's attempt inched wide of Nikopolidis and the far post to keep Georgetown in front.

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 15'

Jacob Montes created a lot of space towards the top of Stanford's 18-yard box, but the shot attempt found a patch of water, allowing Stanford to clear. Georgetown has dominated possession early, consistently getting 10 players at or beyond midfield in the opening minutes.

Georgetown 1, Stanford 0| 4'

Sean Zawadzki wasted no time putting the Hoyas ahead on their first shot attempt. The sophomore played a Stanford header directly on the volley, burying a one-timer past Stanford's Andrew Thomas from 25 yards out. Five of Georgetown's 13 tournament goals have come in the first 20 minutes of a match.

Pregame | 6 p.m. ET — Lineups

Only one change for Georgetown from what the Hoyas opened with in the quarterfinals. Zach Riviere will start intead of Ethan Lochner. Stanford will roll with the same starting XI for a third consecutive game.

Pregame | 5:40 p.m. ET

Stanford and Georgetown have taken the field and the first semifinal is expected to start on time at this point. 

Pregame | 5:15 p.m. ET

Georgetown is warming up on the south side of the field. The groundskeeping team is working closest to the north stand, using squeegees to get water off the field.

Pregame | 4:50 p.m. ET

Welcome to Sahlen's Stadium in Cary, North Carolina. Temperatures have raised a bit since yesterday but the rain is coming down hard. Matches are expected to continue as planned. Georgetown and Stanford are set to begin at 6 p.m. ET.

College Cup semifinal keys to the game

Virginia

  • Spacing — Virginia’s instinctive decision making has allowed it to become more dangerous beyond midfield. Joe Bell is the facilitator but Robin Afamefuna can create along the wing to open congested areas. When the ball moves quickly, good things tend to happen for Virginia.
  • Marking — On most nights, UVA finishes with more fouls than opponents. Those fouls replace shot attempts and are a benchmark of Virginia’s physical defense. It’s important to not get reckless though. Against SMU, it resulted in a made penalty kick that extended the game to OT.

Wake Forest

  • Patience — The Demon Deacons were effective against UC Santa Barbara when it came to decision making. Opportunities weren’t bountiful, but when they came, Wake was ready to capitalize. It’s possible even fewer chances are available against Virginia.
  • Midfield communication — If this were a basketball game, Virginia’s Joe Bell would be a point guard. He’s the catalyst of the Hoos offense. Like any good point guard, he can find teammates quickly to create plays. The midfield and back line of Wake must coordinate pressure without conceding advantage to UVA.

Georgetown

  • Early chance creation — The Hoyas are outscoring opponents 12-2 in three NCAA tournament games. Four of Georgetown’s goals were scored in the first 20 minutes of a match. The early quarterfinal deficit against Washington was the Hoyas’ first sign of struggle this postseason.
  • Pressure the middle third — The Cardinal have started four freshmen midfielders in Ousseni Bouda, Cam Cilley, Keegan Hughes and Keegan Tingey. Stanford’s Derek Waldeck explained that some of the younger players might experience nerves. Georgetown’s pressure on an inexperienced midfield could dictate the game early. 

Stanford

  • Final third discipline — Georgetown is lethal from the 18-yard box extended. Between Dylan Nealis, Jacob Montes and Jack Beer, the Hoyas have a bevy of goals directly or indirectly coming from set-piece opportunities. Stanford fouls deep on its own side could have an adverse impact.
  • Extend the game — Easier said than done against a potent offense, but Stanford had a tendency in recent years to win matches when they go beyond 90 minutes. Since 2016, the Cardinal are 12-3-11 in overtime games and a perfect 6-0 record in penalty shootouts, including 2-0 in this year’s tournament.

What we learned from the bracket reveal

Note: Regions are listed based on the highest seed in each region.

Virginia region

Seeded teams — Virginia (No. 1), SMU (No. 8), UCF (No. 9), St. John’s (No. 16)

Top-seed Virginia closed the regular season strong with six straight wins, most notably a come-from-behind victory over Clemson in the ACC championship game. The defensive-minded Cavaliers allowed seven (yes, seven) goals and lost once this year.

But the road to Cary has plenty of obstacles in this region, particularly in the form of high-octane offenses. Campbell scored the third-most goals in Division I with 56 and could meet UVA in the second round.

SMU and UCF, both out of the American Athletic Conference, have two of the top scoring offenses with 58 and 42 goals scored respectively. Individually, Garrett McLaughlin tallied 15 times for the Mustangs while Cal Jennings netted 16 for the Knights. A rematch of the AAC championship game could be looming in the third round with a possible quarterfinal trip to Charlottesville on the line.

A few other teams that could make some noise in this region are St. John’s and Missouri State. The Red Storm were No. 1 in RPI before a 1-3-1 finish. A return to its midseason defensive form would make St. John’s much more lethal. As for MSU, the Bears were undefeated up until the Missouri Valley Conference championship and have looked the part of a contender for much of the season.

Clemson region

Seeded teams — Clemson (No. 2), Stanford (No. 7), Virginia Tech (No. 10), Penn State (No. 15)

Clemson goes from missing the 2018 tournament to earning the No. 2 seed this year. Quite the turnaround for the Tigers, winners in eight of their past nine matches and comfortably the top-scoring team in Division I with 65 goals.

Opposite the region is Stanford, whose streak of five consecutive Pac-12 titles came to end this year. However, the Cardinal upperclassmen possess a breadth of postseason experience from winning national championships in 2016 and 2017.

The two remaining seeds in the region are Virginia Tech and Penn State. Both reached the tournament as at-large bids. The Nittany Lions won six of seven matches to close the regular season and reached the Big Ten tournament semifinals to end a postseason hiatus with their first berth since 2014.

Also be on the lookout for Charlotte and New Hampshire. Both teams are stout defensively. The 49ers gave up 11 goals and would be an interesting second-round matchup against Clemson’s offense. As for New Hampshire, the America East champs trailed only Virginia in goals allowed average en route to 14 wins. The Wildcats might be one of the more dangerous unseeded teams.

Georgetown region

Seeded teams — Georgetown (No. 3), Washington (No. 6), Marshall (No. 11), UC Davis (No. 14)

Georgetown picked up the No. 3 seed fresh off its third consecutive Big East title. The Hoyas didn’t drop a match at home and fortunately for them, could play at Shaw Field up until the College Cup after a dominant regular season.

Across the board, this region’s seeds re-write some history. Marshall, ranked for the first time since 2001, made the tournament for the first time ever and did so as a top 16 seed. Washington won the Pac-12 for the first time since 2013 and UC Davis is back in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008.

But this region also has some major spoiler potential. Pittsburgh, the only team to beat Virginia; and Louisville, Georgetown’s only loss both reside in the upper half of the bracket. If the Panthers or Cardinals have another upset in them this region could be turned upside relatively quickly.

Wake Forest region

Seeded teams — Wake Forest (No. 4), Indiana (No. 5), Saint Mary’s (No. 12), Michigan (No. 13)

The ACC grabbed three of the top four seeds with the Wake Forest completing the trifecta. The Demon Deacons beat six ranked teams this year and has some of its core intact from a group that was the No. 1 seed last year.

Seeded alongside Wake Forest are Big Ten programs Indiana and Michigan as well as West Coast Conference champion Saint Mary’s. The Hoosiers edged the Wolverines in penalty kicks at the Big Ten tournament final and could potentially play again in the quarterfinals. The Gaels have one regulation loss in the past two seasons and a poised senior class.

Don’t blink in this region. Just when you think it might zig, it’ll zag. Wake Forest could see defending champion Maryland in the second round while Kentucky, UC Santa Barbara and California are all capable of making noise too.

FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS: Full krikya18.com fall selection show schedule | Future championship sites

2019 men's soccer selection show and tournament breakdown

The NCAA tournament bracket consists of 48 teams, 24 of which received automatic qualification by winning their conference tournament, or in select cases, the regular season championship.

The remaining half of the field is selected on an at-large basis by the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Committee. Below is each conference and the team that earned the league’s automatic bid for 2019.

CONFERENCE LOCATION DATES CHAMPION
Cary, NC Nov. 5-17 Virginia
Durham, NH Nov. 9-16 New Hampshire
Orlando, FL Nov. 9-16 SMU
Bronx, NY Nov. 9-17 Rhode Island
Newark, NJ Nov. 8-16 NJIT
Washington, DC Nov. 9-17 Georgetown
Buies Creek, NC Nov. 10-17 Campbell
College Park, MD Nov. 9-17 Indiana
Davis, CA Nov. 6-16 UC Davis
Wilmington, NC Nov. 8-17 James Madison
Norfolk, VA Nov. 13-17 Marshall
Chicago, IL Nov. 11-16 Wright State
Ivy N/A N/A Yale
Jersey City, NJ Nov. 10-17 Iona
Akron, OH Nov. 12-17 West Virginia
Chicago, IL Nov. 13-17 Loyola Chicago
Loretto, PA Nov. 15-17 Fairleigh Dickinson
Pac-12 N/A N/A Washington
Bethlehem, PA Nov. 9-16 Lehigh
Greensboro, NC Nov. 5-17 Mercer
Denver, CO Nov. 14-16 Denver
Boone, NC Nov. 13-17 Coastal Carolina
WCC N/A N/A Saint Mary's
US Air Force Academy, CO Nov. 13-17 Seattle

The 2019 DI men's soccer tournament kicks-off with the opening round of play on Thursday, Nov. 21. as 16 matches will be played at campus sites determined by the selection committee.  This is followed by the second round on Sunday, Nov. 24 when the first-round winners are hosted by the 16 seeded teams at campus sites.

Third-round action takes place on Saturday, Nov. 30, through Sunday, Dec. 1 at non-predetermined campus locations with winners advancing to the quarterfinals.  From there, four matches will be played over Dec. 6 and 7 to determine which four teams advance to the 2019 Division I men's soccer College Cup. 

The College Cup will be held at Sahlen's Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina on Friday, Dec. 13 and Sunday, Dec. 15.

Last season, Maryland brought home the hardware with a 1-0 win over Akron in Santa Barbara, Calif. The Terrapins' win was the program's fourth and snapped Stanford's streak of three consecutive national championships. Here is the history of the Division I men's soccer championship since 1959.

NCAA men's soccer: College Cup champions

YEAR CHAMPION (RECORD) COACH SCORE RUNNER-UP HOST OR SITE
2018 Maryland (13-6-4)

Sasho Cirovski 

 1-0 Akron Santa Barbara, Calif. 
2017 Stanford (19-2-2) Jeremy Gunn 1-0 (2ot) Indiana Philadelphia
2016 Stanford (15-3-5) Jeremy Gunn 0-0 (2ot, pk) Wake Forest Houston
2015 Stanford (18-2-3) Jeremy Gunn 4-0 Clemson Kansas City, Kan.
2014 Virginia (14-6-3) George Gelnovatch 0-0 (2ot, pk) UCLA Cary, N.C.
2013 Notre Dame (17-1-6) Bobby Clark 2-1 Maryland Chester, Pa.
2012 Indiana (16-5-3) Todd Yeagley 1-0 Georgetown Hoover, Ala.
2011 North Carolina (21-2-3) Carlos Somoano 1-0 Charlotte Hoover, Ala.
2010 Akron (22-1-2) Caleb Porter 1-0 Louisville Santa Barbara, Calif.
2009 *Virginia (19-3-3) George Gelnovatch 0-0 (2ot, pk) Akron Cary, N.C.
2008 Maryland (23-3) Sasho Cirovski 1-0 North Carolina Frisco, Texas
2007 Wake Forest (22-2-2) Jay Vidovich 2-1 Ohio State Cary, N.C.
2006 UC Santa Barbara (17-7-1) Tim Vom Steeg 2-1 UCLA St. Louis
2005 Maryland (20-4-1) Sasho Cirovski 1-0 New Mexico Cary, N.C.
2004 *Indiana (19-4-1) Mike Freitag 1-1 (2ot, pk) UC Santa Barbara Carson, Calif.
2003 Indiana (17-3-5) Jerry Yeagley 2-1 St. John's (N.Y) Columbus, Ohio
2002 UCLA (18-3-3) Tom Fitzgerald 1-0 Stanford Dallas
2001 North Carolina (20-3-2) Elmar Bolowich 2-0 Indiana Columbus, Ohio
2000 Connecticut (20-3-2) Ray Reid 2-0 Creighton Charlotte, N.C.
1999 Indiana (21-3) Jerry Yeagley 1-0 Santa Clara Charlotte, N.C.
1998 Indiana (23-2) Jerry Yeagley 3-1 Stanford Richmond
1997 UCLA (22-2) Sigi Schmid 2-0 Virginia Richmond
1996 St. John's (N.Y.) (22-2-2) Dave Masur 4-1 FIU Richmond
1995 Wisconsin (20-4-1) Jim Launder 2-0 Duke Richmond
1994 Virginia (22-3-1) Bruce Arena 1-0 Indiana Davidson
1993 Virginia (22-3) Bruce Arena 2-0 South Carolina Davidson
1992 Virginia (21-2-1) Bruce Arena 2-0 San Diego Davidson
1991 *Virginia (19-1-2) Bruce Arena 0-0 (4ot, pk) Santa Clara South Florida
1990 *UCLA (19-1-2) Sigi Schmid 0-0 (4ot, pk) Rutgers South Florida
1989 Santa Clara (20-0-3)/Virginia (21-2-2) Steve Sampson/Bruce Arena 1-1 (2ot)   Rutgers
1988 Indiana (19-3-3) Jerry Yeagley 1-0 Howard Indiana
1987 Clemson (18-5-1) I.M. Ibrahim 2-0 San Diego State Clemson
1986 Duke (18-5-1) John Rennie 1-0 Akron Tacoma, Wash.
1985 UCLA (20-1-4) Sigi Schmid 1-0 (8ot) American Seattle
1984 Clemson (22-4) I.M. Ibrahim 2-1 Indiana Seattle
1983 Indiana (21-1-4) Jerry Yeagley 1-0 (2ot) Columbia Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
1982 Indiana (21-3-2) Jerry Yeagley 2-1 (8ot) Duke Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
1981 Connecticut (20-3-2) Joe Morrone 2-1 (ot) Alabama A&M Stanford
1980 San Francisco (24-0-2) Steve Negoesco 4-3 (ot) Indiana Tampa, Fla.
1979 SIU Edwardsville (19-2-3) Bob Guelker 3-2 Clemson Tampa, Fla.
1978 San Francisco# (28-1) Steve Negoesco 2-0 Indiana Tampa, Fla.
1977 Hartwick (16-0-2) Jim Lennox 2-1 San Francisco California
1976 San Francisco (20-2-3) Steve Negoesco 1-0 Indiana Penn
1975 San Francisco (21-1-2) Steve Negoesco 4-1 SIU Edwardsville SIU Edwardsville
1974 Howard (19-0) Lincoln Phillips 2-1 (4ot) St. Louis St. Louis
1973 St. Louis (15-2-3) Harry Keough 2-1 (ot) UCLA Miami, Fla.
1972 St. Louis (15-2-3) Harry Keough 4-2 UCLA Miami, Fla.
1971 Howard# (15-0) Lincoln Phillips 3-2 St. Louis Miami, Fla.
1970 St. Louis (14-0-1) Harry Keough 1-0 UCLA SIU Edwardsville
1969 St. Louis (13-0) Harry Keough 4-0 San Francisco San Jose State
1968 Maryland (14-0-1)/Michigan State (11-1-3) Doyle Royal/Gene Kenney 2-2 (2ot)   Georgia Tech-Emory
1967 Michigan State (12-0-2)/St. Louis (8-3-2) Gene Kenney/Harry Keough 0-0 (Game called due to weather St. Louis
1966 San Francisco (11-0-1) Steve Negoesco 5-2 Long Island California
1965 St. Louis (14-0) Bob Guelker 1-0 Michigan State St. Louis
1964 Navy (15-0) F.H. Warner 1-0 Michigan State Brown
1963 St. Louis (13-1) Bob Guelker 3-0 Navy Rutgers
1962 St. Louis (12-0-1) Bob Guelker 4-3 Maryland St. Louis
1961 West Chester (12-0) Mel Lorback 2-0 St. Louis St. Louis
1960 St. Louis (14-1) Bob Guelker 3-2 Maryland Brooklyn
1959 St. Louis (11-1) Bob Guelker 5-2 Bridgeport Connecticut
.

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