The road to the 2024 College Cup starts now. Every season, 48 teams compete in the men's soccer NCAA tournament for a chance to reach the College Cup — the semifinal round — with this year's taking place in Cary, North Carolina. Clemson won its fourth national title last season in its 10th overall College Cup appearance. Indiana holds the most College Cup appearances with 22, with Saint Louis next at 16. There are other teams, however, that consistently make the NCAA tournament but have yet to make the College Cup.
Here are four teams — in no particular order — that could make it to the semifinals for the first time this season. Rankings listed are from the preseason United Soccer Coaches Poll.
No. 12 Western Michigan | 17-1-4 (2023 record)
The reigning Missouri Valley Conference champions have reached the NCAA tournament round of 16 for two seasons in a row and were led by nation-leading goal scorers Charlie Sing (19) and Dylan Sing (15). Although those top-two goal scorers have gone on to pro careers, a new standard has been set for the Broncos for the 17 returners to uphold. Returner Carson Hodgson, who had 10 assists last season, will be key in setting up scoring opportunities for the newly organized offense. Exiting last year’s NCAA tournament in a PK shootout after drawing 0-0 with Notre Dame, the Broncos' only recorded loss during the regular season came against Vermont. The new crop of Bronco goal scorers will have a chance to avenge last year’s loss in the season opener against those Catamounts on Thursday, Aug. 22.
No. 14 Vermont | 13-6-2
Vermont joins Western Michigan in the six-team list of men’s soccer teams to reach the round of 16 in the two most recent NCAA tournaments — and the Broncos and Catamounts are the only ones that have yet to reach a College Cup. The Catamounts, however, return their top goal scorer (11), Yaniv Bazini, along with 14 seniors and graduates. These veterans bring the knowledge and experience needed to make that final push past the third round and onto the College Cup.
FOLLOW ALONG: Scores and stats throughout the season
No. 17 Hofstra | 14-3-5
Another team to make last year’s round of 16 was the three-time Coastal Athletic Association champions, Hofstra. The Pride exited the NCAA tournament in a heart-wrenching PK shootout after drawing with North Carolina, 2-2. This season, the Pride returns 12 players, including backline anchor and graduate student Pierce Infuso, who helped the team to nine shutouts last season. With a serious shot at another CAA championship — and with it an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament — the Pride has the potential to reach Cary come December.
No. 9 New Hampshire | 13-3-4
New Hampshire won its fifth consecutive America East regular season title in 2023 before falling short of College Cup dreams in a narrow third round loss (1-0) to the eventual champions, Clemson. What the scoreboard doesn’t reveal is the 13 Wildcat shots, 7 corners and three Clemson yellow cards. They had the soon-to-be champs rattled. This year, the Wildcats meld in several international talents in hopes of making an eighth straight NCAA appearance.
