UCLA Stanford; UNC Notre Dame today

The College Cup is on.

The Pac-10 squads #1 Stanford vs. #3 UCLA face off in the NCAA semifinals today on national television at 2:30 p.m. PT/5:30 p.m. ET.

Following the UCLA Stanford game, #2 North Carolina takes on #4 Notre Dame. Atlantic Coast Conference champion Tar Heels and Fighting Irish will square off at 5:00 p.m. PT/8:00 p.m. ET.

The winners move on to the championship on Sunday. If you’re not in College Station, Texas to watch the games live, be sure to catch both matches on ESPN2.

The championship game will take place Sunday at 10:00 a.m.

Yesterday was Media Day and last night, all the players attended a banquet at A&M. For a peek at the UCLA women all dressed up for the big event – go to the NCAA College Cup Banquet Gallery

NCAA Website: Women’s College Cup Central
UCLA Website: Bruins Women’s Soccer
Stanford Website: Cardinal Women’s Soccer
UNC Website: Tar Heel Women’s Soccer
Notre Dame Website: Irish Women’s Soccer

On to the College Cup

While many sports fans in Los Angeles were at the Coliseum Saturday night for the UCLA – USC football game, it was a great night at Drake Stadium where the UCLA women  came back from an early Portland goal to win the NCAA quarterfinal soccer  game 2-1.

With the win last night, the Bruins advanced to their seventh consecutive NCAA Women’s College Cup. And, for the first time since 1986, the previous year’s field returns intact. The only difference this weekend, 12 months after North Carolina beat Stanford and Notre Dame beat UCLA in the 2008 semifinals, is the draw: Stanford and UCLA meet in a Pac-10 rematch and North Carolina and Notre Dame meet in a rematch of both last season’s championship game and a 6-0 win for the Tar Heels in South Bend three months ago.

One of the constants for the Bruins over the last four years has been the stellar play of forward Lauren Cheney. Cheney and sophomore forward Sydney Leroux are part of a potent offense that is averaging 2.91 goals per game (10th in nation). Both players have scored over 40 points this season, becoming the first UCLA tandem to accomplish the feat. They have combined for 85 of 195 of the team’s points, or 43.5 percent of UCLA’s scoring.

The finals will be played next weekend in College Station, Texas.

Check out this video recap of the UCLA-Portland game with former Bruin all-star Jill Oakes.  Note we missed the early Portland goal – which happened about 2 minutes into the game (sorry, we were still setting up) but you’ll see lots of great action by two of the top collegiate teams.

Carolina’s Nogueira named Soccer America Women’s Player of the Year

December 16, 2008 – Junior forward Casey Nogueira of Raleigh, N.C., put a signature achievement on her remarkable third season for the Tar Heels as she was named the National Player of the Year by Soccer America Magazine Tuesday. Nogueira, whose two goals in the national championship game lifted the Tar Heels to a 2-1 victory, led the nation this year in total goals with 25 and in total points with 58.This is the 12th time since Soccer America instituted the award in 1985 that a North Carolina player has been so honored.

Nogueira was also one of 11 players nationwide nation to the Soccer America MVP (All-America) first team while junior midfielder Tobin Heath and senior midfielder Yael Averbuch were both named Soccer America second-team MVPs. While NCAA runnerup Notre Dame and NCAA semifinalist UCLA both had two first-team choices, UNC led all schools with total selections to the first and second teams with three.

Nogueira, who wanted so badly to play for North Carolina that she moved from her home in Cedarburg, Wis., to Raleigh to be near the Tar Heels in high school, has backed up her commitment with superb performances in two Women’s College Cup finals in three years at UNC. (via press release)

Last week, Nogueira was named one of three finalists for the Hermann Trophy. Christina DiMartino from UCLA and Kerri Hanks of Notre Dame are also in the running for the the highest individual honor in intercollegiate soccer. The Hermann will be awarded at a banquet in January.

Casey Nogueira
Position: Forward
Class: Junior
Age: 19
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
High School: Needham Broughton
Youth Club: CASL Spartan Elite
International: U.S. national team (1 cap)
Major: Interpersonal Communications

It won’t be long before Nogueria is drafted by the WPS who today announced the home openers for the inaugural Season. Headlining the list of games is the “WPS Inaugural Match” featuring the Los Angeles Sol against the Washington Freedom at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Sunday, March 29, 2009.

Weekend Wrap-up

December 8, 2008 – Here’s a quick update on some of what happened over the weekend in women’s sports.

Tennis:
Serena Williams withdraws from Australia’s Hopman Cup with hamstring injury

Soccer:
UNC soccer team wins Women’s College Cup adding to dynasty

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team captured the 2008 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 2-1 victory against Korea DPR.

Golf:
Michelle Wie earns LPGA card as Lewis wins Q-School

Hoops:
Connecticut remains atop AP poll. North Carolina is second followed by Stanford, Texas A&M, OU and Texas.

TCU shocks California and ends school-record winning streak

No. 8 Notre Dame stays perfect, knocks off No. 20 Purdue 62-51

No. 9 Texas knocks Ole Miss from unbeaten ranks

The #1 girls high school team in the country is upset

Volleyball:
Penn State sweeps Yale, advances to regional semis

Swimming:
Dagny Knutson breaks American Record at 2008 USA Swimming Short Course Nats
Mary DeScenza wins twice at USA Swimming Short Course Nationals

Worth reading:
Michael Wilbon on the end of the Houston Comets

Still Blue: UNC wins 19th women’s soccer crown

December 7, 2008 – North Carolina’s junior forward Casey Nogueira provided the heroics in the championship game of the Women’s College Cup for the second time in three years, scoring two second-half goals to lead the Tar Heels to a come from behind 2-1 victory over Notre Dame on Sunday.

Notre Dame, the only undefeated team remaining in D-I women’s soccer, opened the scoring just 17 seconds into the College Cup championship game on Sunday. But the Tar Heels overcame the fastest goal in Notre Dame history and never let up to win their 19th women’s soccer championship in the 27-year history of the tournament.

The Tar Heels ended the season on a 22-match unbeaten streak, beating the nation’s No. 2- and No. 1-ranked teams in the semifinals and finals of the NCAA Tournament and adding to their dynasty. Nogueira’s winning goal with only 2:06 left in the match dropped the Fighting Irish to 26-1-0 at season’s end.

Nogueira, who is from nearby Raleigh, North Carolina, played in high school state-championship games on the same field where she starred Sunday.

“She has every conceivable soccer skill, but that doesn’t necessarily make a player,” North Carolina coach Anson Dorrance said. “Her evolution as a player is to take all these remarkable tools she has and figure out how and when to use them. The two balls that she struck today were world-class finishes.”

Despite some questionable calls, it was truly a terrific series this year (even if UCLA didn’t go all the way!)

Recap

First loss ends season for UCLA women’s soccer team

December 5, 2008 – It’s no secret we were rooting for UCLA to win the national championship. So it’s no suprise we were incredibly bummed when the Bruins saw their undefeated season come to an end during the semifinals of the NCAA College Cup. They  gave up only their sixth goal of the year in the loss, but it was enough.

UCLA fell to North Carolina 1-0 before 8,926 fans at the WakeMed Soccer Park. The game’s only goal was scored in the 41st minute on a penalty kick by North Carolina’s Yael Averbuch.

The Bruins suffered some bad luck early on, as senior midfielder McCall Zerboni suffered an ankle injury in just the 18th minute and did not return the rest of the match. Zerboni , who was the Bruins’ emotional leader this year, led the team in scoring during the NCAA Tournament with nine points.

North Carolina’s goal came with less than five minutes left in the first half when the referee called a penalty kick after Tar Heel Brittani Bartok was brought down in the box on a tackle by Bruin defender Erin Hardy.

“I didn’t see a replay — they didn’t replay it on the big screen,” Hardy said afterward. “I didn’t think I got contact with her feet. I think it’s a hard call to make in the Final Four.”

Despite the loss, the Bruins still set a new school record for fewest losses in a season, suffering just one defeat in 25 matches. And UCLA fell just one win shy of breaking the school record for victories in a season, ending the season with 22 (the Bruins also had 22 wins in 2005).

UCLA (22-1-2) became the second team from the Pacific 10 Conference to lose Friday as Stanford (22-2-1) lost the first semifinal to Notre Dame (26-0-0) by the same 1-0 score. The Fighting Irish and North Carolina (24-1-2) will play for the championship Sunday.

It really felt like this would be UCLA’s year but it wasn’t to be…..great job and good luck to all the seniors who are moving on.

UCLA Recap

College Cup: Irish Eyes are Smilin’

December 5, 2008 – In Friday’s first D-I semifinal in Cary, N.C., Courtney Barg scored in the 14th minute to put Notre Dame ahead early. The Irish defense took care of the rest, as top-seeded Notre Dame stayed undefeated and earned a ticket to Sunday’s final with a 1-0 win over Stanford.

College Cup Preview

December 5, 2008 -

The four top women’s soccer teams are in Cary, NC to take part in this week’s NCAA College Cup at WakeMed Soccer Park. The players all took part in the pre-tournament press conference, put in some practice time at the site and then attended a team banquet.

With UCLA on a quest for their first national title, the LA Daily News writes a touching profile on the team’s junior striker:  UCLA player Kristina Larsen carries on mother’s spirit.

 ESPN notes players to watch: College Cup field brings load of talent to Cary

Coach Gil makes his predictions on his OleOle blog – Which number 1 will be THE number 1?

And of course each of the schools file their own reports and pre-game statements:

UCLA - On playing UNC Coach Ellis says: “Our defensive unit has been outstanding this year, I think front to back we’re defending better as a team and I think we’ll generate some pressure.”

UNC - Coach Anson Dorrance’s team is the overall No. 2 seed in this year’s tournament The Tar Heels are 19-0-1 in their last 20 matches and 23-1-2 overall.

Stanford – The fifth-ranked Cardinal is readying itself for its first College Cup appearance since 1993

Notre Dame -Head coach Randy Waldrum says in his opening statement: “We’re looking forward to some great games. From all of the years I remember, these are four of the best teams that have (ever) made it to the Final Four.”

Following the conclusion of the collegiate season, nine College Cup participants will begin the next stage in their soccer careers by attending the WPS Combines where they will have one last opportunity to showcase their skills in front of WPS coaches and general managers prior to the 2009 Draft. WPS Combine attendees to watch

Top women’s seeds meet in ‘fierce final four’

December 4, 2008 – It all comes down to this weekend. It’s the fiercest foursome to meet at the Women’s College Cup in recent memory. Who will come out #1?

All four top seeds reached the national semifinals for the first time since 1997 and just the fifth time overall. The teams have the most combined wins (92) and tied for the fewest combined losses (two) of any final foursome in the history of the tournament.

The Fighting Irish, who are riding a school-record 25-game winning streak, enter the weekend as the top-ranked team in the country. They are making their fourth appearance in the Women’s College Cup in the last five years, including their third in a row.

UCLA has posted a school-record 19 shutouts and went through the regular season undefeated for the first time in school history. They completely dominated Duke in the quarterfinal match. The Bruins are making their sixth consecutive appearance in the College Cup, the longest active streak in the country but unbelievably they haven’t won a national championship.

Stanford has a great team this year but the Cardinal players won’t have any College Cup experience to draw upon when they take on Notre Dame. The team is playing in the NCAA tournament for the 11th consecutive season, but is making its first College Cup appearance since 1993.

Of course UNC can never be counted out. Coach Anson Dorrance has led North Carolina to the NCAA Women’s College Cup 24 times in the 27-year history of the event and guided the Tar Heels to 18 NCAA championships, most recently here in 2006. Plus, the Tar Heels have a homefield advantage, traveling just 35 miles from Chapel Hill, N.C., to the same field where they won the ACC tournament title last month.

Stanford (22-1-1) and Notre Dame (25-0-0) kick off the action at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Dec, 5 followed by North Carolina (23-1-2) and UCLA (22-0-2) at 7:00. Both games will be broadcast live on ESPN2/ESPNU

The championship game will take place Sunday, Dec . 7th. at 2:00 and will be broadcast live on ESPN2. These should all be great games – be sure to catch the action!

Final Four set for Women’s Soccer College Cup

College Station, Texas, Dec. 6, 2007 – The Division I Women’s Soccer Semifnals kick off on Friday in College Station. Notre Dame faces Florida State in one game and cross-town rivals USC and UCLA pair off in the other.  Three of the four teams were in the Final Four last year. Only last year’s winner, University of North Carolina, isn’t back on the field.

This year marks the first time that USC has advanced past the tournament’s second round in the program’s history. They enter the College Cup as the only team that hasn’t conceded a goal in the tournament.

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