Creighton vs. Indiana -  The Bluejays and Hoosiers take the field at 5 p.m. (EST) on Friday December 8 at Ericsson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina in what promises to be a very exciting college soccer game between two teams who by all measures deserve to be in the College Cup.  Just like their third round game against the University of North Carolina, a key factor for Indiana University in this one will be their ability to disrupt and derail the powerful Creighton attack lead by forwards Brian Mullan and Mike Tranchilla.  Sophomore Tranchilla has 18 goals so far this year and Senior All-American Mullan has 17.  When Creighton defeated Indiana during the regular season by a score of 4-1,  Indiana Head Coach  Jerry Yeagley stated after the game “Their two front players (Tranchilla and Mullen) were as good as we have seen this year and we just could not stop them.”  In that game Creighton took a 1-0 lead during the 16th minute of play with Mullan scoring on the Bluejays only real opportunity of the first half.  Creighton’s Tranchilla scored eleven minutes into the second half to make it a 2-0 game and Mullen made it 3-0 just a little over two minute later.  Matt Fundenberger scored the lone Indiana goal and Creighton’s Ishmael Mintah got the final Creighton tally off a direct kick with less than ten minutes left in the match.  The four Creighton goals were the most allowed by Indiana University since 1989.  However, that game is history and the one that counts now is the one which will be played on December 8.  As we have stated since the start of the NCAA Tourney,  as the two time defending National Champions, Indiana is the team to beat.  They lost their last three games during the regular season (California, Stanford, and Ohio State) and appeared vulnerable going into the NCAA Tournament.  Not so - they traveled to the west coast two weeks in a row defeating San Jose State 4-0 and then Washington 2-1.  Next they traveled to Chapel Hill, North Carolina and defeated the #1 ranked Tarheels 1-0.   Indiana is now 16-6-0.  Their losses during the year have come at the hands of Portland, UCLA, Creighton, California, Stanford, and Ohio State.  Key wins during the regular season were over Maryland, Virginia, Penn State, Kentucky, and Ohio State.  Creighton enters the College Cup with a 21-3-0 record.  They have a potent attack and Coach Bret Simon’s team also plays very solid team defense.  In NCAA Tourney Creighton has also played all of their matches on the road with wins over Ohio State, San Diego, and Virginia.  Their losses during the regular season came at the hands of Marquette, Southwest Missouri State, and Bradley.  Key regular season wins have been over Washington, Indiana, and Southern Methodist.  Creighton averages 2.3 goals per game while Indiana averages 1.9.  Creighton has allowed an average of 1.0 goals per game while Indiana has allowed an average of 0.9 goals per game.  Creighton is very capable of t applying pressure all over the field.  Bluejay keeper Mike Gabb has played very well and senior defender Peter Henning is among the best in the country.  Indiana has played a very tough schedule all year and there is no doubt that Coach Jerry Yeagley, who is in his 28th season at Indiana University, will have his team prepared for this one.  Ryan Mack, Pat Noonan, and Matt Fundenberger always seem to come up big for the Hoosiers but the key to success for Indiana may end of being in the hands of guys like Justin Tauber, Phil Presser, Michael Bock, John Swann, and keepers T.J. Hannig or Colin Rogers.  To sum it up, the first ten minutes of both halves will be crucial.  Defense generally plays a big part in NCAA Tournament wins.  If Creighton is able to get its attack in gear like they did last week against Virginia and the last time they faced Indiana, they will be difficult to beat.  On the other hand, if the Indiana defense is able to contain Creighton and make this a one or two goal game then the Hoosiers experience and discipline will get them through this one.  Either way, like we said at the beginning, it should be a great college soccer match.  

 

S.M.U. vs. Connecticut -  The Mustangs and the Huskies are scheduled to face each other Friday night around 7:30 in the second game of the College Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Connecticut enters the match with a record of 18-3-2.  They defeated Dartmouth, Clemson, and Brown to make it to the Showdown in Charlotte.  The Connecticut losses during the year were to Wake Forest, Syracuse University, and Seton Hall.  They have key wins over Duke, Virginia Commonwealth, and Rutgers.  S.M.U. enters the game with a record of  20-4-0.  They defeated IUPUI, Kentucky, and Stanford to get to the College Cup.  They lost this year to San Diego, C.S. Fullerton, Creighton, and Bradley.  They have key regular season wins over St. Louis and Bradley.  Connecticut averages 2.0 goals per game while S.M.U. averages 3.4.  Connecticut has held opponents to an average of .6 goals per game while S.M.U. has held opponents to 1.0 goals per game.  This is the first time the Mustangs from S.M.U. have been in the College Cup.  Connecticut was in it last year and before that they appeared in it in 1983.  S.M.U. can flat attack.  They are lead by Mohamed Fahim, Luchi Gonzalez, Diego Walsh, Matt Whitley, Carl Busey and Bret Corbin.  In the back they are solid lead by keeper Bryan Foss and a solid back line of Crunch Brown, Ryan Kenyon, Tom Dolan, and Toti Suarez.  The Connecticut attack is lead by freshman Cesar Cuellar and  Darin Lewis.  The Huskies create a great deal of pressure by including their backs in the attack particularly Chris Grandi.  Brent Rahim, Mansour Ndiaye, and Edwin Rivera are all talented and experienced players who make Coach Ray Reid’s team very difficult to contain.  In the back keeper Bryheem Hancock is very solid and experienced.  Add in All-American Chris Gbandi, Roberto Vargas,  Max Zieky, and Will Thornton and you have a Connecticut back line that is hard to beat.  Whoever controls the pace of the match will win this one.  Also look for the team that takes advantage of early opportunities and plays with discipline to win.