Indiana vs. Rutgers -  Indiana hosts Rutgers in a match that will be played at Bill Armstrong Stadium in Bloomington on Sunday at 2 p.m.  Indiana from the Big Ten will enter the contest with a 15-3-1 overall record.  This could be the marquee match of the third round.  Rutgers from the Big East will enter the match with an overall record of 15-6-3.  Both programs are among the best in the country and both are well coached.  Indiana defeated Rutgers 1-0 when the two teams faced each other on October 26 in a match hosted by Rutgers.  Pat Noonan leads the Indiana attack.  Dennis Ludwig and Sherif El Bialy lead the Rutgers attack.  Indiana has the premier defense in the country having allowed only five goals against a schedule that is among the toughest in the country.  In addition, the players in the back for Indiana have a will to win that enables them to often prevail. Rutgers can play solid defense also but they have lapsed on occasion.  This one will come down to whether the Indiana defense can stop Ludwig and El Bialy.  If Ludwig and Bialy get untracked Rutgers will get the win.  If  they do not then expect Indiana to prevail by a goal or two.  Both coaches like to attack but make no mistake about it, team defense  and composure will determine who controls this one. 

 

Clemson vs. Alabama-Birmingham - This match will be hosted by Clemson at Riggs Field on Sunday at 1 p.m.  Clemson from the ACC is 22-4-0.  Alabama-Birmingham from Conference USA is 15-5-0.  This will be a very physical match with both teams giving it all they have. UAB has had several players out due to injuries recently so that could be a factor in this one.  Both teams like to attack.  Martin Rey and Flavio Monteiro are creative and dangerous finishers up top for UAB.  Ian Fuller and Dimelon Westfield are effective for Clemson up top.  Keeper play is likely to be a big factor in this one.  Doug Warren is solid in goal for Clemson while freshman Clint Baumstark has been the main man in the goal for UAB this year.  Give the Tigers a slight edge in this one due to the home field advantage. 

 

North Carolina vs. American - American from the Patriot League travels to Fetzer Field in Chapel Hill, North Carolina to face the North Carolina Tar Heels from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Sunday at 1 p.m.   American is 13-7-2 and North Carolina is 17-4-0.  American defeated Wake Forest from the Atlantic Coast Conference 3-0 last weekend to advance to this match.  The significance of that is demonstrated by the fact that Wake Forest defeated North Carolina 4-2 when the two teams squared off in a regular season ACC match on October 27.  American under second year head coach Todd West has been a team on fire recently defeating a strong Ohio State team 2-1 in their first round match.  The Tar Heel back line has allowed just 15 goals this year.  Look for American to challenge North Carolina early but for the Tar Heel defense lead by keeper Michael Ueltschey and defenders Danny Jackson, Chris Leitch and David Stokes to make the difference in this match.  North Carolina should prevail over a very good American team and advance to the Elite Eight.