The women's College Cup is finally set
The GIST: While you were still digesting your mashed potatoes, the women’s national quarter-finals and men’s third round were raging this weekend. The gals’ College Cup, aka soccer’s Final Four, is finally set, and the guys’ is just one round away — so hold off on the manicure until nailbiters give way to natty glory.
The women: Two of Friday’s three games were electrifying. No. 1–seed BYU staged a massive comeback with four second-half goals — three in the match’s final nine minutes — to beat No. 3 UNC 4–3 and induce an all-time great footy field rush. Meanwhile, No. 2 Stanford needed double-overtime (OT) to outlast No. 5 Nebraska 2–1. Heart: still pounding.
- In the less suspenseful matchups, No. 1 Florida State easily neutralized No. 7 Pitt 3–0 Friday, maintaining their four-match natty shutout streak and earning a semifinal against ACC rival No. 1 Clemson, who edged No. 2 Penn State 2–1 on Saturday.
The men: The round of 16 was characteristically chaotic with four upsets in eight matches, but no game was as decisive as the Oregon State Beavers’ mind-blowing 7–1 win over No. 6 SMU on Saturday. The Beavs are this tourney’s top Cinderella, having eliminated two seeded squads plus the nation’s No. 9–ranked team so far.
- The intensity continued yesterday as No. 9 Clemson, No. 16 Stanford, and Indiana all defeated higher-seeded opponents to advance. No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 UNC, however, held on through penalty kicks to avoid upsets and keep on dancin’.
