NCAA Men’s Soccer Tournament Elite Eight match-ups set
Eight teams punched their tickets to the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament quarterfinals over the weekend, and are now one win away from reaching the 2015 College Cup in Cary, North Carolina.
+Read: NCAA Women’s College Cup semifinal match-ups set
Elite Eight Match-Ups
No. 1 Wake Forest (17-2-2) vs. No. 8 Stanford (16-2-2)
December 5 at 7 p.m. ET
An 88th minute goal by Ricky Greensfelder set up by Ian Harkes lifted Wake Forest to a 1-0 victory over Indiana on Sunday as the Demon Deacons advanced to their first Elite Eight since the 2009 season. Wake Forest’s Elite Eight opponent, Stanford, cruised into the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Ohio State in which the Cardinal exploded for three second half scores. U.S. Men’s National Team player Jordan Morris had a brace, netting a 53rd minute equalizer and the eventual game-winner in the 78th minute for Stanford.
No. 4 Akron (17-3-2) vs. No. 12 Creighton (19-3-0)
December 5 at 4 p.m. ET
Akron battles Creighton on Saturday afternoon with a trip to the College Cup on the line and a semifinal match-up with either No. 1 Wake Forest or No. 8 Stanford. Akron earned its place in the Elite Eight with a 2-1 defeat of No. 11 seed SMU, as Goncalo Soares netted both goals for the Zips in the first half. Creighton shut out fifth-seeded North Carolina in their third round game on Saturday, with Timo Pitter providing the only score of the match near the end of the first half. Connor Sparrow notched four saves to earn the clean sheet for Creighton behind a strong effort by the back line.
No. 6 Syracuse (15-5-3) vs. Boston College (11-7-2)
December 5 at 2 p.m. ET
Syracuse has reached the Elite Eight for the first time in program history after tripling up Seattle 3-1 on Sunday at home, with goals coming from Miles Robinson, Noah Rhynhart and Kamal Miller. Boston College outlasted Georgetown in penalty kicks after a hard fought 1-1 draw through regulation and two overtime periods on Sunday in Washington D.C. in a huge road win for the Eagles.
No. 2 Clemson (17-2-2) vs. No. 10 Maryland (12-5-5)
December 4 at 7 p.m. ET
Clemson finds itself in the Elite Eight for the first time in a decade after overpowering UC Santa Barbara 3-2 on Sunday night at their home venue Riggs Field. Aaron Jones, Diego Campos and Kyle Murphy each found the net in the win, with Murphy scoring the game-winner to break a 2-2 tie in the 79th minute. Maryland upended No. 7 Notre Dame 2-1 on the road in South Bend, Indiana on Sunday, receiving first half goals from Ivan Magalhaes and Eryk Williamson. Mael Corboz provided both assists as the Terrapins earned their sixth straight victory, shutting out the Notre Dame attack in the second half despite playing down a man for the final 12 minutes.
