More upsets to come this weekend in NCAA Men’s College Cup

SW blogger Quinn Casteel makes some upset-heavy predictions for the College Cup Elite Eight, coming up this weekend with matches running from Friday-to-Sunday.

Pairing 1

#16 Indiana vs. #9 North Carolina – Nov. 30, 6 p.m. 

The ninth seeded North Carolina Tar Heels are back to their defensive ways after allowing multiple goals for the first time in a full calendar year in the ACC Championship loss to Maryland. Despite needing penalties to get by UMBC after a 0-0 scare, the Tar Heels have the fire power to get back on track. Indiana has been arguably the most impressive team in this tournament, having knocked off top-seeded Notre Dame and put up four goals on a solid Xavier squad. The Hoosiers’ scorers are likely to be slowed down considerably in this one, though.

Prediction: North Carolina 1, Indiana 0

#3 Georgetown vs. San Diego – Dec. 1, 1 p.m.

This might be the hardest match to predict this weekend simply because, what do we make of San Diego? The Toreros are the only team that didn’t have a first round bye still alive in the NCAA Tournament and seem to be making the most of some Cinderella magic. Connor Brandt’s double-OT winner lifted San Diego over C in the first round, then the Toreros exploded for a five-goal night against sixth-seeded UCLA in the second. Their unexpected run continued with a win over No. 11 Tulsa in the quarterfinals, and here they are with a chance to upset third-ranked Georgetown. Far fetched maybe, but unseeded San Diego may be poised for a run all the way to the title match.

Prediction: San Diego 2, Georgetown 1 (OT)

Pairing 2

#12 Creighton vs. #4 Connecticut – Dec. 2, 1 p.m. 

Creighton is essentially the upset special that isn’t. Poor Washington and Akron for being paired up in the second and third round with the Blue Jays, all-around one of the top teams in college soccer this season. Creighton is peaking at the perfect time right now having just scored four goals to open the game against a 13-win team in Washington and outlasted a tough Akron team in penalty kicks. Nicholas Zuniga provided the golden goal in double overtime for the Huskies in their last match against New Mexico. Expect another down to the wire match between these two sides.

Prediction: Creighton 1, Connecticut 1 (Creighton wins in PK’s)

#10 Louisville vs. #2 Maryland – Dec. 1, 5 p.m. 

Maryland handed Louisville a somewhat embarrassing 3-0 stomping when the two teams met in a non conference match on the first weekend of the regular season. The Terps’ freshman sensation Schillo Tshuma posted his first career goal in the match, as did sophomore midfielder Dan Metzger. Fresh off their ACC title win over UNC, the Terps have rolled through Brown 2-1 and 5-1 over Coastal Carolina in the Sweet Sixteen. However, the red-hot Cardinals have outscored their first two College Cup opponents (Winthrop and Northwestern) by a combined score of 7-1.

Prediction: Maryland 2, Louisville 1