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Back in August, in our top 25 preview of Women’s College soccer, we highlighted four teams we expected to make the College Cup. Looking at the slate in Boca Raton on Friday, we’re not shocked by the participants: Virginia, Texas A&M, Florida State and Stanford all hovered inside the top 10 for the entire season - and each team is only two games away from its ultimate goal. Let’s get on with it!
Virginia Cavaliers v.s. Texas A&M Aggies - December 5th 5PM E.T. ESPNU
The only thing standing in Virginia’s way to reaching their 3rd College Cup was the team that beat them in last year's semi-final. UCLA, who eventually went on to win the 2013 title, came into the game with an undefeated record of 21-0-2 and all the momentum in the world. In our quarterfinal preview, we mentioned Virginia’s ability to control the ball and it showed in their match versus UCLA. Virginia struck first in the 33rd minute, ending UCLA's 969 minute shutout streak. Then, after no chances for most of the second half, Virginia struck again. The 71st minute insurance goal meant the Cavaliers would have to rely on a defense that was replacing three starters from a year ago. The effort was enough for Virginia as they held off the reigning champs.
Texas A&M will make their frist ever College Cup appearnce this Friday. (Photo:@TexAgs | Twitter)
Texas A&M have finally reached the ever-elusive College Cup, but will they be able to handle an extremely experienced Virginia side? The Aggies looked good in their 2-1 victory over Penn State, which saw Allie Bailey score two goals, a feat she hasn't accomplished since her first-ever game in an A&M uniform. Penn State created enough opportunities to win, but A&M senior keeper Jordan Day continued to make big saves and the Aggie backline held.
Emily Sonnet is important to the UVA defense, but her ability on the attack is where she can be lethal. (Photo:UVA Athletics)
Going into the match versus Virginia, Texas A&M can not be startled by the pace and possession that the Cavaliers play with. This offense is much more high-powered than the Penn State offense as they have scored 12 goals in the last three games. Texas A&M enters the game as the lone team with no players having College Cup experience, and in the history of the tournament only two teams have ever won the whole thing in their first appearance. The last to even win a semifinal match was in 2000 by UCLA. A&M has the talent from back to front, but you have to question if the moment will get to the Aggies. Virginia has put together a stellar performance in the post season. They have great balance and truly play as a team. We like the Cavaliers in this matchup, but if A&M can get that first goal, all bets are off.
Florida State Seminoles v.s. Stanford Cardinal - December 5th 7:30PM E.T. ESPNU
The match of the semifinals features two teams who boast heavy presence from seniors. Stanford relies heavily on 6 of them, while Florida State is in their third straight semifinals.
We all know Stanford can defend, but senior Taylor Uhl will be a key force in the Cardinal attack. (Photo:@Kfried6 | Twitter)
Stanford reached their 7th College Cup after beating Florida 2-2 (4-3) in Palo Alto. The Cardinal won the title in 2011 and have players from that roster carrying them into the 2014 College Cup. Defender Kendall Romine is one of those players. She played the full 90' against Duke in the 2011 final and will be a crucial piece in stopping a stout FSU attack. A usually stout defense allowed two equalizers versus the Gators, which breeds concerns when going up against Florida State's Dagny Brynjarsdottir. The Icelandic native has 16 goals and six assists in 21 games this year and will be the focal point of the FSU attack.
Dagny Brynjarsdottir won the ACC offensive player of the year award and is up for the Hermann Trophy that goes to the best male and female college player in the country. (Photo:@Bennettranksoc | Twitter)
Florida State is coming off a 5-0 drubbing of South Carolina and have been just shy of winning a championship in the last three seasons. This year, it seems like all hands are on deck. Last year's overtime loss to UCLA is in the past and the Seminoles will bring the nation’s No. 7 scoring offense (2.79 goals per game) into a matchup against the Cardinal’s No. 6 defense (.44 goals allowed per game). The Noles’ have scored 9 goals in the tournament without conceding any. We expect FSU to control most of the possession against the Cardinal, which will leave the ladies from Palo Alto with the task of capitalizing on few opportunities. FSU’s only loss this season came at the hands of Florida, so the Cardinal are by no means a big underdog here. It is a battle of heavyweights who have had success all season. We like the Seminoles to reach their second straight final and meet fellow ACC side Virginia, who they’ve already beaten twice this season (both 1-0 affairs).
