2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game

Last updated

NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game
Meredith Field at Harder Stadium.jpg
Harder Stadium hosted the final
Event 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament
Maryland Akron
Big Ten Mid-American
10
DateDecember 9, 2018
Venue Harder Stadium, Santa Barbara, California
Referee Chris Penso
Attendance4,858
WeatherParty Cloudy and 62 °F (17 °C)
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game was the final game of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, determining the national champion for the 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The match was played on December 9, 2018 at Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara, California, a soccer-specific stadium that is home to UC Santa Barbara Gauchos men's and women's soccer programs.

Contents

The match was contested between the 2018 MAC Men's Soccer Tournament champions, Akron, and the Big Ten Tournament, semifinalists, Maryland. Maryland ultimately won the match 1-0 thanks to a penalty kick goal from Amar Sejdić in the 57th minute of play. Sejdić was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player for his performance. Maryland went through the entire tournament without conceding a single goal.

Marked by the media as a "redemption final", [1] [2] [3] the final features two men's soccer heavyweights: Akron and Maryland. [4] Both teams, while regularly successful over the last two decades, have not won an NCAA title in nearly a decade each. [5] During the 2018 campaign, both programs had a slump early on in the season that nearly saw both teams miss out on the NCAA Tournament. A late season resurgence by both programs allowed both to reach the NCAA final.

The three-time defending champions, Stanford, were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Akron. The match was broadcast on ESPN2.

Road to the final

The NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, sometimes known as the College Cup, is an American intercollegiate soccer tournament conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and determines the Division I men's national champion. The tournament has been formally held since 1959, when it was an eight-team tournament. Since then, the tournament has expanded to 48 teams, in which every Division I conference tournament champion is allocated a berth. The tournament was the first final since 2014 to not feature Stanford in the match. It was Akron's first appearance since 2010, which they won their lone NCAA title against Louisville, and Maryland's first appearance since 2013, where they lost to Notre Dame. Maryland has won the NCAA Tournament on three previous occasions: 1968, 2005, and 2008.

Maryland (Big Ten)Round Akron (MAC)
Opponent ResultConference Tournament Opponent Result
Michigan State 1–0 (A)Quarterfinals SIUE 2–1 (N)
Indiana 1–1 (N)Semifinals West Virginia 3–1 (A)
did not qualify—Championship Western Michigan 3–0 (N)
OpponentResultNCAA TournamentOpponentResult
Bye—First Round Rider (MAAC) 3–1 (H)
NC State (ACC) 2–0 (H)Second Round Syracuse (ACC) 3–1 (A)
Duke (ACC) 2–0 (A)Third Round (Sweet 16) Wake Forest (ACC) 1–0 (A)
Kentucky (C-USA) 1–0 (A)Quarterfinals (Elite 8) Stanford (Pac-12) 3–2 (A)
Indiana (Big Ten) 2–0 (N)College Cup (Final 4) Michigan State (Big Ten) 5–1 (N)

Akron

Akron entered the championship match on a nine-match winning streak, with their last defeat coming on October 20 at Northern Illinois. The program began the season ranked fourth in the nation in the United Soccer Coaches poll and second in the nation in the TopDrawer Soccer poll. A slow start to the season saw the Zips fall to a 1–3–1 record and slip out of the national rankings. Following the early skid, the Zips rebounded to win their next three straight matches. This was hallmarked by a 10–0 victory of Canisius, making it the program's largest win in history. Akron earned a pair of subsequent road wins at Grand Canyon and at VCU.

Akron began conference play with a scoreless draw at Bowling Green. A chain of inconsistent performances saw the Zips lose at home to West Virginia and Syracuse, but nab victories against Michigan State and Creighton, who were both ranked in the USC Top 10 at the time.

The Zips finished the Mid-American Conference regular season in fourth place, making it the programs poorest regular season performance in MAC play since joining the conference. In the MAC Tournament, the Zips had a season resurgence, winning all of their tournament matches in regulation, en route to their 7th straight Mid-American Conference Men's Soccer Tournament title, and their 11th MAC title in the last 14 years. The championship was a rematch of last year's championship, where the Zips took on Western Michigan. The win guaranteed that the Zips would return to the NCAA Tournament, where their chances prior to the tournament had been on the bubble.

The Zips did not earn a seed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. In the first round, Akron hosted Rider, where they won 3–1. The victory led to a rematch against Syracuse. The match, played at nearby Colgate University, was a triumph for Akron, as they won by the same 3–1 score. The Zips then took on top-seed Wake Forest in the Sweet Sixteen, and earned a 1–0 away victory. In the Elite Eight, Akron took on Stanford, the three-time defending NCAA champions. [6] Akron had been eliminated in penalties for the last 2 tournaments by Stanford. [7] In the match, Akron avenged their losses, and won 3–2 at Stanford booking their spot in the College Cup. [8] [9] There, the Zips prevailed 5–1 against Michigan State, [10] making it the most lopsided semifinal match in nearly 20 years. [11]

Maryland

Pre-match

Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara hosted the 2018 Men's College Cup. Harder Stadium Santa Barbara CA.JPG
Harder Stadium in Santa Barbara hosted the 2018 Men's College Cup.

Venue selection

The National Collegiate Athletic Association determined the host of the final on April 18, 2017. [12] The announcement of Meredith Field at Harder Stadium was in conjunction with WakeMed Soccer Park being announced as the 2019 and 2021 College Cup venue, while Harder Stadium would host the College Cup again in 2020. [13]

Analysis

Ahead of the match, both programs had a similar storyline of having a late season resurgence. Akron was considered by some to be the favorite given their longer run of form, and their emphatic win over Michigan State.

Match

Details

Maryland 1–0 Akron
Sejdič Soccerball shade.svg57' (pen.) Report
Harder Stadium, Santa Barbara
Attendance: 4,858
Referee: Chris Penso
Kit left arm umd2015h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body umd2015h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm umd2015h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts umd2015h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks umd2015h.png
Kit socks long.svg
Maryland
Kit left arm akron18h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm akron18h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts akron18h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks 3 old gold stripes.png
Kit socks long.svg
Akron
GK99 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dayne St. Clair
RB25 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Di Rosa
CB2 Flag of the United States.svg Donovan Pines
CB5 Flag of Germany.svg Johannes Bergmann
LB28 Flag of the United States.svg Chase Gasper Yellow card.svg 10'
RM20 Flag of the United States.svg Eli CrognaleSub off.svg 77'
AM10 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Amar Sejdic Soccerball shade.svg57' (pen.)
LM13 Flag of the United States.svg Andrew Samuels (c)
RW18 Flag of South Korea.svg Paul BinSub off.svg 60'
LW8 Flag of France.svg William James HerveSub off.svg 61'
CF9 Flag of the United States.svg Sebastian ElneySub off.svg 81'
Substitutes:
FW11 Flag of the United States.svg D. J. ReevesSub on.svg 61'
FW15 Flag of the United States.svg Eric MatzelevichSub on.svg 81'
FW21 Flag of France.svg Vinicius LansadeSub on.svg 77'
MF27 Flag of the United States.svg Matt Di RosaSub on.svg 61'
Manager:
Flag of North Macedonia.svg Sasho Cirovski
GK1 Flag of Germany.svg Ben Lundt Yellow card.svg 75'
RB26 Flag of Somalia.svg Abdi Mohamed
CB3 Flag of Italy.svg Carlo Ritaccio (c)Red card.svg 80'
CB25 Flag of the United States.svg Daniel Strachan
LB4 Flag of Italy.svg Marco MilaneseSub off.svg 61'
DM6 Flag of the United States.svg Skye HarterYellow card.svg 88'
CM12 Flag of the United States.svg Colin BirosSub off.svg 78'
CM16 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Tojaga
AM8 Flag of the United States.svg Morgan HackworthSub off.svg 61'
ST9 Flag of Nigeria.svg David Egbo
ST10 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Marcel Zajac
Substitutes:
DF2 Flag of Spain.svg Pol HernándezSub on.svg 61'Sub off.svg 87'
FW7 Flag of Eritrea.svg Ezana KahsaySub on.svg 78'Sub off.svg 81'Yellow card.svg 81'
MF10 Flag of Italy.svg Marco MicalettoSub on.svg 61'
MF14 Flag of Portugal.svg Diogo PachecoSub on.svg 87'
DF27 Flag of Ireland.svg Declan WattersSub on.svg 81'
Manager:
Flag of the United States.svg Jared Embick

College Cup MVP
Amar Sejdic (Maryland)

Assistant referees:
Danny Thornberry (United States)
Tom Felice (United States)
Fourth official:
Chris Penso (United States)

Match rules:

  • 90 minutes.
  • 20 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Unlimited substitutes, may not return if subbed out in the first half; may return unlimited times in the second half.

Statistics

Overall [14]
MarylandAkron
Goals scored10
Total shots1510
Shots on target82
Saves27
Corner kicks75
Fouls committed107
Offsides00
Yellow cards13
Red cards01

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament</span> College soccer tournament

The NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, sometimes known as the College Cup, is an American intercollegiate soccer tournament conducted by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and determines the Division I men's national champion. The tournament was formally held in 1959, when it was an eight-team tournament. Since then, the tournament has expanded to 48 teams, in which every Division I conference tournament champion is allocated a berth. Among the most successful programs, Saint Louis won 10 titles during dynasty years between 1959 and 1973. Indiana has won 8 titles beginning in 1982, whereas Virginia has won 7 titles beginning in 1989. Syracuse won its first national title in its first appearance in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akron Zips</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of the University of Akron (Ohio)

The Akron Zips are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio, United States. The Zips compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) East division. Akron sponsors 17 varsity teams across six men's, 10 women's, and one coed NCAA sanctioned sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the highest level of competition for college football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryland Terrapins men's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The Maryland Terrapins men's soccer team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college soccer competition. The program has won four NCAA Division I College Cup national championships. Maryland won nineteen Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) regular season championships and six ACC tournament championships before joining the Big Ten Conference on July 1, 2014. The Terps won the 2014, 2016, and 2022 Big Ten Conference men's soccer championships and the 2014 and 2015 men's soccer tournament titles.

The Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer team represent the University of Virginia in all NCAA Division I men's soccer competitions. The Virginia Cavaliers are a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The 2015 Stanford Cardinal men's soccer team represented Stanford University during the 2015 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 43rd season of the university fielding a program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament</span> Football tournament season

The 2015 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament was the 57th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I men's collegiate soccer. The first, second, third, and quarterfinal rounds were held at college campus sites across the United States during November and December 2015, with host sites determined by seeding and record. The four-team College Cup finals were played at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas from December 11–13, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament</span> Football tournament season

The 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament was the 58th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I men's collegiate soccer. The first, second, third, and quarterfinal rounds were held at college campus sites across the United States during November and December 2016, with host sites determined by seeding and record. The four-team College Cup finals was played at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on December 9 and 11, 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game</span> Football match

The 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game was the final game of the 2016 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, determining the national champion for the 2016 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The match was played on December 11, 2016, at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas, a soccer-specific stadium that is home to Major League Soccer club, Houston Dynamo. Stanford of the Pac-12 Conference won the match, and successfully defended their national championship. Stanford defeated Wake Forest of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The crowd of 6,315 saw the match decided on penalty kicks, where Stanford prevailed on a 5–4 scoreline, following a 0–0 draw in regulation and overtime. The title was Stanford's second ever title, in their fourth-ever appearance. It was Wake Forest's second appearance in the final.

The 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament was the 59th annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I men's collegiate soccer. The first, second, third, and quarterfinal rounds were held at college campus sites across the United States during November and December 2017, with host sites determined by seeding and record. The four-team College Cup finals were played at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania on December 8 and 10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament</span>

The 2018 NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament was the 60th edition of the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, a postseason tournament to determine the national champion of NCAA Division I men's college soccer. The first four rounds of the competition were held at the home ground of the higher seed, while the College Cup were held at Harder Stadium on the campus of University of California, Santa Barbara. The championship match was held on December 10, 2018 with the Maryland Terrapins defeating the Akron Zips 1–0 to claim their fourth title in program history.

The 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game was the final game of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship, determining the national champion for the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The match was played on December 10, 2017 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania, a soccer-specific stadium that is home to the Major League Soccer club Philadelphia Union. The match was contested between Stanford of the Pac-12 Conference and Indiana of the Big Ten Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Akron Zips men's soccer team</span>

The 2017 Akron Zips men's soccer team represented The University of Akron during the 2017 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The Zips, played in the Mid-American Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game</span> Football match

The 2019 NCAA Division I men's soccer championship game was played on December 15, 2019, at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina and determined the winner of the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, the national collegiate soccer championship in the United States. This was the 61st edition of the oldest active competition in United States college soccer.

At the conclusion of the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament, United Soccer Coaches selects two Most Outstanding Players: one for the Offensive Most Outstanding Player and the Defensive Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but is often a member of the Championship team.

Amar Sejdić is an American professional soccer player who plays as a central midfielder. He played four years of college soccer for the Maryland Terrapins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Maryland Terrapins men's soccer team</span>

The 2019 Maryland Terrapins men's soccer team represented the University of Maryland, College Park during the 2019 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 74th season of the university fielding a program. The Terrapins were led by 27th year head coach, Sasho Cirovski.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Big Ten Conference men's soccer season</span> Sports season

The 2019 Big Ten Conference men's soccer season was the 29th season of men's varsity soccer in the conference. The regular season began on August 30, 2019, and concluded on November 3, 2019. The season culminated with the 2019 Big Ten Conference Men's Soccer Tournament to determine the conference's automatic berth into the 2019 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament. The tournament began on November 10, 2019 and concluded on November 17, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Mid-American Conference men's soccer season</span> Sports season

The 2019 Mid-American Conference men's soccer season will be the 27th season of men's varsity soccer in the Mid-American Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Michigan Wolverines men's soccer team</span>

The 2010 Michigan Wolverines men's soccer team represented the University of Michigan during the 2010 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. It was the 11th season the university fielded a men's varsity soccer team, and their 11th season in the Big Ten Conference. The team was coached by 11th year head coach Steve Burns. The Wolverines finished the season 17–5–3, setting a program record for wins.

The 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Tournament was the 64th edition of the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament, a postseason tournament to determine the national champion of the 2022 NCAA Division I men's soccer season. The tournament started on November 17 and culminated with the Men's College Cup, the semifinals and finals of the tournament, which was played on December 9 and December 12 in Cary, North Carolina.

References

  1. ↑ Sitrn, Josh (December 7, 2018). "UMD Soccer's "Redemption Story" Continues in College Cup Tonight". 247Sports.com . CBS Interactive . Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  2. ↑ Mercado, Jorge (December 8, 2018). "Maryland soccer is taking its redemption tour to the NCAA championship game". The Washington Post . Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Maryland Soccer Relishing Opportunity for Redemption Ahead of College Cup". WMUC-FM . December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  4. ↑ Eskilson, J. R. (December 7, 2018). "Akron, Maryland advance to the Championship". TopDrawer Soccer. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  5. ↑ Ridenour, Marla (December 7, 2018). "University of Akron men's soccer: Second championship in school history within UA's grasp after Zips rout Michigan State 5-1 at College Cup". Akron Beacon Journal . GateHouse Media . Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  6. ↑ Alexander, Elton (November 27, 2018). "Akron men's soccer once again must get by Stanford to advance in NCAA Tournament". The Plain Dealer . cleveland.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Zips End Stanford's Reign With 3-2 Victory to Advance to Sixth College Cup". gozips.com. University of Akron Athletics. November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ Natalizi Baldi, Didier (December 5, 2018). "Stanford men's soccer season cut short by Zips". Stanford Daily . Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Stanford Cardinal vs. Akron Zips Recap". ESPN . November 30, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ Crawford, Kirkland (December 7, 2018). "Game recap: MSU men's soccer falls to Akron, 5-1, in national semis". Detroit Free Press . freep.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  11. ↑ Punzal, Barry (December 7, 2018). "College Cup: Akron routs Michigan State, 5–1, in NCAA tournament national semifinals". Lansing State Journal . Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  12. ↑ Klan, Mike (April 17, 2018). "UCSB selected to host the NCAA College Cup in 2018 and 2020 for men's soccer". KEYT-TV . NPG of California . Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  13. ↑ "2019 - 2026 Future DI NCAA Championship Sites". NCAA . April 17, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Box Score: Maryland vs. Akron (December 9, 2018)". University of Maryland Athletics. December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.