PDL Feature
Friday, December 13, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – The NCAA Division I College Cup kicks off tonight at PPL Park with PDL players set to play key roles for each of the four teams to reach the national semifinals. No. 3-seed Notre Dame faces No. 7 New Mexico in the opening semifinal at 5 p.m. ET, while No. 5 Maryland meets No. 8 Virginia at 7:30 p.m. ET, with both games set to be aired on ESPNU.
In the opening game, Notre Dame is led by MAC Hermann Trophy finalist Harrison Shipp, who spent the past three seasons with the Chicago Fire U-23. Shipp has led the Fighting Irish with 12 goals and 32 points this season, while former Indiana Invaders forward Leon Brown has added four goals and 11 points, primarily off the bench.
The Lobos will look to former Real Colorado Foxes standout Kyle Venter as they try to contain Shipp. Venter, named on Friday an NSCAA Second Team All-American, is one of the top defensive prospects for the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, and he is joined by former Austin Aztex goalkeeper Michael Lisch, who has 10 shutouts in 21 appearances this season. New Mexico is led offensively by former Ogden Outlaws player James Rogers, who has 20 points, while Ben McKendry (11 points) is a former Vancouver Whitecaps U-23 standout.
In the second semifinal, Maryland will look to former New Orleans Jesters forward Patrick Mullins, who along with Shipp was named a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy on Thursday. Mullins, the 2012 winner of the award, has scored 16 goals in his senior season, tied for most in the nation, and has two goals in the Terrapins’ three tournament games so far. Jake Pace, formerly of the Real Maryland Monarchs, has also chipped in a goal in the tournament run, while the Austin Aztex’s Mikey Ambrose leads the team with 2,178 minutes played.
Virginia, meanwhile, has received major contributions from freshman Darius Madison, who has six goals and three assists after spending the summer with Reading United. The Philadelphia Union Academy graduate is backed by former Fredericksburg Hotspur midfielder Todd Wharton, who has five goals and three assists, while Chicago Inferno goalkeeper Jeff Gal has posted six shutouts in 15 starts for the Cavaliers.
Following Friday’s semifinals, the 2013 College Cup Final is set for Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET in a game that can also be seen on ESPNU.