The NCAA National Soccer Tournament is down to the Final Four this week in Houston and Real Salt Lake’s vaunted academy has representation on two of the four teams remaining. After a weekend that saw RSL’s Arizona-based academy represented in three of the four matches, Stanford and Wake Forest both advanced to College Cup, setting up the possibility that the two could meet in the championship match on Sunday.
Here is an update on the progress of the Academy products after the Elite Eight matches with a look ahead to the Final Four.
Stanford (14-3-4, 2-0 W vs. Louisville; Friday vs. North Carolina)
Corey Baird (Pictured above) – Played 68 minutes in the victory, but did not register a shot. With three goals and six assists on the season, ranks second on the team in scoring behind Pac-12 Co-Player of the Year Foster Langsdorf.
Trevor Hyman – Did not appear for the Cardinal in the win.
Wake Forest (18-2-3, 2-0 W vs. Virginia Tech; Friday vs. Denver)
Alex Knox – Part of a defense that registered its second shutout in three NCAA tournament matches to give the Demon Deacons 13 clean sheets in 23 matches this season, playing all 90 minutes to send Wake Forest back to the Final Four.
Clemson (14-3-5, 1-0 L vs. Denver)
Tanner Dieterich – Nearly broke a scoreless deadlock with his only shot of the match in the 45th minute, but his effort was saved and Denver went on to score a second-half goal to stay unbeaten and eliminate the Tigers. Dieterich played all 90 minutes in defeat.
Louisville (14-6-2, 2-0 L vs. Stanford)
Tate Schmitt – In 80 minutes, he had two of Louisville’s shots and put a first-half shot on goal, but wasn’t able to get on the scoresheet in the loss. He finished the season with five goals and two assists for the Cardinals, including two goals in the national tournament.
Jack Gayton – Played 90 minutes and recorded a shot in the losing effort. He finished the season with three goals.