I bought my tickets 2y ago in the hopes that my favorite local team would be in Cary. Although that won't happen, I still will be. I think it's pretty darn important that the Triangle area show that we are soccer fans and not just fans of one team. If you have tickets, show up at the game wearing the clothes of your school. If you can't use your tickets, make sure you get them to someone who will. A sparsely filled stadium would not be good at all for future events.
I second that motion. BTW, the NCSU ticket office mailed a batch of tickets this week. I ordered mine several weeks ago, and they arrived today.
The teams are set; Princeton, UCLA, Notre Dame, and Santa Clara. Predictions anyone? After going 3-4 last weekend I'll take my best shot: Princeton vs. UCLA - Friday, 2:00 PM EST I don't know a whole lot about the Tigers, except that they were the only team I predicted to lose last weekend that didn't. Quite frankly, last weeks prediction was basically a coin flip between them and Washington. By being the only East Coast team left, they have certainly proven themselves over the past three weeks as the real deal. However, I still have my doubts about the sustained success against higher quality competition than the Ivy League has to offer. I 'll go with my heart and pick UCLA 2-1, acknowledging the very real possiblity that Princeton may just be too unknown to me and maybe too underrated, as they seem to be proving each game. Notre Dame vs. Santa Clara - Friday, 4:30 PM EST A rematch of a 5-2 Irish win on Sept. 5th, this one should be the equal of the UNC/SCU match that a national audience was robbed of two weeks ago. The Broncos are a much different team now then they were in early September. The defense has matured after early season injuries cost them two starting center backs. Jess Balweg was lost for the season in the opener against Cal Poly. A violent collision between Carrie Schuler and Mary Boland in the earlier matchup between the Broncos and the Irish cost both players their seasons, and led to a three goal flurry from the 80th-86th minutes for the Irish and their 5-2 vicotry. Recently, the Broncos are on an 11 game winning streak and have only allowed 2 goals in that span, dating back to October 15, including shutouts of Portland and North Carolina. In addition, the Broncos attack is balanced and Leslie Osborne, Megan Kakadelas, Bree Horvath, and Tina Estrada all having proven that they can score under extreme pressure. On the other side of the ball, the Irish may very well have the 2004 MAC Herman winner in Katie Thorlakson. She has factored in with either the finishing touch or an assist on all 7 goals the Irish have scored against the Broncos over the past two years. Jen Buczkowski controls the midfield well, and the Irish defense, led by Melissa Tancredi, is stong and physical. As I said, everything is in place for a very entertaining matchup. It is interesting to note that three key players in this game all passed up opportunities to participate in the U19 Worlds to play a complete NCAA season; Notre Dame's Thorlakson and Buczkowski, as well as SCU keeeper, Julie Ryder. I believe the Broncos will still be flying high from their win at UNC two weekends ago, and that has more benefit on Santa Clara's mind set then the earlier 5-2 Irish victory has for Notre Dame. Another interesting note of history shows that in 1999 the Broncos beat the Irish 4-2 at home in the regular season, only to lose 1-0 in the National Semifinal in San Jose that year. Look for Santa Clara to pull the same reversal on Notre Dame that the Irish were able to accomplish in '99. The Broncos know they are a better team then they were in early September, and they will beat the Irish, 2-1. UCLA vs. Santa Clara - Sunday, 1:00 PM EST Another rematch of a regular season contest. UCLA came away with a 1-0 victory in 2OT on a golden goal penalty kick. The Broncos have not forgotten. They will ride their motivation of their second straight snub by the Committee and big victories over UNC and Notre Dame to the school's second National Championship, 1-0 over the Bruins.