The 2015 college men’s soccer NCAA Championship has reached its final stages, with the Final Four programs set to square off at Sporting Kansas City’s home turf at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas this weekend.
No. 4-seed Akron and No. 8-seed Stanford are two of the Final Four teams featuring Timbers Academy alumni left in the hunt after quarterfinal play.
Five Timbers Academy alumni are left in the NCAA Tournament including Akron's Anthony Macchione, Jesse Garcia-Aguilar and Niko De Vera, as well as Stanford's Foster Langsdorf and Sam Werner.
Last week in the quarterfinals, No. 8-seed Stanford earned a 2-1 upset victory over favored No. 1-seed Wake Forest to earn a Final Four berth. Cardinal forward Foster Langsdorf came up with the late-game heroics, burying a header in the 97th minute to send Stanford to its first College Cup since 2002. Midfielder Sam Werner also saw action in the quarterfinal match.
No. 4-seed Akron earned a 3-2 double-overtime win over No. 12-seed Creighton to advance to the Final Four. Akron’s Anthony Macchione, Jesse Garcia-Aguilar and Niko De Vera and Creighton forward Peter Prescott and defender Stefan Wutte, also Timbers Academy alumni, were at the match with their respective teams, but did not see action.
This weekend, Akron will square off against Stanford on Friday, Dec. 11, for the right to play in the NCAA championship match. The winner of the Akron/Stanford match will face the winner of No. 2-seed Clemson/No. 6-seed Syracuse. The national championship match is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 13, at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.; kickoff is at 11 a.m. (Pacific).
Langsdorf talked about facing his former Timbers Academy teammates on the Pac-12 Network.
What's Foster Langsdorf's plan ahead of @StanfordMSoccer's run in the #CollegeCup? @Snapchat recon! #SportsReporthttps://t.co/YbhgV1nxOn
— Pac-12 Networks (@Pac12Networks) December 8, 2015
*Listed in order of year in school.
Stefan Wutte (Jr., D – Creighton University): Did not see action in the No. 12-seeded Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss to No. 4-seeded Akron in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (12/5).
(Season Totals: GP: -- GS: -- SH: -- SOG: -- G: -- A: --)
Niko De Vera (So., D – University of Akron): Did not see action in the No. 4-seeded Zips’ 3-2 win over No. 12-seeded Creighton in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (12/5).
(Season Totals: GP: 16 GS: 6 SH: 5 SOG: 3 G: -- A: 1)
Jesse Garcia-Aguilar (So., M – University of Akron): Did not see action in the No. 4-seeded Zips’ 3-2 win over No. 12-seeded Creighton in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (12/5).
(Season Totals: GP: 12 GS: 2 SH: 2 SOG: 2 G: -- A: --)
Foster Langsdorf (So., F – Stanford University): Came up with the late-game heroics when he tallied the game-winning goal in the 97th minute to give the No. 8-seeded Cardinal a 2-1 victory over No. 1-seeded Wake Forest in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (12/5).
(Season Totals: GP: 21 GS: 20 SH: 36 SOG: 19 G: 7 A: 2)
Anthony Macchione (So., F – University of Akron): Did not see action in the No. 4-seeded Zips’ 3-2 win over No. 12-seeded Creighton in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (12/5).
(Season Totals: GP: 13 GS: -- SH: 9 SOG: 6 G: 2 A: --)
Sam Werner (So., M – Stanford University): Played 23 minutes as a substitute in the No. 8-seeded Cardinal 2-1 victory over No. 1-seeded Wake Forest in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (12/5).
(Season Totals: GP: 19 GS: 7 SH: 14 SOG: 6 G: 2 A: 1)
Peter Prescott (Fr., D – Creighton University): Did not see action in the No. 12-seeded Blue Jays’ 3-2 loss to No. 4-seeded Akron in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament (12/5).
(Season Totals: GP: 17 GS: 1 SH: 9 SOG: 4 G: 1 A: --)
