Dec. 3, 2001
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -
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Santa Clara University will face the University of Florida in the second semifinal of the 2001 College Cup, the NCAA announced this morning. Friday's match will begin at 5:30 p.m. pacific time at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Top-seeded and undefeated North Carolina (23-0) will face fourth-seed Portland (20-3), a West Coast Conference opponent, in the other semifinal at 3 p.m., making the final four teams the same lineup as when Florida claimed the NCAA title in 1998. The winners will meet for the national championship title on Sunday, December 9 at 1 p.m.
The Broncos are the tournament's second overall seed, while the Gators are seeded sixth. SCU (21-2) is making its fifth trip to the College Cup in the last six seasons. Santa Clara earned its eighth overall trip to the College Cup with a 3-2 win over Virginia Saturday afternoon. Senior all-American Danielle Slaton, junior all-American Aly Wagner and sophomore All-WCC performer Veronica Zepeda scored goals for the Broncos.
Florida (21-3-1), which ended SCU's season in the team's only other meeting, the 1998 semifinal, topped third-seed UCLA 1-0 in double overtime on Sunday. A goal by freshman Monica Hoyles in the final minute of the second overtime made the difference. The Bruins held a 20-4 shot advantage at the end of regulation, with Florida playing its first-ever postseason overtime contest. Hoyles took the shot from 17 yards and the ball appeared to deflect off an UCLA defender en route to the back of the net. The Gators played the match without senior all-American defender Keisha Bell, who suffered a left knee sprain on Friday.
ESPN2 will air the first semifinal tape-delayed on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT, followed by the second semifinal on Sunday at 9 a.m. The title game will air twice on ESPN, live on Sunday at 1 p.m. and rebroadcast on Dec. 11 at noon.