College Cup Semifinal Preview: Stanford vs Akron

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College Cup Semifinal Preview: Stanford vs Akron

Stanford University has captured 107 national team championships, good for second all-time in NCAA history. However, for all the success the athletic

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Stanford University has captured 107 national team championships, good for second all-time in NCAA history. However, for all the success the athletic program has had one national title has eluded Stanford since 1910 and that is a men’s soccer national championship winning team. Stanford has their best chance to capture a championship this Saturday night when they face Akron in Kansas City in the semifinals of the College Cup.

Stanford has twice finished as the runner-up (1998, 2002), but this year’s team is arguably the best and most talented team Stanford has ever had. Junior forward Jordan Morris leads the team 11 goals and spent part of 2015 with the U.S. Men’s National Team receiving seven caps and scoring one goal in a match against Mexico. He has been named as one of three Missouri Athletic Club’s (MAC) Hermann Trophy finalists (equivalent of winning the Heisman) and his professional future looks bright.

Stanford isn’t just Morris, a senior defender Brandon Vincent (Valencia) has been a dominating force all year and has already been named to the 2016 Adidas MLS Player Combine. Add in midfielders Eric Verso (Los Angeles) and Corey Baird (San Diego) and their combined 23 assists and Stanford looks to have future pro prospects at all levels on the field.

Standing in their way is the always tough Akron Zips who are riding a seven-game winning streak in which they have outscored their opponents 19-6.

The match kicks off at 5PT and is available on ESPN.