CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – Playing in below freezing temperatures and with just 30 seconds left in the first overtime period of a scoreless match, Marquette drove down Akron’s left-wing on a clever back-heel and whipped in a dangerous cross. Grande Sports Academy graduate Coco Navarro ran to the spot, extended his legs and deflected the ball into the back of the net for Marquette’s first-ever NCAA tournament victory.
Navarro along with 8 other GSA graduates advanced to the third round of the Men’s College Cup.
#8 Virginia received a first round bye and scored a goal on each side of the half in a home shutout over St. John’s. Graduate Jordan Allen got the start and played the entire match, while Riggs Lennon came off the bench and played 21 minutes.
Ricardo Velazco and Andrew Brody helped Louisville advance to the second round after defeating Denver in a nailbiter that was decided on PKs. Louisville faced #11 Michigan State and played 106 minutes of scoreless soccer before MSU scored the match winner on a header. Brody and Velazco both got the start and played 85 and 106 minutes, respectively.
Southern Conference tournament winners, Elon and Miggy Salazar advanced to the second round after defeating Clemson on PKs. Elon faced Cole Nagy and #1 UCLA and were soundly defeated 4-0. Salazar started and played 54 minutes while Nagy did not feature in this match.
#2 Washington and Danny Gavin defeated visiting Brandon Marquez and Seattle U. 4-2. Gavin and Marquez did not feature in this match.
#7 New Mexico, Josh Goss and Lucas Seligman defeated visiting George Mason 1-0. Goss and Seligman did not feature in this match.
#12 UCI and Elliot Farmer defeated visiting North Carolina 1-0. Farmer did not feature in this match.
Stanford and Trevor Hyman wrapped up the Pac-12s perfect day with a 1-0 win over #15 CSU Northridge. Hyman did not feature in this match.
In the third round some of the graduates will face each other, which means there will be 2 or up to 3 graduates in the fourth round. The schedule for the third round, which will be played on Sunday, December 1st, is as follows:
Sunday, December 1st – Third Round (All times Arizona) *=Home team
*#1 UCLA (Nagy) vs. Connecticut 6:00 PM.
*#2 Washington (Gavin) vs. Stanford (Hyman) 6:00 PM.
*#5 Maryland vs. UCI (Farmer) 3:00 PM.
*#7 New Mexico (Goss, Seligman) vs. Penn State 5:00 PM.
*#8 Virginia (Lennon, Allen) vs. Marquette (Navarro) 11:00 AM.