Bumped. -BN

SATURDAY - DECEMBER 4TH - 7pm (EASTERN)

A win over Dartmouth in the waning seconds last week and UCLA is just one win away from the College Cup. Here's how the Bruins got there.

This particular match-up with the Top Seeded Cardinal is a curiosity. Of all of the teams Louisville has faced thus far, UCLA is the highest RPI (8)  team the Cardinal has played this season. On the flip side of the coin, of all the remaining teams in the NCAA tourney, UCLA is the most "average", ranking 42 in Offense and 44 in Defense statistically. Louisville on the other hand are #14 in offense and a stingy #7 among all NCAA Division I teams in Defense.

J.R. Eskilson at Goal.com hints that the team that scores first is the likely winner:

An early goal for either side will be incredibly important in this clash. UCLA are 15-0-0 when scoring first this season. Louisville are 15-1-0 when netting the opening goal.

More after the jump:

With kick-off temperatures in Louisville expected to be in the low 30's ,with potentially some sleet & snow, the cold weather we experienced here in SoCal this past week at least was a bit of preparation in what the team may have to deal with tomorrow in Louisville.  The question will be how well the Bruins deal with the elements tomorrow night. (Explain to me why the NCAA scheduled this game at 7PM rather than the afternoon!) 

The kids traveled yesterday and a number of them are taking their final exams while on the road.You really got to admire the UCLA student athlete! But I digress!

At the end of the day, University of North Carolina Coach Anson Dorrance sums up in one of my favorite quotes of his that is what I believe to be the theme for this game in a pretty succinct manner:

Soccer is basically a game played between the ones that want it and the one's that don't. "Every single duel is a statement of who wants it more!"

Go Bruins - Beat SC (and of course the Louisville Cardinal!)