Wake Forest engineered a second half come-back to defeat Ohio State in Cary, North Carolina and win the national championship.
Before a sellout crowd at SAS Soccer Park , Ohio State took the 1-0 lead courtesy of Roger Espinosa .
Ohio State took that lead into halftime. A couple of things changed the course of this game:
*Marcus Tracy after a first half where he was a total non-factor came off the bench and changed the course of the second half.
Flashing in front of an Ohio State defender to one time in a cross from Cody Arnaux who had an improved performance from the semi-final Wake win over Virginia Tech. Tracy then powered his way through the Ohio State center backs after getting behind Jordan Laminicki with Zack Schilawski bending in his finish beautifully
* Ohio State left back Tim Gable had to go off with a hip injury and both goals developed down the right side against the Buckeyes.
* It was a game of two halves but credit both teams for a good display and Wake Forest to never swaying from their nature of soccer. To me if Ohio State was going to win it would have had to have been defending the 1-0 lead.
*I also believed that the goal would need to be something special to beat Ohio State and it wasn’t going to be in the air.
Classic crossing and finishing from Arnaux to Tracy.
*The game was a good advertisement for college soccer for the most part and the audience and atmosphere was better than at some MLS games with a sell-out crowd of 8000 fans.
If you saw the game let me know your thoughts?

The NCAA College finals don’t get the national press that other sports gets so here are a few things to factor in today in Cary, NC when Ohio State takes on Wake Forest for the NCAA Mens National Championship.
*In general Ohio State is strong and physical yet have a few players that are comfortable on the ball and can come up with interesting ideas. They will look to get their two wide midfielders #27 Roger Espinosa and#9 Geoff Marsh into the game whom are their bests bets to get behind defenses. Big Ten Player of the Year #3 Xavier Balc is a forward that has tremendous comfort on the ball and actually likes to come deep into midfield to receive the ball, turn and playmake. Defender #23 Eric Brunner is a large prescence at the back and has trained with the Columbus Crew. They are undefeated in their last fifteen games. A goal by #19 Eric Edwards a senior gave them a deserved 1-0 victory over UMASS in the semi-finals on Friday.
*Wake Forest was here last season and lost on penalties to the eventual national UC Santa Barbara and many feel they are the team of destiny in this tournament. They may be the best passing and moving team in the nation and take pride in this. How do they fare with Ohio State who truly will try to break that passing rhythm by staying organized and allowing the Deamon Deacons little time on the ball. There wide midfielders like to come central allowing outside backs to get into the attack.
Sloppy whether could effect this game.
Their two central midfielders Patrick Phelan#5 and Sam Cronin #2 solidify the middle. Marcus Tracy #9was the most dangerous attacking player in game one scoring twice and proving to be the most dangerous. The most interesting story to me is freshman defender Ike Opara #23 who is a local kid from North Carolina that was outstanding against Virginia Tech and top striker Patrick Nyarko. He dealt with one of the best strikers in the nation in a composed, mature manner. Defender Julian Valentin is a youth international for the U.S.
The Deamon Deacons defeated Virginia Tech 2-0 behind two Tracy goals in the semi-finals. Look for Wake Forest to establish their passing rhythm from the start against Ohio State that will focus on defending first.
Looking forward to calling this one today on ESPN2 at 2pm CST.

Tomorrow at 2pm cst on ESPN2 finality will occur with the crowning of a national champion
The ACC will be represented by Wake Forest while Ohio State represents the Big 10. Neither team has ever won the Mens NCAA National Championship.
Ohio State has the largest athletic department in the country and are enjoying their most successful collegiate season ever under John Bleum.
Wake Forest under head coach Jay Vidovich is consistently one of the top programs in the country and has graduated players into MLS consistently.
Have you watched the NCAA Mens College Cup and what do you think of the standard of the play? What players might you see in MLS in the future?

After two exciting games in semi-finals, the stage is set for the Championship game as Ohio State(17-3-5) will meet top ranked Wake Forest(21-2-2) in the Mens College Cup. Ohio State played at tight game with UMASS, but in the 59th min the Buckeyes Eric Edwards knocked in the game winner as they went on to win 1-0. The win extended their 15 game unbeaten streak to the finals. Wake Forest, currently the number one team in the country played a scoreless first half with ACC rival Virginia Tech, but the Demon Deacons came together in the second half as Marcus Tracy knocked in goals in the 51st and 82nd minutes to close the door on the Hokies season.
NCAA Mens College Cup can be seen Sunday at 3et on ESPN2

It could have been worse for the Bundesliga in the Champions League (CL). It was clear Stuttgart would now only concentrate on the league, so their loss vs. Barcelona Wednesday was in form with their performance so far this year. But for Schalke and Bremen, they both could have joined Stuttgart. Losses could have meant elimination from the CL and also the UEFA Cup. And both teams played uninspired in their league matches leading up to the week. However, Schalke came through with a 3-1 home win vs. Trondheim and move on to the next round. Bremen were not so lucky. They were defeated over the weekend by a surprising Hannover and could not gain ground on Bayern. OK, so they were looking ahead. They came out attacking Tuesday night, but Antonios Nikopolidis (how long has this guy been money???) stopped the Werder attack cold and Olympiacos pulled out a 3-0 win. Bremen will now be relegated to the UEFA Cup. Perhaps they can do the same as last year and make a run to the semis (or further). Hamburg have qualified to the next round, and we’ll find out next week if Leverkusen, Nuremberg and Bayern will make it a cool five. Speaking of Bayern…

Update on the Oliver Kahn: As mentioned by Glenn on the show, Kahn was fined for leaving the team’s Christmas party early and leaving Mark von Bommel to deliver the traditional captain’s speech. Ottmar Hitzfeld, the coach, also explained that Kahn had publicly criticized teammates publicly in an article earlier in the week. As I mentioned on the show, and now confirmed by Hitzfeld: “If I turn a blind eye, how would I be able to discipline players who know the captain’s allowed to get away with it?” Kahn will remain captain, but the fine is now official: 25K Euros and he will ride the pine on Saturday. It’s a big match vs. Berlin. A win guarantees Bayern the Fall Championship but capable Michael Rensing will fill in. It’s expected Kahn will be in goal next week in the UEFA Cup match that will decide their European fate this year. The coach hopes all this won’t affect the performance on the field: “We need to put an end to the turmoil. We simply can’t afford sideshows.“ If they slip this weekend, and Bremen win to take the mid-season pole position, it will certainly be a winter of discontent in Munich.

So it is time to finally get it on today in Cary, North Carolina.
I am down here in North Carolina (beats being in New York) to call the Mens NCAA College Cup with Eric Wynalda and Quint Kessenich .
It was amazing yesterday to watch the excitement around these players and their coaches as they went through light training, media requests and finally a banquet last night. This final four has amazing stories and will start off with an ACC match-up between favorites Wake Forest and Virginia Tech at 4pm CST and then at 6:30 cst UMASS and Ohio State will play in the second sem-final on ESPNU.
Three out of the four teams are making their first ever appearance in the final four. Wake Forest was there last year and most that you talk to will tell you they feel it is their year but we all know what that means over a short tournament.
Here are a few players to keep an eye on :

Wake Forest- GK Brian Edwards, defender Julian Valentin, forward Cody Arnoux
Virginia Tech- Patrick Nyarko forward, Marcus Aigner gk, and 25 year old midfielder George Zehender
UMASS- gk Zack Simmons, forward Bryan Hogan
Ohio State- defender Eric Brunner, forward Xavier Balc and wide midfielder Roger Espinosa

A number of these players are being looked at by MLS coaches and staff and some of the above have been invited to the MLS combine. College soccer remains a big part of the soccer landscape in the United States.
Your thoughts on the NCAA mens college cup?

The Houston Dynamo have acquired DC United defender Bobby Boswell who two seasons ago was the MLS defender of the year, Best 11 and an All Star.
Last year was not Boswell’s best at DC who for a time lost his starting job. Yet Dominic Kinnear and the Dynamo set-up helped take Nate Jacqua and Joseoph Ngwenya to their best ever MLS seasons.
Boswell was a guest on my radio show last night (podcast available at 790 The Sports Animal.com) and is genuinely excited about coming to the Dynamo. His acquisition comes at a price with Zach Wells as good a back-up as any off to DC to become the starter as it is rumored that DC goalkeeper Troy Perkins is heading to Norway. Frankly, this is a great move for Wells who needs full-time soccer.
Boswell will create competition for the center-back position and it is clear that this was the area the Dynamo needed to shore up after the loss of Ryan Cochrane in the expansion draft. Dominic Kinnear knows the Dynamo still have a squad that can win another cup so Wells may have been a future Dynamo goalkeeper but the look in this case was for the short term. Now the Dynamo will have to find a capable back-up within the league or during the college draft.
The big question now remains with Joseoph Ngwenya and his future with the Dynamo who are prepared to offer him more significant money after his best MLS season ever culminated with a goal in the MLS Cup final. He started slow as a Dynamo and was criticized yet in the end became a fan favorite after coming over for Alejandro Moreno. If the Dynamo don’t resign him they will have to find another forward with his qualities. One that is a threat behind defenses with speed and one who can beat people off the dribble. Something tells me that Paul Dalglish is done. He is a long-shot to be back at over 100,000 dollars. He had alot to prove last year when he first came in and made a difference helping the team to the title. He sense of urgency and desire seemed lost despite the injury to his ankle this year.
The Dynamo need to get things done contract wise with Brian Mullan, Nate Jacqua and Pat Onstad. This is tricky business trying to keep everything under the salary cap and at the same time reward players. Some players that contributed to the title will not have their option year picked up and will have to be convinced to re-sign for less money. It is harsh but it is the way the MLS works. It is the way the game has played under the MLS rules.
It is time the league stopped enabling the teams that are not successful with measures to support their poor seasons.
Back to Zach Wells. His Concacaf performances stick out in my mind. What are your best memories of Zach Wells?

For the best in soccer, tune into “The Dynamo Power Hour[s]” with Glenn Davis as he broadcasts live from Raleigh, North Carolina, site of the 2007 Mens Soccer Championships. Tonights guests includes Dynamos newly acquired defender Bobby Boswell, Dynamo goalkeeper Pat Onstad, and the USC Trojans womens soccer head coach Ali Khosroshahin fresh off the 2007 Womens College Cup Championships. Listeners can call in and talk to Glenn Davis at 713-212-5790. Tune into 790AM “The Sports Animal”, or log onto www.790kbme.com and click the listen live icon.

Fabio Capello is now the front runner for the England job after Jose Mourinho pulled out.
Martin O’Neill of Aston Villa and Jurgen Klinsmann have also been mentioned for this important job.
But it is more than just a coach that will turn England around.
Is Capello your man for the job? Success has followed him just about everywhere.