With the first round of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship set to begin this week, 15 players with ties to the Chicago Fire’s Player Development system will battle for a spot in the NCAA College Cup, which will take place Dec. 11-13 at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.
For brackets, broadcast schedules and more information on the 2015 NCAA College Cup, visit NCAA.com.
Indiana University
The 16th-seeded Hoosiers boast the most Fire products of any team in the tournament field with a total of five.
Freshman midfielder Rece Buckmaster has scored one goal and added one assist in 12 games. Freshman midfielder/defender Jeremiah Gutjahr has tallied one assist in 15 games, and freshman defender Andrew Gutman, who has appeared in all 19 games for the Hoosiers this season, scored his first collegiate goal at Toyota Park in a 1-0 win over Northwestern on Sept. 27.
Rounding out the quintet are sophomore defender Grant Lillard, who has scored four goals and added five assists in 19 games, and junior goalkeeper Christian Lomeli.
The Hoosiers won their eighth national title in 2012 when Fire Homegrown defender Patrick Doody assisted on the game-winning goal over Georgetown.
IU enters the tournament in the second round on Nov. 22 when they host the winner of the University of Connecticut vs. Boston University first round match.
Wake Forest
Freshman midfielder Brad Dunwell leads the pack with the top-seeded Demon Deacons. In 19 games, Dunwell has scored one goal and added five assists, helping his side to a 15-2-2 record. Wake Forest begins its quest for the second national championship in school history on Sunday, Nov. 22 when it hosts the winner of the UNC Charlotte vs. Radford first-round matchup.
Georgetown University
Freshman defender Peter Schropp and the third-seeded Georgetown Hoyas host the winner of the Hofstra vs. Lehigh game on Nov. 22.
University of North Carolina
Redshirt senior goalkeeper Sam Euler will represent the fifth-seeded University of North Carolina in their second-round match on Nov. 22 against the winner of the Coastal Carolina vs. North Florida contest.
University of Notre Dame
ACC tournament runner-up Notre Dame earned the seventh seed in this year’s tournament and will take on the winner of the Tulsa vs. Florida International University game on Nov. 22.
The Fighting Irish feature three Fire products. Sophomore Jeffrey Farina appeared in all 20 matches this season, scoring two goals and adding five assists. Senior defender Michael Shipp started all 20 matches this year, scoring two goals and adding one assist, and senior midfielder Danny Lojek appeared in three matches.
Notre Dame took home the NCAA championship in 2013 with a 2-1 win over the University of Maryland. Fire Homegrown midfielder Harry Shipp tallied the game-winning assist in the 60th minute in the final match of his collegiate career.
Creighton University
Freshman goalkeeper Jacob Rooth and 12th-seeded Creighton host the winner of the University of Kentucky vs. Drake game on Nov. 22.
University of Denver
Sophomore midfielder Alex Underwood and the 13th-seeded University of Denver play host to the winner of the Southern Methodist University vs. Utah Valley game on Nov. 22.
Underwood’s three goals and five assists in 16 games helped the Pioneers to the Summit League title this season.
University of South Florida
Junior midfielder/forward Marcus Epps and the University of Florida earned a first round bye as the No. 14 seed, and will host the winner of the Boston College vs. Vermont first round game. Epps, who appeared in all 19 games for the Bulls this year, scored one goal and was tied for second on the team with four assists.
Florida International University
Sophomore Luca Giovine and Conference USA champions Florida International University will face Tulsa in the firsts round of the NCAA tournament on Nov. 19.
Giovine, the Roselle, Ill. native, scored two goals in 10 games this season for the Panthers.
