CARY, N.C. — Two squads meeting for the third time this season. One back for a third straight College Cup. A coach facing her alma mater. The highest-scoring offense against the best offense. Three teams from one conference. 

The quartet of programs in Friday’s women’s College Cup semifinal field weave a fascinating and intertwined web of storylines heading into college soccer’s ultimate showcase. On Sunday, one of Virginia, Florida State, Virginia Tech or UCLA will emerge triumphant, hoisting a national title for the first time.

But first the semifinals must be sorted, starting with a third meeting between Florida State and Virginia Tech in 2013. 

“I feel like we’ve had a couple very good games with them,” Tech head coach Chugger Adair told reporters on Thursday. “We had a game that was probably better in Blacksburg in the regular conference season than the ACC final, but both games could’ve gone either way.”

There was little that separated the two squads in the prior meeting this season, as Florida State triumphed 2-1 in Blacksburg, Va., during the regular season, while the Seminoles also topped Tech 1-0 at the ACC Championship that was also in Cary.

Don’t expect to see an overconfident Seminole side, however, despite already winning a pair over their conference foes.

“I think our group has a great deal of respect for Virginia Tech and anyone that gets to this stage of the season is certainly worthy and capable of winning this tournament,” Florida State head coach Mark Krikorian said. “We certainly won’t take Virginia Tech lightly.”

Florida State also has the experience edge, as this marks the team’s third straight trip to the College Cup, meaning that most of the players on the roster have already reached this stage of the tournament. And while Krikorian is optimistic that could help his squad, he acknowledged it’s not a huge factor, as a lot of things change on a yearly basis.

“We’ve had the opportunity to play in a few College Cups, but it’s also a different team, it’s a different set of circumstances,” he said. “Hopefully we can look back at the experiences that we’ve had and use those in a positive way to help us succeed tomorrow. But each year it’s a different group, different level of competition, different field, different site. We’re excited to get out there and play and I think the best part about it for us is we’re peaking at the right time, we’re playing our best soccer now and if we can continue to play at that elite level we’ll give ourselves a chance tomorrow night.”

Adair is hopeful that his side can learn from past mistakes and reverse the result on their third try.

"I think it’s definitely an advantage [to play a familiar opponent],” he said. “We’ve been able to look at some of the things we’ve done well and done poorly in the past games, some places in particular we can improve. But I think it can work either way as well and I think it’s difficult to beat somebody three times.”

On the other side of the bracket, UCLA’s clash with Virginia could be viewed one of the matches of the season. It pits the statistically top-ranked Virginia offense (3.08 goals per game, 77 on the year) against the best defense in UCLA (7 goals allowed all season). 

“On paper, you’re getting, in my opinion, a great match-up and I think a great advertisement for college women’s soccer,” Virginia head coach Steve Swanson said. “I think both teams have good attacks, both teams have good midfields, both teams have good defenses, both teams have good quality goalkeepers, and both teams play soccer. I think that that’s one thing that hopefully the fans will get, a chance to see some quality soccer and some good skills presented, some good organization and some good team play.”

The icing on the cake is the battle between youth national team midfielders (Virginia’s Morgan Brian against UCLA's Sam Mewis and Sarah Killion) that could dictate the outcome, along with UCLA head coach Amanda Cromwell coaching against her alma mater.

Cromwell was a player for the Virginia team to last make the College Cup back in 1991, a fact that obviously doesn’t escape her – and adds yet another layer of intrigue to a game that should have plenty to offer Friday night.

“I’m definitely proud of them for making the Final Four,” she said. “It’s been quite a long time. They’ve had some excellent teams between my senior year and now. We have a game to win on Friday and that’s where, for our sake, we want to move on. I’ve always supported my alma mater, but in the end, we have a game to win.”

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