The Indiana band blasted another tune. The Creighton fans rattled the bleachers. The Pitt support shouted. The Syracuse faithful jumped. It was a surprisingly rowdy night in Cary, North Carolina as four teams converged on WakeMed Soccer Park for the College Cup semifinals. And the two fixtures were appropriately intriguing. One, a clash of upstarts, was all action, goals and injuries. The other, a meeting between veterans, was defined by its tactical suspense and defensive nous. Though different in nature, both contests yielded a College Cup finalist, with Syracuse and Indiana set to meet Monday evening for the College Cup final. Here's a look at both games. 

Johnson’s Late Winner Sends Syracuse Past Creighton

It was a slight move that settled things. Levonte Johnson shuffled slightly toward the goal, creating a clear passing lane for Nathan Opoku. And Opoku delivered, threading a pass through that narrow channel, which Johnson finished. Their combination — in the 86th minute of the College Cup semifinal — proved to be the difference between Syracuse and Creighton in a 3-2 thriller. Either team could have perhaps won the contest, with chances and saves aplenty. But Johnson’s clever run, and smooth finish, settled things, sending the Orange to the first national championship match in program history.

“I want [the team] to enjoy the moment. We get to go all the way to the last day of the college soccer season,” Syracuse head coach Ian McIntyre said. “That’s a real privilege.” 

Creighton controlled the majority of play in the early goings. McGuire was lively, running off the back of Syracuse’s high line. He was the source of a duo of early chances for the Bluejays, with Russell Shealy twice pulling off neat saves to keep the game scoreless. There were further chances, too. Charles Auguste — a commanding presence in central midfield — shanked a volley wide. Nathan Opoku forced Paul Kruse into a neat save. But the Orange got on the board first. Curt Calov swung in a corner, which Creighton keeper Paul Kruse failed to corral — leaving Christian Curti wide open to turn in for a 1-0 lead.

The game opened up early in the second half. McGuire missed right after the break, curling wide from close range. When another chance came, though, he converted. The forward got a step in behind the Syracuse backline and nudged the ball past Shealy while being pushed over — before celebrating wildly. But the Syracuse response was swift, with Nathan Opoku finding the bottom corner off a slipped pass from Joergio Kocevski. Creighton continued to fight, though, and was rewarded for its efforts, with Alfie Pope turning home after a flicked throw in.

Still, the Orange had the last laugh, as Opoku fed Johnson in the 87th minute, the latter finishing into an open net to send the Syracuse bench into raptures. It was a curiously simple way to finish such a frenetic game — but an admittedly pretty passage nonetheless.

“Thanks to [Opoku], it was a good pass behind for a goal,” Johnson said. 

ABSOLUTE SCENES IN CARY AND WE'RE STILL DANCING🍊🍊🍊#DareToDream pic.twitter.com/QRPtuDTSJl

— Syracuse Men's Soccer (@CuseMSOC) December 10, 2022

First Half Double Leads Indiana Past Pitt, 2-0

Tommy Mihalic seemed surprised that his shot went in. The Indiana forward was turned away from goal, facing an ever-decreasing angle toward the Pitt net. So, he had no choice but to fire toward the near post. It seemed to surprise a startled Joe van Der Sar, who let Mihalic’s shot squirm between his hands and into the bottom corner. The sneaky strike gave the Hoosiers a 2-0 lead over the Panthers in the College Cup semifinal — an advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.

“This is always special to have an opportunity to play in a national championship game. It’s been one heck of a journey this year,” Indiana head coach Todd Yeagley said.

Tommy squeezes it in! 😜@tommymihalic10 | #IUMS pic.twitter.com/RPqLIq5lG4

— Indiana Men's Soccer (@IndianaMSOC) December 10, 2022

Indiana posted an opportunistic first half before settling in the second, scoring twice within the first 45 minutes to put away Pitt. In the 14th minute, Mateo Maillefaud dragged down an Indiana forward, and the referee swiftly pointed to the spot. Ryan Wittenbrink’s first attempt was saved, but he smashed the rebound into the net. The Hoosiers added a second less than a minute before half time, as Mihalic fired home from a tight angle — beating van Der Sar at the near post for a 2-0 lead.

“I worked to get there and catch the goalie off guard,” Mihalic said. “It felt good.”

Indiana created further chances in the second half. Sam Sarver ran in behind and saw his shot dramatically blocked — but saw the flag raised. Pitt had its moments, too. Bertin Jacquesson’s influence increased on the left wing, a constant whir of cuts and tight dribbles. He forced JT Harms into a duo of diving stops to hold the Hoosiers’ 2-0 advantage. Indiana was increasingly sound as the minutes dwindled. Pitt shuffled and tweaked its attack, probing for a crucial opening. But a clear chance never came. Filip Mirkovic had the last attempt, a curled shot that never bent inside the left post.

“We’ve got a fantastic back line,” Harms said. “In my opinion four All-Americans. That confidence just radiates throughout the team.”