We’re a month into the women’s college soccer season, and certain teams are emerging as serious prospects for the 2024 College Cup. As conference play gets underway, here are four schools that could very well be meeting in Cary, North Carolina this December for the national semifinals.
Note: All team records are through Sept. 15, 2024
Florida State (5-0-1)
I just don’t see a College Cup happening without the reigning champs in attendance. The Seminoles have been unstoppable so far, recording five shutout wins and just one close call with a 1-1 draw against a strong Georgia team. Georgia’s first-half goal has been the only one scored against FSU since last year's NCAA championship match, where the Seminoles beat Stanford, 5-1. Scoring an average of four goals per game — the second-highest mark in the nation — Florida State has been and will continue to be relentless in pursuit of a fourth national title. Not to mention, the Noles have been competing without six key players who are representing their respective countries at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Among them is last year’s ACC freshman of the year Jordynn Dudley, who tallied 14 goals and nine assists on the 2023 season.
Duke (5-1)
The Blue Devils have been all business this season, claiming their first-ever home win over North Carolina (1-0) in the otherwise 0-17-3 series record in Durham. Duke will have a chance to prove its Tobacco Road dominance further when it plays UNC again in the last match of ACC conference play. The Duke backline has held opponents to five shots per game and has only been scored on once, in its lone loss this season. The Blue Devils, regulars in the NCAA tournament, haven't reached the College Cup since 2017 and will be hungry to reclaim their seat.
Stanford (8-0)
Here’s a team that knows how to get consistent, quality results. The 2023 national runner-up has made 11 College Cup appearances and won three national titles (2011, 2017, 2019). Coach Paul Ratcliffe, who has been at the helm since 1999, knows what it takes to get a team to play its best and perform in high-pressure situations. The Cardinal's no-loss record will be put to the test as they enter the ACC battleground in the program’s first season in the conference. I think if they can make it through the ACC unscathed, they’ll have no problem reaching Cary.
North Carolina (8-1)
My fourth pick goes to the Tar Heels. It’s no coincidence all four teams are from the ACC — the 17-team conference has some of the best talent in the nation and the Tar Heels hold a historically prominent role at the top. The squad hasn't skipped a beat since coaching legend Anson Dorrance retired just days before the season opener. Besides their narrow loss to Duke, the all-time leaders in College Cup appearances (31) battled out a massive 4-3 win over Georgia in late August — the same UGA squad that tied FSU just a week later.
And if I had to choose a fifth…
Georgia (4-2-2)
The Bulldogs are coming off a historic 2023 season, winning the program’s first SEC tournament championship and making a deep run into the NCAA tournament. Although Georgia's been a bit up and down this season, the Bulldogs have shown they can cause problems for top-level teams. A run through the SEC gauntlet will allow them to continue to rise to the occasion.
