CMU Keeper Shay Mannino Will Hope To Keep The Rockets From Firing True on Friday

(All times listed are Eastern.)

Toledo vs Central Michigan (4:00)

In a match that brings back vague memories of last season with the roles reversed, Toledo stares down its biggest and baddest challenger for the MAC regular season title. The Rockets and Chippewas have been beating back pretenders to the crown for weeks, eyeing each other all the while. Both sides have successfully navigated the conference waters setting up one of the biggest matches in MAC history, knowing that victory will all but seal the MAC regular season trophy. This match also has at-large implications for the Rockets. Toledo are hardly guaranteed of better standing in the aRPI with a victory, but a loss would be a crippling blow to their hopes of getting an at-large invite should they fall in the MAC Tournament.

Georgetown vs DePaul (2:30)

It’s now or never for DePaul who has slipped back to the deep end of the bubble after further road woes in Big East play. A win against Georgetown is almost a must if the Blue Demons want to have any hopes of an at-large bid going into the Big East Tournament. Georgetown are already likely in the Big Dance, but this match has big implications in the seeding of the conference tourney. The Hoyas can clinch the #2 seed in their division with a win. Hosting rights in the quarterfinal go along with being a top two seed in your division, so needless to say, both teams have a lot on the line when they meet on the pitch on Friday afternoon.

West Virginia vs UConn (7:00)

A match between one of the Big East’s hottest teams and a team that just won’t go away. The Mountaineers had a bad first weekend in league play but have reeled off seven straight wins to get to the brink of being a lock for NCAA Tournament play. It’s safe to say a win against UConn on Friday would get them all the way there. The Huskies have been dead and buried on multiple occasions this season but have only lost one of their last five and have been racking up bubble wins and a draw with Notre Dame to get them back in the thick of things. A win over the Mountaineers wouldn’t guarantee them anything, but it would give them a little more leeway going into the Big East tourney.

Memphis vs Rice (8:00)

With the Colonial taking a year off as the most interesting mid-major in college soccer, Conference USA has stepped into the breach effectively in providing great intrigue. Memphis and Rice meet up on Friday night with the loser likely mourning the loss of their title hopes. Memphis haven’t quite lived up to their preseason hype but are still a good squad that could upset someone in the NCAA Tournament. Rice’s at-large hopes took a severe hit with a draw to Marshall before losing to East Carolina, both at home. The Owls have to win a lot of games now to warrant at-large consideration. Upsetting the Tigers in Memphis would be a good (and necessary) start.

Minnesota vs Michigan (8:00)

Time to put up or shut up for the Wolverines who have skated their way onto the bubble but need that one defining win to stamp their resume with. Actually, they get three chances with matches against Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Illinois up on deck. Michigan may be catching the Gophers at the right time, as the one time Big Ten contenders have lost three of their last four including a defeat to Penn State last Friday. Minnesota probably doesn’t have to worry about missing the NCAA Tournament after last year’s debacle, but if they keep losing, you never know…

Missouri State vs Creighton (8:00)

Creighton are rolling towards the Missouri Valley Conference title in college soccer’s smallest conference. Potential NCAA Tournament opponents would be well advised to keep an eye on Brittney Neumann and Andrea Zuniga, one of the best mid-major one-two punches in America. Missouri State are tied for second in the league and are just hoping to prolong the title race a little longer. The Bears don’t have quite as good an offense as their rivals but do have a stout defense averaging less than a goal conceded per match.

Texas vs Oklahoma State (8:00)

Don’t get caught looking forward Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls are achingly close to a Big XII title and potentially a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament but can’t drop points in Austin to a Longhorns side probably more than a little surly after Leah Fortune’s defection. Fortune’s decision to leave school leaves a team short on depth even more shorthanded which is bound to create more than one problem as the season reaches its crescendo. The Horns aren’t totally safe from bubble trouble yet but would be if they can pull the upset on Friday night.

Wisconsin vs Michigan State (8:00)

One of America’s steeliest defenses gets to try and shut down Michigan State’s dynamic duo of Laura Heyboer and Olivia Stander. Sparty’s leading ladies have combined for seventeen goals en route to giving defenses fits. But if Wisconsin can put the clamps on the powerful pair, Michigan State may be up a creek. The Spartans have only three goals from sources other than Heyboer and Stander, and nobody else has more than a single goal! Of course, Wisconsin has been notoriously fickle in front of goal this season, last Sunday’s slugfest with Penn State notwithstanding. There’s likely to be a zero by somebody’s name come full-time Friday. Michigan State better not hope it’s by their name if they want their bubble hopes to not take a hit.

Texas A&M; vs Oklahoma (8:30)

Yo, Texas A&M;, did you read what I wrote for Oklahoma State above? Well, that goes double for you. Yes, you have home advantage and the Sooners are less talented than the Horns, but you’re also facing a much more desperate team. Oklahoma knows they need a marquee win to sway the committee come selection Monday, and A&M; fits the bill quite nicely. Then again, it’s going to be a big ask considering the Aggies have been tattooing above average teams all season long, especially at home. Of course an A&M; win could set up one of the biggest Big XII matches in conference history on Sunday in College Station.

USC vs UCLA (10:00 at the Los Angeles Coliseum)

The Battle of Los Angeles has a rather unexpected location besides the Coliseum this season…mid-table in the Pac-10. Neither USC nor UCLA look a match for leaders Stanford or second placed Oregon State. The red and blue halves of L.A. are still likely NCAA Tournament teams, but the bright lights of the conference are clearly elsewhere this season. UCLA has typically dominated this series, but the 2007 College Cup loss still haunts the Bruins and Jill Ellis to this day. With Sydney Leroux and Elizabeth Eddy spearheading the UCLA and USC attacks respectively, the fireworks could be plentiful in the expansive Coliseum for this always intriguing derby.

Arizona State vs Stanford (10:00)

Arizona State is the latest team to have the chance to achieve what has looked like Mission Impossible for much of the season: defeating Stanford. Tempe should be rocking as the #1 Cardinal comes to town on the heels of another winning weekend against the Washington schools. Playing and offensive minded game with Stanford is a usual way to get a beating and a half, but the Sun Devils at least have a player, in Karin Volpe, that can knock them in at one end of the field. Unfortunately, as matches against Northern Arizona and Central Florida have shown, ASU can let them flow in at the other end too. The Sun Devils can take a little heart in the fact that Stanford usually has trouble with this trip to the desert. Of course those past Stanford squads weren’t as talented as this squad either.

San Diego vs Portland (11:00)

San Diego are probably a lot closer to the edge of the bubble then they’d like at this point. Wins over USC (twice) and Marquette ease most of those fears, but there’s no doubt that the Toreros would like to end any worries with a result against Portland. The Pilots have been damn good if you haven’t noticed. They’ve defeated Oklahoma State, Wisconsin, Texas A&M;, and Cal among others. That’s a pretty imposing list. Portland’s weekend is a huge one with trips to San Diego and Santa Clara. A sweep would give the Pilots a pretty good argument to be one of the #1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament…and maybe finally avoiding Stanford before the College Cup.

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• 2010 NCAA Soccer