For the second time in three days, Stanford defeated an ACC opponent in a penalty kick shootout to successfully defend its NCAA men’s soccer national championship. Friday night in the national semifinals, it took 10 rounds for the Cardinal to outlast North Carolina. Sunday, in the championship game, it only took five rounds to settle the issue after the teams played to a scoreless draw through 110 minutes of actual play. Wake outshot Stanford 10-9 and had one fewer corner (5-4) than the Cardinal in an evenly matched game. Stanford was successful on its first three shootout attempts against Deacons’ goalie Andreu Cases Mundet, but left the door open by missing in the fourth round. Jon Bakero put Wake ahead 4-3 by scoring in the bottom of the fourth, but Hayden Partain and Brad Dunwell misfired on Wake’s final two shots to end their team’s title hopes. Stanford keeper Andrew Epstein guessed correctly on Dunwell’s final attempt, diving to his right to make the decisive save. The loss ended the Deacons’ 13-game unbeaten streak and ended their season at 19-3-3. Ian Harkes, who scored twice in Wake’s semifinal win against Denver on Friday was named the Most Outstanding Offensive player at the College Cup.
