The 2025 Men’s College Cup semi final is set to take place on Friday, December 12, 2025 at First Horizon Stadium in Cary, North Carolina. Two compelling matchups will determine which teams advance to the national championship final on Monday, December 15, 2025.
The 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament semifinals promise exciting soccer with Cinderella stories, championship experience, and the journey culminating in the national championship on December 15 at First Horizon Stadium in Cary, North Carolina.
The 2025 Men‘s College Cup is the final stage of the NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament — essentially the Final Four of college soccer in the United States.
The Men’s College Cup brings together the nation’s top four teams, emerging from a 48-team knockout tournament, to compete at a neutral site in the semifinals and championship match for the national title.
The 2025 Men’s College Cup is the biggest and most prestigious event in U.S. college soccer.
Men’s College Cup Semi Final Schedule
| Event | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semifinal 1 | Friday, December 12 | TBD | First Horizon Stadium, Cary, NC |
| Semifinal 2 | Friday, December 12 | TBD | First Horizon Stadium, Cary, NC |
| National Championship Final | Monday, December 15 | TBD | First Horizon Stadium, Cary, NC |
Quick facts
- Tournaments: 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament – Men’s College Cup Semi Final
- Semifinals date: December 12, 2025 (College Cup weekend: Dec 12 & 15).
- Venue: First Horizon Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, North Carolina (neutral site).
- Matchups:
- Saint Louis (SLU) vs NC State
- Furman vs Washington
How they got here — quick quarterfinal recap?
- Saint Louis (SLU): The Billikens staged a dramatic comeback to beat Akron 3–2 in the quarterfinals — turning a 2–0 halftime deficit into a late winner to reach Cary. SLU’s run is built on momentum and a resilient second-half mentality.
- NC State: The Wolfpack upset Georgetown 3–2 to claim a College Cup berth — NC State scored early and held the lead through halftime and beyond to advance to their first College Cup since 1990. Taig Healy’s influence and their penalty proficiency have been decisive.
- Furman: The No. 16 seed Furman punched their ticket with dramatic late moments — including a stunning long-range (chip) strike that beat Portland and earlier penalty-kick success over Hofstra — producing Furman’s first-ever College Cup berth.
- Washington: The Huskies pulled off a huge 3–1 quarterfinal win over No. 4 Maryland to reach the semifinal; their attacking wing play and late-game finishing have powered their run.
Men’s College Cup Semi Final Match-by-match preview & keys
Saint Louis vs NC State — (Semifinal A)
| Team | Seed | Conference | Notable Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis | Unseeded | Atlantic 10 | Won dramatic 3-2 quarterfinal vs. Akron on December 6; making 17th College Cup appearance (first since 1997) |
| NC State | No. 15 | ACC | Advanced with 2-0 victory over Marshall in second round |
Why this is interesting:
SLU is an experienced tournament side that can dig in and grind results; NC State is the highest remaining seed (No. 15) and is riding the confidence of big wins at home. The matchup pits SLU’s comeback grit against NC State’s clinical finishing.
Tactical keys
- SLU: Must start faster than they have in some knockout games — they can’t concede an early two-goal cushion again. Set-piece quality and late-game finishing have been decisive for them.
- NC State: Control the midfield tempo and remove obvious penalty-box chances; if NC State force a tight, low-event game they can rely on counter-attacks and clinical finishing. Taig Healy (and whoever is slotting spot-kicks) will be dangerous.
Player(s) to watch:
Tanner Anderson / Quinten Blair (SLU goals/penalty involvement) and Taig Healy (NC State attacking spark).
Prediction (tight):
NC State 1–1 SLU (90’), NC State win on penalties — or NC State 2–1. (Wolfpack edging it due to slightly stronger early-season form and home-region proximity — which often helps in fan presence even at neutral venues.)
Furman vs Washington — (Semifinal B)
| Team | Seed | Conference | Notable Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Furman | No. 16 | Southern Conference | Dramatic upset winner in second round; Cinderella story continues |
| Washington | Unseeded | Pac-12 | Defeated No. 5 SMU (1-0) and advanced from first-round bye |
Why this is interesting:
Furman’s momentum is real — a mix of audacious finishing (Braden Dunham’s long-range chip) and penalty resilience — while Washington have been giant-killer, most notably beating Maryland in the quarters. This pairing is the classic “hot mid-major vs dangerous mid-major” Final Four setup.
Tactical keys
- Furman: Keep Washington’s wings from getting space. Furman’s defense and set-piece organization will be important; they must avoid a quick concession that would force them out of their preferred structure.
- Washington: Exploit wide areas and overload the flanks; the Huskies’ wing play gave Maryland fits, and repeating that against Furman could produce goals. Finishing clinical chances will decide the tie.
Player(s) to watch:
Braden Dunham (Furman — big-goal capability) and Richie Aman / Alex Hall (Washington’s wing threats).
Prediction (open):
Furman 1–0 Washington — Furman’s late-goal magic continues, but this is coin-flip territory; expect a tense, low-scoring affair.
What to expect for the 2025 College Cup semifinals
- Expect tight, tactical, low-scoring games — College Cup semis historically favor organized defenses and decisive individual moments (set pieces, PKs, long-range attempts).
- Broadcast: Semifinals and the final are covered on ESPN networks (ESPNU/ESPN2/ESPN+ listings vary by game). Check local listings/ESPN schedule for kickoff times.
Championship Final Matchup (December 15)
The winner of Furman vs. Washington will face the winner of Saint Louis vs. NC State in the 2025 National Championship Final on Monday, December 15, 2025.
Broadcast Information of the 2025 NCAA Men’s College Cup Semi Final
The semifinals and championship final will be broadcast on ESPNU and available on ESPN+ for live streaming.
Historical Winners
The championship continues the tradition of crowning an NCAA Division I men’s soccer national champion. Recent champions include:
- 2024: Vermont (2-1 OT vs. Marshall) – Their first-ever national championship
- 2023: Clemson (2-1 vs. Notre Dame)
- 2022: Syracuse (2-2 on penalties vs. Indiana)
- 2021: Clemson (2-0 vs. Washington)