The bracket for the 2016 NCAA Men’s College Cup was released Monday and two former Earthquakes Academy players will compete in the prestigious collegiate tournament. Stanford Sophomore Amir Bashti and Syracuse freshman John-Austin Ricks hope to lead their respective schools to the Final held at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas on Dec. 11.
Stanford, the tourney’s five seed, won the Pac-12 with an 8-1-1 conference record (11-3-4 overall). Bashti appeared in all 18 games, tallying two goals and two assists for the Cardinal. Only redshirt freshman Tanner Beason’s three goals were more among all Stanford underclassmen.
On Sunday, Nov. 20, the Cardinal will take on the winner of California State University, Northridge (9-6-5) and the University of the Pacific (12-3-2), who play on Thursday, Nov. 17.
The No. 8 seed Syracuse Orange finished fourth in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 3-2-3 conference record (11-4-3 overall). Ricks was the youngest player on the team to feature in all 18 matches in 2016, scoring one goal.
On Sunday, the Orange will face Thursday’s winner between Dartmouth (8-4-5) and St. Francis Brooklyn (12-4-3).
