There’s No Chance to Rest for Indiana, Santa Clara

The key to victory in today’s NCAA Division I men’s soccer championship won’t necessarily be who’s better, but who can last the longest.

Indiana and Santa Clara, who meet at 10 a.m. PDT at Ericsson Stadium, are coming off victories Friday in the longest College Cup semifinals in NCAA history.

The unseeded Broncos (16-3-3), who defeated Connecticut, 2-1, in four overtimes, will have the advantage in rest because they played in the first game. Santa Clara’s game ended four hours before the Hoosiers’ ended.

The Hoosiers (20-3) played later and actually played three minutes longer, 142, in a 3-2 victory over UCLA.

Clearly Indiana is the more talented team in today’s game. Seeded second in the tournament and possessing one of the nation’s top defenses and two of the nation’s top players, Indiana is looking to be the first team to repeat as national champions since Virginia won four consecutive from 1991-94.

The Hoosiers spent Saturday re-energizing themselves for their final championship run.

“Rest, eat right and just try to get our tanks to as close to full as possible,” said Indiana All-American defender Nick Garcia about his team’s off-day preparation.

The biggest obstacle between Indiana and its fifth championship may be Santa Clara’s Shawn Percell. After scoring three goals in the regular season, Percell has four in the last three games, including both goals in the semifinal win.

“Early in the year my coach told me goals come in bunches, and now I see they do,” Percell said.

He’ll need to have a few more today if the Broncos hope to beat the Hoosiers.

Today’s Game

* WHEN: Today, 10 a.m.

* WHO: Santa Clara (16-3-3) vs.

Indiana (20-3).

* WHERE: Ericsson Stadium,

Charlotte, N.C.

* TV: ESPN.