Academy Update - Two former players reach quarterfinals of College Cup

Two former D.C. United Academy players, sophomore Mikias Eticha (University of Maryland; Falls Church, Va.; Arlington Soccer Association) and sophomore Tyler Rudy (Georgetown University; Olney, Md.; Olney Boys and Girls Club), and their respective universities reached the quarterfinals of the College Cup this past weekend. Freshman goalkeeper Cody Niedermeier (Arnold, Va.; Olney Boys and Girls Club) is another former Academy product who features for Maryland, but a recently reinjured wrist has kept him from seeing action.

Eticha helped to guide the No. 2 Terrapins to a 5-1 rout over unseeded Coastal Carolina University yesterday at Ludwig Field in College Park, Md. In the 13th minute, Eticha opened Maryland’s scoring account – notching his first goal of the season – off of a cross from teammate Sunny Jane. The Chanticleers drew the sides even in the 21st minute, but the Terps tallied the go-ahead goal less than a minute later and would add three more unanswered strikes by game’s end. The win propelled Maryland to the Elite Eight for the fourth time in five years.

In Washington, D.C. yesterday, Rudy led the No. 3 Hoyas’ charge to the quarterfinals, starting in a thrilling 1-1 result against Syracuse University that culminated in a 4-2 decision on penalty kicks. The Orange struck first on North Kehoe Field via a free kick in the 29th minute, but Georgetown dug deep and eventually equalized in the 85th minute off of a rebounded shot. After two scoreless overtime periods, all four Hoya shooters buried their penalty kicks – Georgetown had previously been 0-for-3 in penalties – to vault the team to its first-ever trip to the Elite Eight.

This Saturday, Georgetown (18-3-2) will take on unseeded University of San Diego (14-8-0) on home turf at 1 p.m., while Maryland (19-1-2) will play host to No. 10 University of Louisville (14-5-1) at 5 p.m.