The NCAA round one marathon is over just in time for the Sunday Scaries to hit. UGH. While there weren't a lot of upsets over the 32 games this weekend, there was a lot of action...and a lot of blowouts. In an effort to fight off the existential dread that Monday, and having to wait till Friday to see more college soccer, brings, let's vibe check the first round.
The vibe check is alphabetical by school, in case you just want to search out your team and their next opponent. Which, an updated bracket with game times (in ET) can be found here. You can watch all games on ESPN+.
Arkansas - Impressive
There was a point in the season where Oklahoma St. looked pretty good, so a 4-0 win is pretty impressive. It's even more impressive that Arkansas has had such an impressive season but hasn't been dominating headlines the way some other teams have. Their only weakness seems to be Texas and the Razorbacks aren't in any danger of facing them for a while (or at all.)
Auburn - Controlled
Auburn likes to put up zeros and the Tigers haven't been able to do that as much in the back half of the season. But, the offense was rolling in their first game and the Tigers have already beaten Ohio St. in the regular season. The key will be the extent Auburn can continue to control the game and enforce its style.
Boston University - Experimental
The Terriers scored first but couldn't hold off the Texas offense in a 4-1 opening loss. With a freshman goalkeeper and an offense that still managed five shots on the net, I think this was a statement of intent by BU. The Terriers will be back and with experience.
BYU - Ordinary
A first-round loss is disappointing but not surprising. BYU simply never worked out the kinks. The magic from last year was missing all season and so this season fizzled into the ordinary, made exceptional only because it was BYU struggling to remain at the .500 line.
California - Golden
The Golden Bears scored a golden goal in overtime and willcontinue their tournament run. Cal has momentum, goal scorers, and grit, which makes them a tough team to play against this tournament. Things are clicking at the right time, what more could you want if you're Cal?
California Baptist - Delightful
Tournament debutants pushed UCLA to double overtime before losing on a penalty kick golden goal. While the shots statistics weren't close, the shots on goal were close. Cal Baptist played hard, created drama, and almost pulled the upset off. What's not to like?
Colorado - Gritty
The season has not been the prettiest for the Buffs, but they've gotten their business done when it counts. Coming back against Georgia to move on demonstrates that Colorado has a point to prove. And that grit is backed up with talent.
Duke - Dominate
Look, Duke did what you'd expect the No.1 seed to do and dominated their opening-round match. Mia Minestrella set a school record with her four-goal night. The Blue Devils have been dominant all season and that's not changing now that it's finally the tournament. With five different goal scorers good luck to opponents trying to figure out how to stop the offense.
East Carolina - Satisfied
Winning their first-ever American Athletic Conference Championship and securing the program's first-ever NCAA tournament berth was a fitting ending for a team stacked with seniors. It's been constant improvement over the past few seasons and this was a reward for that.
Fairfield - Nominal
Unfortunately, if anything, Fairfield's tournament only helped to make Georgetown look stronger. Shutout in the opening round and managing only three shots, Fairfield will have to be satisfied with winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament.
FIU - Notable
There were a lot of historic seasons this year and FIU capturing the Conference USA tournament trophy for the first time fits the theme. The auto bid and goal against Auburn are good memories of a great season.
Florida St. - Expected
The 2023 Champions come into the tournament with the ACC Championship under their belt. Florida St. shutout Samford 8-0-the largest postseason victory margin in school history. Who cares how the regular season went for FSU, this is the postseason, and if there's one thing Florida St. knows how to do it's win trophies.
Georgetown - Business
Georgetown got the shutout and advanced in pretty commanding fashion, looking good for their matchup against Iowa. Taking care of business after the Big East loss was imperative and the Hoyas will be glad to have had the chance to flex their offense before the next round.
Georgia - Upset
It was a toss-up who would win the opening round game, but still, the Bulldogs are going to be disappointed to let the lead slip away. It was a year where Georgia managed more big ties than big wins. Still, the Bulldogs probably thought that big win would come in the tournament. Instead, they're heading home early.
Howard - Doomed
It's not that Howard couldn't have beaten Duke. It's that the second Duke lost in the ACC tournament the chances of that upset dissipated. Howard had a strong season and utterly dominated the NEC with a balanced roster. The bracket doomed them but there's plenty of hope for next year.
Iowa - Tactical
Iowa plays big when it counts and likes the matchup with Georgetown. The game won't be a blowout. But Iowa's tactical approach to eeking out big wins has gotten them to the no.3 seed and through the first round. And if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
James Madison - Filler
This is yet another matchup where a good season met up with a higher-quality opponent. With 64 teams, that's bound to happen and James Madison putting one past Ohio St. is a consolation prize-but a prize nonetheless.
Kansas - Resigned
Kansas played a good match against SLU, especially after going down a goal, but at that point, they'd already given SLU too much space. This Jayhawks team had all the right pieces for an upset but needed to score first. When that didn't happen it was just a matter of waiting for the clock to run out.
Kentucky - Fortitude
Kentucky, as the seeded team, should have been in control the whole match. They weren't, West Virginia pushed, and Kentucky won on PKs. That's the mental fortitude that underlies a season of survival ties buoyed by big wins.
Lipscomb - Mid
Lipscomb had potential but ultimately Vanderbilt took care of business. It always was going to have to be a perfectly executed gameplan and that just didn't happen this time.
LSU - Messy
LSU had all the potential at the start of the year, but never quite figured everything out, making them a question mark for the tournament at all. They'll be better for the struggle in the long run, but a disappointing season on the whole.
Maine - Stagnant
Maybe this is unfair to the Black Bears, but they've won the America East tournament for the past two years only to fall short in the first round of the NCAA tournament. This time, at least, Maine managed to score a goal. Experience in the tournament is great, but the Black Bears are going to want to see some improvement.
Michigan St. - Scrappers
Sure, there was a red card that gave Michigan St. the player advantage for 35 minutes. But all season long Michigan St. has been taking teams to the brink in defensive battles. It is, quite literally, never easy and that's where Michigan St. thrives. The matchup against Texas will test the defense, but it's the kind of test the aptly named Spartans will relish.
Milwaukee - Pleased
It was a good season by Milwaukee with an unfortunate matchup against Notre Dame in the first round. A Horizon League Tournament Championship and win number 250 for head coach Kevin Boyd will have to be the hallmarks of the season.
Minnesota - Dreamy
Sure, Minnesota probably would have found this season a lot more dreamy if they hadn't been bounced in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. But, they've had an outstanding season that has turned quite a few heads. A first round shutout is a good base to build off of, especially having to now face South Carolina.
Mississippi St. - Undeterred
Do you think the Bulldogs are upset they couldn't get in on the eight goal opening round wins? Mississippi St. has been relentless on defense all season and turned that into offense. You hate playing the Bulldogs and you hate it more when they're a nightmare on offense as well as defense. Mississippi St. also set a program attendance record for the match.
Missouri State - Elapsed
Managing a goal against Iowa was probably as much fight as Mo State had in them this year. A regular contender, the Bears will be back in the NCAA tournament, this just wasn't their year.
Morehead St. - Participating
Morehead St. dodged FSU this year and instead got dismantled at the hands of Wake Forest. In a season that saw Morehead St. setting or tying program records, the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament loss followed by the NCAA round one loss is a tough pill to swallow.
North Carolina - Vicious
You could probably give any team that won their first round by five or more goals the word vicious. But when this North Carolina team is on...it feels like no matter what you do you're not going to in. This UNC team is more black and white than last season's with zero ties but five losses. The blown lead against FSU is only going to serve as fuel to never let a team get within striking distance again.
Notre Dame - Exuberant
The Fighting Irish are fun this year. They score a lot, they play good soccer, and even some of their ties are the high scoring affairs that have you on their edge of your seat. A never say die team with a lot of attacking firepower, what's not to like?
Ohio State - Wiley
Ohio St. has navigated this year by winning the games they need to, tying those they can't, and dropping just enough to not have a massive target on their back. The Buckeyes are crafty and used to being underrated. Though, even if you scout them properly, it still might not be enough to win.
Oklahoma St. - Washed
The Cowgirls never recovered their form after a dominate opening stretch. Going quietly against Arkansas was the only way their season could end. If the postseason is all about peaking at the right time, then OSU simply peaked way too early and then had to slog through the rest of the season.
Penn St. - Wavering
Most people would have picked Penn St. to win, but most people probably wouldn't have given them eight goals. In a season of big wins and close losses, it's a toss up which Penn St. a team will be playing. Both versions are tough to play against, but only one makes a deep run.
Pepperdine - Fated
This was another first round matchup that felt like a coin flip. The Wave managed to comeback in the second half after being down early, but Cal had the momentum and capitalized in the second overtime. Pepperdine will be disappointed and their first round exit is largely due to the fact that they were matched up against a team that simply had all the momentum.
Princeton - Dogged
Princeton struck first against Virginia and forced the Cavaliers to put up a good fight. It's not the ending the Tigers wanted, especially after claiming the Ivy League crown. But, like most losses, it is a good building block to see what Princeton can do next season.
Rutgers - Leaden
Rutgers is going to want to have done more this season, falling short in the first round and failing to capture a Big Ten tournament title. In fact, that Big Ten semifinal comeback, PK win seems to have drained the Scarlet Knights. Despite having a structurally sound defense and an excellent young goalkeeper, Rutgers just couldn't muster up the offensive push needed for a comeback.
Sacramento St. - Present
It was a tough ask to compete with a Southern California that was rested and wanting a bounce back. Sacramento St. conceded in the third moment and that was that on the way to a five goal loss. The Hornets will always be this season's Big Sky Conference Tournament Champs at least.
Saint Louis University - Clutch
Anyone who saw SLU at the start of the season, or even during early A10 play, wasn't feeling great. But, the Billikens have managed to repeat their A10 championship for the seventh time, mostly because of their clutch ability to score and then hold onto the lead. It oftentimes isn't pretty or especially dominate, but it's working and SLU is confident.
Samford - Unfortunate
No one wants to face FSU in the first round and, unfortunately, this year Samford had that particular misfortune. Given the number of 8 goals games, Samford should hold their heads up high and also be secure in the knowledge that, in all likelihood, they'll be back. And hopefully have a more favorable matchup.
Santa Clara - Conviction
Santa Clara has had a great season and capped it off by beating BYU in the first round. That's a confidence boost, especially since the next round is against UNC. Past results aside, this is a Santa Clara team that deserves respect and they'll certainly demand some from UNC.
SFA - Mighty
SFA had two shots all game and only one on net. TCU had 20 with 11 on net. It was a game that could have been a blowout and wasn't, which is excellent work in my book given the number of massive scores in the first round.
South Carolina - Exquisite
South Carolina went on a run in the SEC Tournament before ultimately falling short-something they won't want to see happen in the NCAA Tournament. They score a lot, have fun, and play tough. It's go big or go home and South Carolina usually falls on the go big side.
South Dakota St. - (good) Sports
This is another one of those excellent seasons, great Summit League Tournament win, Minnesota was simply made of sterner stuff. It's tough, but South Dakota St. didn't lose in a blowout and that's a win this year.
Southern California - Clicking
The Big Ten semifinal loss was a blip on the radar for a team that's been clicking as well as USC has. And, that ability to click will be key moving forward. The Trojans need to continue to be able to find the back of the net seemingly at will if they want to make a deep run and they have to be able to do so early.
Southern U - Luckless
Mississippi St. was a hard draw because they're the team known for not conceding. Southern U got a hard draw and hey, it wasn't an 8-0 blowout. Though I'm not sure 7-0 is any better.
Stanford - Historic
Like some other teams this year, Stanford isn't as scary as they could be. But they're still scary and they absolutely know what it takes to come up winners in the big moments. Plus, moving to the ACC means they've been battle tested every game and the travel isn't going to phase them.
Stony Brook - Victim
This is yet another ouch ending to a good year. It was unfortunate for Stony Brook that the Penn St. that played them was the invincible one and not the shakey version.
TCU - Steady
TCU struggled to find the back of the net against SFA, which doesn't bode well when their opponent is Penn St. The Frogs do tend to have a clutch gene against big opponents and they've been remarkably consistent. TCU will put up a fight, but it'll depend on Penn St. to determine how big that fight will be.
Tennessee - Peter(ed out)
The Vols had a lot of hope, but couldn't find the results. It was a season of survival to make it to the tournament and there just wasn't enough left in the tank to overcome Virginia Tech.
Texas - (High) Octane
The Longhorns have, quite literally, always had offense. It's the defense that sometimes doesn't pick up the slack on the nights the offense isn't scoring multiple times. Of course, consistency is what sets good teams apart from great.
Texas Tech - Cramped
Texas Tech doesn't have a lot of room to work with and their first round win just sets them up for a date with Duke. That's not an enviable position, though at least they have practice closing out games after allowing LSU to score in the second. They'll need a perfect game, which doesn't happen often.
UCLA - Cruising
The Bruins aren't perfect, and have had difficulties scoring, but UCLA is cruising. They win when they need to, have a Big Ten Tournament title under their belt, and a little first round scare to give them extra juice. Just what the doctor ordered.
UConn - Bejeweled
UConn lives to dance another day after defeating no.6 seeded Rutgers on the back of two highlight reel goals. The Huskies are talented, overlooked, and confident at the moment-a deadly combination. Armed with a well-executed gameplan, UConn shines as a team and as individuals.
UC Santa Barbara - Bait
Again, there are a lot of teams that make the first round of the tournament. This year in particular there were a lot of first round blowouts. Teams that draw Stanford almost certainly never want to actually draw Stanford.
USC Upstate - Trap
This is another team that had a good season, saw their draw, and saw the writing on the wall. North Carolina is scary but a furious UNC? Not what anyone wants to see on their side of the bracket.
Utah St. - Helpful
This was a team that just ran out of steam at the end. Utah St. had all the tools to defeat Washington, but just didn't have that killer instinct to put the game to bed. It was a well played match that went on long enough to give the advantage to their opponents.
Vanderbilt - Keen
Vanderbilt had a point to prove and they've made it, handily defeating Lipscomb. It sets up a tough second round match up against FSU, but Vanderbilt can be secure in the knowledge that this isn't Florida St.'s undefeated season. Happy to be here, sure, but there's absolutely an edge to this team.
Virginia - Tenacious
This is a Virginia team that has been battling all season long. The comeback win over Princeton proves that tenacity is engrained in this team's DNA this season. Who knows how long Virginia will survive in the tournament, but the Cavaliers are going to make it tough work to eliminate them.
Virginia Tech - Vigor
Virginia Tech has to prove themselves all season and they're talented at creating runs of results that kept them afloat, despite the questionable losses on their resume. Tennessee wasn't an easy team to beat, but it was the win needed to give the Hokies a chance against UCLA.
Wake Forest - Consequential
Wake Forest has been good all season long. And what they're especially good at is coming up with unexpected wins. There are expectations of a deep run here and unfortunately for everyone else, as the competition gets tougher, Wake Forest only gets better.
Washington - Resolute
Washington managed to rally after an unimpressive Big Ten Tournament semifinal. It was a total team effort to take the game all the way to penalties and then win it, but Washington was relentless. It will be interesting to see whether the emotions of such a win help the Huskies moving forward or leave them drained for the next round.
Western Michigan - Hypothetical
Western Michigan is going to think about the what-ifs in this game for a while. The red card in the 50th minute changed the game and Western Michigan won't know what could have been because of it. No question about it, that's a tough pill to swallow.
West Virginia - Bitter
West Virginia almost had the upset, pushing Kentucky to penalty kicks but ultimately coming up short. Being bounced early from the Big 12 and NCAA tournament in overtime is a harsh fate to a season that held a lot of promise for a long time.
Wisconsin - Brisk
The Badgers took care of business against Maine thanks to two quick goals to open the first half. Quick to push forward, Wisconsin does best when they have a lot of looks on goal-the quantity does not necessarily have to match up with quality if you know at some point one will go in. Wisconsin is going to move and it's not going to be in slow motion.
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