First things first: the Galaxy's Alecko Eskandarian is on Drew Carey's "The Price is Right at 10 a.m. on CBS (sorry for the late notice).

In other momentous MLS Cup related news:

*Seattle introduces - the Galaxy dog.

*Former Galaxy midfielder Ned Grabavoy is a hero in Salt Lake City after scoring the PK that put them through to the final - but may not play Sunday against his former team.

Looks like the RPI called it right by labeling the Big East as a weak conference. Of the three schools involved in the first round out of the conference, two fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday.

UConn traveled to Monmouth in a match-up of two top 25 teams who failed to earn a seeding in the tournament.

Looks like the RPI called it right by labeling the Big East as a weak conference. Of the three schools involved in the first round out of the conference, two fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday.

UConn traveled to Monmouth in a match-up of two top 25 teams who failed to earn a seeding in the tournament.

Prior Lake, MN native Teal Bunbury is having the season of his life, and so are his teammates at Arkon of Ohio. The Zips are currently undefeated at 20-0-0 in Men's Division I NCAA play.

Last Sunday the Zips defeated Hartwick by a score of 2-1 winning its third consecutive Mid-American Conference Tournament championship.

The 2-1 overtime loss means Sacramento State, making their first tournament appearance, plays UCLA at 5 p.m. Sunday at Drake Stadium (in a game masterfully scheduled against the Galaxy's MLS Cup appearance).

In a good omen for next season, however, LMU will return 14 of the 19 players who suited up in the NCAA Tournament game.

2009 NCAA Men's Tournament Bracket

The 2009 NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament kicked off earlier today and while games are going on right now I felt it was worth previewing a little bit to give you all a heads up about who and what is out there to see. Some players have been mentioned on here for the 2010 SuperDraft watch and we may end up seeing others emerge as big names for the draft in January.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC-pF3OHY1c

Following the controversial decision to allow France's goal to stand as Thierry Henry clearly handled the ball prior to assisting William Gallas, it is only normal to have increased complaints and ever growing displeasure at the level of refereeing.

by TRAVIS CLARK

The first round of the NCAA Tournament kicks off today, and with it, the last chance for some players before leaving college and carving out a professional career -- either in at home or abroad. For others, it's a chance at making a lasting impression on their collegiate coach, upsetting the high seed and going on a run towards that championship trophy.

by TRAVIS CLARK

The first round of the NCAA Tournament kicks off today, and with it, the last chance for some players before leaving college and carving out a professional career -- either in at home or abroad. For others, it's a chance at making a lasting impression on their collegiate coach, upsetting the high seed and going on a run towards that championship trophy.

With a history of over 100 former Springfield Soccer Club players going on to participate in college soccer the tradition of Alumni achieving success at the next level is a strong one. This past weekend a number of Springfield Soccer Club Alumni received NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III National Tournament bids.

Bracket.

Loyola Marymount's fate from the West Coast Conference press release:

Loyola Marymount, which was ranked No. 15 in the most recently published NCAA Ratings Percentage Index, will be returning to the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in school history. The Lions finished third in the WCC with a 10-8-2 overall record, marking Head Coach Paul Krumpe's fifth 10-plus victory season.

For Akron, the rest of the season begins now. 20 wins from 20 matches have come and gone, and now five matches stand between them and ensure that a undefeated season has gone for naught. Teal Bunbury and the rest of the Zips head into the NCAA Tournament with a chance to finish what they've started, and will do so with the number one overall set.

For Akron, the rest of the season begins now. 20 wins from 20 matches have come and gone, and now five matches stand between them and a unblemished record in 2009. Teal Bunbury and the rest of the Zips head into the NCAA Tournament with a chance to finish what they've started, and will do so as the number one overall seed.

The second round of the NCAA tournament was played this weekend, with maybe 3 upsets in between, but 1 HUGE upset. Here are the results:

1. Stanford 2, BYU0
2. Oklahoma St 1 (5), Santa Clara 1 (6)
3. UCF 0, Wisconsin 1
4. Connecticut 0, Boston College 2
5. Portland 2, Washington 1
6. Dayton 1, Virginia Tech 3
7. Penn St 2, Virgina 6
8. San Diego St 0, UCLA 5
9. North Carolina 4, Georgia 0
10. Washington St 0, Maryland 1
11. Wake Forest 3, West Virginia 0
12. Rutgers 0, South Carolina 1
13. Notre Dame 6, Central Michigan 1
14. Oregon St 1, Florida 0
15. LSU 1 (2), Texas A&M 1 (4)
16. Cal 0, Florida St 3

UCF v Wisconsin: UCF was seeded 3rd and was definitely a team that could make it to the quarter finals for sure, but they ended up losing in just the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Well, that was fun. Ohio State won the Big Ten men's soccer tournament title with a last-minute, 1-0 win over Penn State in Sunday's final. The Buckeyes get an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament, while Penn State, Indiana, Northwestern and potentially Michigan State can also stake claims to spots in the field of 48 (which will be announced at 5:30pm today on ESPNEWS).

Briefly:

*The initial 36,000 tickets for MLS Cup Sunday in Seattle sold out, so another 6,000 tickets have been put on sale. Details here.

*As unlikely as the Galaxy's run to MLS Cup was, Real Salt Lake's performance was even less expected. Reaction here.

*U.S. Coach Bob Bradley called in the Houston Dynamo midfield duo of Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden and Tigres defender Edgar Castillo for Wednesday's game against Demark.

NCAA selection Monday is upon us, and it will be a nervy wait for some of the nation's collegiate soccer programs. The 48-team field will be announced tonight at 5:30pm (ESPNews), with the field already full of conference champion winners across the country.

University of Virginia claimed the ACC bid, with a 1-0 win against NC State on Sunday.

NCAA selection Monday is upon us, and it will be a nervy wait for some of the nation's collegiate soccer programs. The 48-team field will be announced tonight at 5:30pm (ESPNews), with the field already full of conference champion winners across the country.

University of Virginia claimed the ACC bid, with a 1-0 win against NC State on Sunday.

And then there was one – Concordia-Moorhead women's soccer team is last Minnesota team left after starting the weekend with 9.

In D-2:
The U of M Duluth Bulldogs were taken down yesterday afternoon by Metro State of Colorado by a score of 2-1.

And then there was one – Concordia-Moorhead women's soccer team is the last Minnesota team left after starting the weekend with 9.

In D-2:
The U of M Duluth Bulldogs were taken down yesterday afternoon by Metro State of Colorado by a score of 2-1.

With the victory over Hartwick, the No. 1-ranked Zips tied Evansville's mark for the fourth-longest single-season win streak in NCAA history. The Zips have won three consecutive MAC crowns and will find out their draw in the NCAA Division I Tournament Monday evening.

The NCAA Division 1 women's soccer tournament is in full swing as the first round was played, with all of the top seeds getting through to the next round with no problems. And here are the results of the 32 matches played on Friday (Stanford played on Thursday)

1. Stanford 2, Northern Arizona 0
2. BYU 2, UCSB 0
3. Oklahoma St 0 (5) , USC 0 (4)
4. MIchigan St.

The 2009 NCAA Soccer Tournament gets heated up this weekend with a number of games taking place today.

Here is an update on the 9-Minnesota teams ivolved in the tournament this weekend.

In D-2:
Mankato State (16-3-2) were defeated by U of M Duluth (17-2-2) in Denver, CO.

Here is an update on the 9-Minnesota teams involved in the tournament this weekend.

In D-2:
Mankato State (16-3-2) were defeated by U of M Duluth (17-2-2) in Denver, CO. at Auraria Field on Friday by a score of 2-0.

Former Galaxy player and goal hero Ned Grabavoy, left, and Real Salt Lake, which beat the Chicago Fire on penalty kicks to become Eastern Conference champions (let's get rid of these silly conferences based on irrelevant geography, MLS) will face the Galaxy Sunday in Seattle.

Grabavoy scored the winning goal just before the picture was taken above, although former Galaxy striker Robbie Findley almost scored in the dying moments of regulation time only to be denied by Palos Verdes Peninsula product John Thorrington.

Dont forget: We'll find out who the Galaxy play next Sunday at MLS Cup in Seattle - Real Salt Lake or Chicago Fire - at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel.

(AP Photo)

A below-strength U.S. team lost 1-0 to Slovakia today in Bratislava, Chivas USA's Jonathan Bornstein being called for what was a very harsh penalty decision in the 26th minute (I think this is the moment, above, he 'brought down" Vladimir Weiss).

Wake Forest was considered a heavy favorite to reach the ACC men's tournament final, but nobody told Virginia, which knocked off another higher seed to reach the ACC Final.

The Cavaliers converted all five penalty kicks to defeat Wake Forest, 5-4, in penalty kicks in their ACC Tournament semifinal in Cary, North Carolina.

#2 Ashland 1
#3 Lewis Flyers 2
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Third-seeded Lewis scored two goals in the final eight minutes of play to knock off second-seeded Ashland 2-1 Friday in the NCAA-II Super Region IV first-round men's college soccer match at Harrison Stadium.

#1 Drury Panthers -
#4 NKU Norse

#1 Drury Panthers 1
#4 NKU Norse 0
Steve Wilczewski's third straight game-winning goal, this one coming in the 67th minute of the game, lifts No. 2 Drury to 1-0 victory over Northern Kentucky Friday night at Harrison Stadium in NCAA-II Tournament First-Round Game.

Plenty of other soccer on TV in addition to tonight's Galaxy-Dynamo game, while local colleges enter post-season play this weekend.

TV best bets
11 o'clock tonight Fox Soccer Channel New Zealand-Bahrain (World Cup qualifier with former Galaxy man Simon Elliot on the NZ squad).

by TRAVIS CLARK

NCAA tournament spots are up for grabs as conference tournaments wind up, ending this weekend on Sunday. For some programs around the nation, a miracle run in their respective tournament is the only hope to extend the post-season any further.

One of the last big tournaments got underway in the Big Ten.

The 2009 NCAA Soccer Tournament gets heated up this weekend with a number of games taking place today.

Sadly, the University of Minnesota were bypassed on this years tournament even though they shared the Big Ten title last year and made it to the Sweet 16.

The 2009 NCAA Soccer Tournament gets heated up this weekend with a number of games taking place today.

Sadly, the University of Minnesota were bypassed on this years tournament even though they shared the Big Ten title last year and made it to the Sweet 16.

The two times Curt Onalfo and Richie Williams were together in a playing capacity, they managed to take home the 1989 NCAA College Soccer National Championship at the University of Virginia and ten years later, the 1999 MLS Cup with DC United. They know each other, and have been proven winners stateside in the past.

11/12/2009 Concordia Media Relations

Saberi in her Cobbers soccer uniform

The NCAA has selected Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., alumna Roxana Saberi to receive its 2010 Award of Valor. The award is presented to current or former student-athletes, coaches or administrators who have shown uncommon bravery and courage in the face of grave personal danger.