UC Santa Barbara to Host College Cup

UC Santa Barbara will host the 2010 College Cup final! The 2006 National Champions, and 2004 runners-up will have the opportunity to cement their position as one of the No.1 college soccer programs. Already leading in average season attendances, UCSB now have the opportunity to really showcase Harder Stadium to the world of college soccer. Harder stadium holds 17,000 with the record attendance currently standing at just under 12,000 (for the Elite Eight game vs. Virginia Commonwealth in 2004). Harder was once a football stadium, but since coach Tim Vom Steeg has taken over the soccer program, the field and stadium have been transferred into a soccer specific stadium. In fact, Vom Steeg had the field dug up and replaced in 2003, renaming it Meridith Field after the donor who sponsored the project.

I played at UCSB from 2003-2006 and was involved in both National Championship games, so I have had great experiences with the field, the stadium and the home crowd! There is a certain mystique about Harder stadium and the field itself. Once out in front of a Gaucho Loco crowd anything is possible, they act as the 12th man! Just ask anybody who has been to a UCSB game about 'Big Mike' and the Gaucho locos and they will tell you all about the craziness! Any time that I have spoke to opposing players about playing at UCSB they talked about how much they enjoyed being in the atmosphere and getting to play on such a well maintained field.

The games will take place in December of 2010, during Fall Quarter of the 2010-11 school year.