College Cup

Charlotte (16-4-3)

NCAA seed: Unseeded

Conference (finish): Atlantic 10 (tied third, lost in semifinals)

Coach: Jeremy Gunn (187-60-30, 13 years; 64-25-13, 5^th year at Charlotte)

NCAA tournament history: Seventh appearance, 2nd College Cup.

Best finish: Semifinals, 1996.

Soccer America ranking: 19

Road to College Cup: d. Furman 3-1, Ala.-Birmingham 3-1, Akron 1-0, t. Connecticut 1-1 (advanced on penalty kicks).

Three to watch: D Charles Rodriguez, F Giuseppe Gentile, D Tyler Gibson.

About the 49ers: Charlotte has been getting timely goals from Gentile (10 for the season) and midfielder Aidan Kirkbride ... The 49ers have shut out eight opponents and held 19 of them to a goal or less ... Charlotte was unbeaten at home this season (9-0).

Creighton (21-2)

NCAA seed: 2

Conference: Missouri Valley (tie first, won tournament)

Coach: Elmar Bolowich (301-146-40, 23 years; 21-2, 1st year at Creighton).

NCAA tournament history: 19^th appearance, fourth College Cup.

Best finish: Finalist, 2000.

Soccer America ranking: 3

Road to College Cup: d. Northern Illinois 3-0, UC Santa Barbara 2-1, South Florida 1-0 (OT).

Three to watch: GK Brian Holt; D Tyler Polak; F Ethan Finlay.

About the Bluejays: Advanced to College Cup by beating UC Santa Barbara 2-1 in game that was postponed one day due to 6 inches of snow in Omaha, Neb., ... Blue Jays have allowed NCAA-low five goals this season ... Holt's 43 career shutouts is an NCAA record.

North Carolina (20-2-2)

NCAA seed: 1

Conference: ACC (first, won tournament)

Coach: Carlos Somoano (20-2-2, 1^st year).

NCAA tournament history: 19^th appearance, fifth College Cup.

Best finish: Champion, 2001.

Soccer America ranking: 2

Road to College Cup: d. Coastal Carolina 3-2, Indiana 1-0 (OT), St. Mary's 2-0.

Three to watch: F Billy Schuler; MF Enzo Martinez; MF Kirk Urso.

About the Tar Heels: This is North Carolina's fourth consecutive College Cup appearance ... Schuler (15 goals) missed most of the 2010 season with a shoulder injury ... Tar Heels have been helped by two transfers, defender Matt Hedges (Butler) and forward Ben Speas (Akron) ... Speas played for champion Zips in 2010.

UCLA (18-4-1)

NCAA seed: 13

Conference: Pac 12 (first)

Coach: Jorge Salcedo (105-42-24, eight years).

NCAA tournament history: 39 appearances, 13 College Cups.

Best finish: Champion, 1985, 1990, 1997, 2002.

Soccer America ranking: 4

Road to College Cup: d. Delaware 1-0, Rutgers 3-0, Louisville 1-0 (2OT).

Three to watch: F Chandler Hoffman, MF Kelyn Rowe, GK Brian Rowe.

About the Bruins: UCLA has gone 748 minutes and has eight consecutive shutouts ... Hoffman has scored 18 goals and has four assists ... UCLA has played in 29 straight NCAA tournaments.