Four players to watch

On Friday, the NCAA's Women's College Cup begins play at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary with two semifinal matches: No. 1 seed Notre Dame vs. No. 1 Stanford at 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2, ESPNU) and No.1 seed North Carolina vs. No. 1 UCLA at 7 p.m. (ESPNU). Sunday's championship match will start at 2 p.m. Here are four players to watch during this event. All were named among the 15 semifinalists for the 2008 Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy given to the nation's top player.

CASEY NOGUEIRA

North Carolina * F * 5-6 * Jr. * Raleigh

With 23 goals and eight assists (54 points) this season, she was named ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Tournament MVP. While the Tar Heels have been an overall attacking team, she has led the effort. She is ranked ninth nationally with an average of 2.08 points per game and has the skill to score in tight spaces or on long runs.

MARISA ABEGG

Stanford * D * 5-7 * Sr. Lake Oswego, Ore.

A steely, reliable defender, she has started and played in every match this season for Stanford. With that, she has helped her squad to the nation's third best regular-season goals-against-average of 0.346 and sixth best shutout percentage of 0.650.

LAUREN CHENEY

UCLA * F * 5-10 * Jr. Indianapolis

She has a knack for getting the ball in the back of the net when her team needs it the most, scoring six winning goals this season. Also, in starting 20 of 21 games this season, she has 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points. She's taken 53 shots on goal, more than anyone on her team.

EDWARD G. ROBINSON III

KERRI HANKS

Notre Dame * F * 5-6 Sr. * Allen, Texas

A three-year All-American, she was selected as the Big East Offensive Player of the Year for her talent out front, leading the Irish with 19 goals and 15 assists. Blessed with great quickness, she is the consummate goal scorer who can make opponents regret letting her have some free space. This season she became the first NCAA women's Division I player to amass 73 goals and 73 assists in a career. There are only two other players who have reached the 70-70 standard: North Carolina's Mia Hamm and Notre Dame's Jenny Streiffer.