Diego Rossi curled a 25-yard shot into the upper corner with seven minutes left, sending UCLA to its first College Cup semifinal since 2021 with a pulsating 2-1 victory over Duke at Wallis Annenberg Stadium.
The junior midfielder’s moment of magic capped a remarkable comeback for the Bruins, who trailed early but found their rhythm when it mattered most. Duke took the lead through Cameron Williams in the 12th minute, but UCLA’s second-half surge proved unstoppable.
Bruins Weather Early Storm
Williams’ opener came from UCLA’s worst nightmare — a miscommunication between center-backs that left the Duke forward with a tap-in. For 55 minutes, it looked like the defensive lapse might end the Bruins’ season.
“We were sloppy early, no question,” said coach Ryan Jorden. “But this team has character. They’ve shown it all year.”
The equalizer arrived in the 67th minute off a corner kick the team had drilled relentlessly in practice. Alex Martinez whipped in a perfect cross, and Marcus Thompson rose above his marker to nod home. The senior forward had been quiet for much of the match, but championship moments demand championship players.
“Coach kept telling us to stay patient,” Thompson said. “We knew we had another gear.”
Mexico Youth Star Delivers
Rossi, the Cal State Northridge transfer who’s been UCLA’s tournament revelation, picked up a loose ball and unleashed a shot that goalkeeper James Belshaw had no chance of stopping. The crowd of 4,847 erupted — this was the kind of strike that ends seasons and starts legends.
The goal was Rossi’s fifth in four NCAA tournament matches, a stunning run for someone who was playing in the Big West just months ago. His 89% pass completion rate in the final third told the story of a player who thrives under pressure.
Nolan Comes Up Clutch
While Rossi grabbed headlines, goalkeeper Ryan Nolan deserved equal billing. His diving save on Michael Torres in the 78th minute — with the score still 1-1 — was the difference between heartbreak and history.
“That’s a save you dream about making,” Jorden said. “Ryan’s been our rock all tournament.”
Duke pressed desperately in the final minutes, but UCLA’s defense, marshaled by four-year starter Jonathan Kim, held firm. The Blue Devils finished a brilliant season that saw them reach the Elite Eight for the second time in four years, but couldn’t find the magic they needed against a UCLA side that seems destined for something special.
Cary Awaits
The Bruins (18-2-2) will face either Clemson or Indiana in Friday’s College Cup semifinal at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. It’s UCLA’s 15th College Cup appearance and first under Jorden, who inherited a program with championship DNA — four national titles between 1985 and 2002.
This tournament run has been built on the partnership between Thompson (12 goals, eight assists) and Martinez (seven goals), with Rossi providing the X-factor since arriving from Northridge. They’ve outscored opponents 7-2 across three NCAA matches while maintaining the defensive solidity that carried them to a Pac-12 title.
Duke’s season ends at 16-4-1, but coach John Kerr can take pride in a group that exceeded expectations. For UCLA, the dream continues — three wins from a fifth national championship and first since 2002.
