UCLA, Stanford reach soccer final

DALLAS, Dec. 13 (UPI) -- Adolfo Gregorio assisted on the opening goal in the 75th minute, then converted the game-winning penalty kick with eight minutes left Friday night as UCLA advanced to the NCAA soccer championship game with a 2-1 triumph over Maryland.

The Bruins (17-3-3) advanced to the College Cup final for the seventh time and will face Stanford in an all-Pac-10 Conference clash.

Chad Marshall headed home the winner with 2:13 to go in the second overtime, lifting Stanford to a 2-1 triumph over Creighton in the nightcap at Southern Methodist's Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

The final is scheduled for Sunday at 4:30 p.m. EST.

UCLA is 3-3 in finals, capturing the title in 1985, 1990 and 1997.

The opening match was scoreless when Gregorio sent a pass into the penalty area from the left side and Matt Taylor's one-timer left Maryland goalkeeper Noah Palmer with no chance.

To make matters worse, the Terrapins (20-5) lost Coach Sasho Cirovski, who was sent off for dissent.

Maryland, which claimed a share of the title in 1968, managed to bounce back. Sumed Ibrahim, a finalist for the 2002 Hermann award as the nation's top player, avoided a pair of defenders in the box and powered a left-footed shot past Bruins goalkeeper Zach Wells, knotting the contest with nine minutes left in regulation.

Wells finished with five saves.

But a minute later, Palmer brought down Taylor in the box and Gregorio placed his spot kick inside the left post to give the Bruins a 2-1 advantage.

Maryland sophomores Abe Thompson and Domenic Mediate, who combined for 27 goals this season, each registered just one shot on goal as the Terps' eight-game winning streak was snapped.

In the second semifinal, Creighton's Mike Tranchilla converted a penalty kick after just 15 minutes. But Stanford's Roger Levesque volleyed home the equalizer five minutes into the second half, forcing overtime.

After almost 108 minutes of play, Mike Wilson's centering pass found Marshall's head and the Cardinal (18-4-2) advanced to the championship match by pushing their winning streak to six games -- one shy of their season high.

Stanford's defense remained strong and has conceded just 15 goals in 24 games this season -- 11 in either the second half or overtime -- while scoring 45 goals.

The finalist in the College Cup four years ago, Stanford also has recorded 13 shutouts this season, three shy of the school record set during the 2000 season.

Tranchilla's goal was the 55th of his career, increasing his Missouri Valley Conference all-time lead.