CARSON, CA (October 18, 2004)
The NCAA's top college soccer teams will travel to The Home Depot Center in Carson this December as the next college soccer national champion will be crowned as part of the 2004 NCAA Men's Soccer College Cup.

Tickets for the event, in which UCLA serves as the host institution and partner with AEG, are currently on sale and begin as low as $20 for a two-day package.  Two-day packages and group tickets can be purchased at The Home Depot Center Box Office, through TicketMaster outlets and by calling 866-LA-GROUP or visiting www.aeggrouptickets.com.

The semi-final games for the tournament are scheduled to take place on Friday, December 10, at 5 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m.  The Championship Game will take place on Sunday, December 12, at 1 p.m.

Two-day packages (in the End Zones) for the event for an adult cost $25, while a two-day package for a child (16 years of age and younger) in the same location costs $20.  Other two-day packages (along the Sidelines) cost $35 (or $30 per child), while two-day (Club) packages cost $40. 

\"Everyone involved in this tournament -- and specifically the semi-finals and the finals at The Home Depot in Carson -- is excited,\" said Bill Peterson, The Home Depot Center's Managing Director.  \"This is another marquee event for The Home Depot Center and it is a great opportunity for local soccer fans to see the best college teams in action competing for college's biggest prize.  This event is also another example of The Home Depot Center's commitment to soccer here in the United States.\" 

The complete 48-team tournament field, along with the Top 16 seeds who receive a first-round bye, will be announced on November 15. The first round of games will take place on November 19-20, with the second round of games set for November 23.  All preliminary round games, including the third round and quarterfinals, set for November 27-28 and December 3-5, respectively, take place at host site campuses, with the four winners advancing to The Home Depot Center.

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2004 NCAA MEN'S SOCCER COLLEGE CUP

This year's College Cup is the first in the state of California since Stanford hosted the Championships in 1981.  It is also the first championship to be held west of Texas since the 1986 Championships were held in Tacoma.

The University of California-Santa Barbara is currently ranked No. 3 by Soccer America while UCLA (7-2-2) is ranked No. 7.  Five other California schools - Santa Clara (No. 14), Stanford (No. 17), California (No. 18), Cal State-Northridge (No. 24) and Loyola Marymount (No. 25)  - are ranked in the Top 25.  Last year's NCAA Men's Soccer College Cup champion, Indiana, is currently ranked No. 11.

Last year, the following Southern California schools reached the Division I Men's Soccer Championship field of 48 teams: UCLA, California State-Northridge, UC Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount University and the University of San Diego.  Each of those teams were ranked in the top-16.  Additionally, Santa Clara University, San Jose State University and the University of California-Berkeley represented the state.

The Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer, who play their home games at The Home Depot Center, have five players on their roster - Cobi Jones (UCLA - 1990); Sasha Victorine (UCLA - 1997); Peter Vagenas (UCLA - 1997); Scot Thompson (UCLA - 2002) and Ned Grabavoy (Indiana - 2003) - who have been a part of a national championship soccer squad.  Additionally, Galaxy Head Coach Steve Sampson was the coach for Santa Clara when they were named co-champions (with Virginia) in 1989.
 
In February of 2002 it was announced that the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Committee had selected Los Angeles and UCLA to host the 2004 Cup.  At the time, The Home Depot Center was less than six months from completion.  The 2005 semifinals and finals of the tournament, which dates back to 1959, is scheduled to take place next year in Cary, North Carolina, with North Carolina State serving as host. 

ESPN2 will televise the 2004 finals live on December 12.  The first semi-final game, which begins at 5 p.m., will be shown on ESPN via same day tape delay at 8 p.m. (PT), while the second semi-final game, at 7:30 p.m., will be shown on ESPN2 on next day tape delay at 9 a.m. (PT).

For credential information for the 2004 NCAA Men's Soccer College Cup in Carson, contact the NCAA by calling (317) 917-6541.

Contact: Michael Roth, AEG, 213-742-7155/Jeff Moeller, AEG, 213-742-7307
Contact: Liza David, UCLA, 310-206-8140
Contact: Mark Bedics, NCAA, 317-917-6541