The Stanford Cardinal capped off their second straight NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship with a penalty kick victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Sunday, December 11. The game featured three Red Bulls Academy alums; Jared Gilbey of Stanford and Kevin Politz and Steven Echevarria of Wake Forest. The fourth Red Bulls Academy alumnus, Stanford midfielder Kyle Casey, did not play in the final.
Midfielder Jared Gilbey played 100 out of the 110 minutes for Stanford. Defender Kevin Politz played all 110 minutes for Wake Forest, recording two shots on goal. Midfielder Steven Echevarria recorded 32 minutes played as well.
Gilbey and Casey are both freshmen at Stanford, while Politz and Echevarria are juniors at Wake Forest. Gilbey played in 22 games this season, starting 19. He recorded three assists and 21 shots. Politz played in 24 games and recorded an assist as well as 15 shots. Echevarria played in 23 games, totaling two goals and one assist with 21 shots.
Gilbey and Casey were a part of the 2014-15 Red Bulls U-16s that won the Generation adidas Cup. Politz and Echevarria were a part of the 2012 and 2013 Red Bulls Academy teams that won back-to-back US Soccer Academy National Championships. The Wake Forest players were also members of the 2016 Red Bulls U-23 PDL team.
