Delaney: College Cup different pace

The highlight of my day off Sunday was watching the College Cup Soccer championship between Maryland and North Carolina. Maryland scored a second-half goal to win its second NCAA championship in four years.

What struck me about the game was the pace, and it took me a while to get used to it even watching on television. There was constant high-speed motion and the players were so skilled. When the ball was played in the air, the players quickly regained control.

The college game was also more physical. One of my nephews played three years at Colgate and he said the difference in the physical game from high school to college was a big adjustment for most first-year players. A guy can have great conrol on the ball, but he can't do anything if he's getting knocked around.