The 2017 College Cup tournament is set to begin Thursday, which features 48 teams across Division-I men's soccer all competing for the College Cup. The champion will be crowned at Talen Energy Stadium December 10, and there's a decent chance the winning team could feature someone with close ties to the Philadelphia Union organization.
Among the hundreds of players competing in the College Cup, 17 players rose through the ranks of the Union Academy before furthering their education in college, 13 of which graduated from YSC Academy. Those 17 players play for more 13 different teams, meaning there is a 27 percent chance a former member of the Union Academy hoists the College Cup on the field they aspired to one day play on.