The Vancouver Whitecaps were wiped off the field in the Concacaf Champions Cup Final, losing 5-0 on Sunday. They looked like a shadow of the team that animated MLS fans across North America during their remarkable run to the Cup Final.

Regardless of the result, it was still a fantastic run to watch, and their starting eleven in the final included three players who used the college soccer pathway to get there. Here’s a look at Tristan Blackmon, Brian White, and JC Ngando, who all came through the college ranks en route to their pro careers in MLS, culminating in a CCC Final appearance for Vancouver:

Tristan Blackmon – University of the Pacific

Tristan Blackmon played 70 matches for the Pacific Tigers. Blackmon was a forward when he came to the Tigers, but his coaching staff encouraged him to make a switch to right back. “That switch to right back changed everything,” Blackmon was quoted saying in a recent University of the Pacific article. Changing to defender changed the prospects of his career, as he has now played in MLS for eight years and counting.

This was Blackmon’s second crack at a CCC Final, falling short for a second time, after losing last Sunday. Blackmon’s first shot at the Continental Championship was in 2020 with LAFC, who selected him in the First Round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft.

Brian White – Duke University

Brian White played in 73 matches for Duke with 23 goals and 11 assists in that time. Like Blackmon, he was also selected in the First Round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft and ended up in Vancouver after a trade.

Vancouver provided White with an opportunity to propel his career to the next level, and he has taken advantage of it. Not only was White starting in a CCC Final, but he was also called into the USMNT camp as they prepare for the Gold Cup in two weeks.

JC Ngando – University of North Carolina at Greensboro

JC Ngando played in 36 games across two seasons at UNCG and was named the SoCon Player of the Year in 2022. In his two-year college career, Ngando racked up an impressive 31 goal contributions (9g/22a). He was named to the Generation Adidas class of 2022 and drafted by Vancouver with the fifth pick in the 2023 SuperDraft.

Before attending UNCG, Ngando was playing for Paris FC. The Frenchman is one of many international players who have utilized the college pathway in the US to kickstart their professional career. Vancouver’s 2025 season and CCC run definitely can be considered a kickstart for Ngando, as he has earned 13 starts for the club across all competitions so far.

The college soccer pathway continues to provide players in the United States with an opportunity to further their professional careers, and the latest CCC Final is another demonstration of what can happen for players choosing that path.