Mystery Train
GOLD
Full credit to Cromwell and Co. There's not a cream puff anywhere on that schedule. ASU is the only gimme, and that's just because of their recent instability.
2018 D1 Women's Soccer Talk!!
- Thread starter gkrent
- Start date
GoWest
GOLD
Does ASU have any freshman coming that will make an immediate impression?
Also, I'm not seeing more than two, maybe three PAC12 teams that will give UCLA any real challenge. What am I missing here?
Mystery Train
GOLD
Not sure about ASU's freshman class. I do know they've been very aggressive on recruitment though. Yes, with UCLA's talent, they ought to do very well in most of their PAC12 games, but even Wazzu, Arizona, and the Oregon schools aren't teams you can just sleep walk over. Anyway, they can't really control the conference schedule. It's already at minimum one of the 2 toughest conferences in the country and they went ahead and booked some big time out of conference foes...on the road! Even if you're not a Bruin, (which I'm not) you gotta respect that.
GoWest
GOLD
They really stepped up! I think they want the #1 RPI and #1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament if they survive. Gotta tip your hat to that.
One problem with trying to engineer an RPI is that you don't know ahead of time what your opponents' records will be next year (or several years in some cases).
CaliKlines
Well-Known Member
I know of a fantastic central midfielder that they are getting, and she can make a definite impact, if they use her the right way. 18 total new faces in Tempe this season...it's going to be a brutal fight for play time.
Sheriff Joe
DA
Sitting next to you it would be an eternity, diaper boy.
Sheriff Joe
DA
Why ya hatin?
MakeAPlay
DA
How about the fact that they only have 7 home games and play 4 of the other top 6 teams (plus $C) all on the road?
It’s the nation’s toughest schedule plain and simple.
MakeAPlay
DA
Every PAC 12 team is problematic but I REALLY like their chances the next two years....
How do you know who the top teams will be?
q.e.d.
MakeAPlay
DA
I watch a lot of women’s soccer, follow a lot of women’s soccer experts AND I have paid attention to how the preseason rankings go. They have half of the elite 8 on their schedule not to mention $C. Why don’t you consider games at LMU and $C road games?
Agree they are technically road games, but they are not ROAD games - no jetlag, no unfamiliar food, and mommy and daddy can attend just like at home.
How many RPI points does a team get for their pre-season ranking?
MakeAPlay
DA
They set their schedule in the winter with only a couple being multi year home and home arrangements FYI.
It would suck to be a midfielder for ASU. You are either going to be playing defense the entire game or watching the defensive backs kick the long ball to the sprinting forwards. I predict ASU will not win a conference game. If you take a look at their non-conference schedule it is cream puff. South Dakota State and Montana.....wheeeeee...
GoWest
GOLD
Admittedly the program has been in shambles but they did 'clean house' from HC on down. Maybe they get it turned around? Agree on the soft schedule but gotta win some games to build confidence, etc. IMHO.
And so...?
MakeAPlay
DA
The top 10 in RPI are mainly the usual suspects so it isn’t that hard. Play in a top 3 conference (check). Play traditionally top non-conference opponents (check). Play traditionally tough opponents on the road (check). Win a lot (check). Lose 2 games or less (check).
Simple.
Win a lot works no matter who you play.