2019 Women's D1 Soccer Talk!!!!

Imtired said:
UCLA and Penn State are two examples of one of my biggest pet peeves and that is all the emphasis on recruiting YNT players based on that fact alone. I don't mean that comment to imply those with YNT experience aren't talented, but are they the player that particular team needs at that time? Do they fill in gaps or are they carbon copies of another YNT player on the team? Take a look at some of the players that have been overlooked by YNT. Rose Lavelle and Haily Mace are 2 that immediately come to mind. Both didn't get called up until US Soccer saw them play in college (and kudos to the college coaches, including AC of UCLA, for seeing their talent). With all the thousands of girls out there playing soccer, you can't tell me that those on the youth YNT are head over heels better than everyone else. Again, I don't mean that as any dig on the YNT players as they would not have made it that far without being exceptional. But there are a ton of exceptional players without YNT on their resume too. As I've written before, look for the right players, not the most lauded players.
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Well said and I think this goes for all levels. There are exceptional NWSL players that aren’t on the WNT. The difference between good and great is not huge and a team is so much more than a collection of individual talents.
 
Sunday:

Oregon v Utah - noon
USC v Arizona - noon
UCLA v Arizona State - 1:00
Stanford v Washington - 3:00
Cal v Washington State - noon
OSU v Colorado - 1:00

Washington has been looking good, let’s see what they can bring to Stanford

Oregon must get result

Colorado needs one as well, these are the games they must have for being a contender in conference

SoCal squads in the desert... unpredictable...
 
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Oregon loss not good for them.

OSU win at Colorado impressive.

Socal squads finish well in AZ

Washington State recovers at Cal, and Washington might as well have not bothered showing up at Stanford.

That effort was embarrassing.
 
turftoe said:
Washington might as well have not bothered showing up at Stanford.

That effort was embarrassing.
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So true. It was the first time this season I had a chance to watch Gallimore, maybe my last chance before she retires but her team was just sad. It felt like they knew they were going to lose and thus did not even try. It was hard to watch.
 
Part of me would love to see the season move to be a full year long so these Sunday games aren’t so brutal. But I do love the action of the condensed season with so many games (as a fan). But the Sunday results are a bummer when the kids can’t give it their best shot and are just trying to survive (and most are in the heat of the day). I’m so impressed with these ladies (many of whom are your daughters) with how they must be dying in Sunday’s but still play so hard.
 
That Stanford - UW game was brutally hot in the stands, so must have been more so on the pitch. Stanford was impressive as usual. Great movement off the ball. They are #2 for a reason. UW had some players that were clearly trying, but I agree with the assessment that some of them seemed resigned to taking the split for the weekend. Maybe beating Cal and not losing 5-0 like Wazzu did against Stanford was good enough, though that is never a good mindset.
 
warrior49 said:
That Stanford - UW game was brutally hot in the stands, so must have been more so on the pitch. Stanford was impressive as usual. Great movement off the ball. They are #2 for a reason. UW had some players that were clearly trying, but I agree with the assessment that some of them seemed resigned to taking the split for the weekend. Maybe beating Cal and not losing 5-0 like Wazzu did against Stanford was good enough, though that is never a good mindset.
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Not sure if Wazzu took a similar approach when it, quickly, became clear that Stanford was at another level. The Cougars looked way more composed and confident v Cal. The OT goal was a bit odd but you could see that Wazzu looked a lot fresher in the 2d half of the 2d half.
 
warrior49 said:
That OT goal was quick! I think it's safe to say Cal is having issues and beating UCLA was an anomaly.
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I was not at the UW game but, statistically, it looked like UW played a strong game - probably the most important game on Gallimore's schedule this year. Wazzu kept some energy in the tank during the Stanford game so looked fresh. That OT goal was quick and odd (I watched in person and then I watched it several times online last night and it is still odd). I would have liked to see a bit more action to see how the teams responded to the extra time.

Cal played UCLA with a lot of heart but I think it was hard to capture that for this past weekend. Zero points in a home weekend is tough in the Pac12. The games this coming weekend become really important for the Bears - they have to get some results (good chance of that).
 
dk_b said:
I was not at the UW game but, statistically, it looked like UW played a strong game - probably the most important game on Gallimore's schedule this year. Wazzu kept some energy in the tank during the Stanford game so looked fresh. That OT goal was quick and odd (I watched in person and then I watched it several times online last night and it is still odd). I would have liked to see a bit more action to see how the teams responded to the extra time.

Cal played UCLA with a lot of heart but I think it was hard to capture that for this past weekend. Zero points in a home weekend is tough in the Pac12. The games this coming weekend become really important for the Bears - they have to get some results (good chance of that).
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I watched the game and Cal dominated possession. They had quite a few more chances including some grade A ones, but couldn't convert. It was one of those games where the team that probably deserved to win didn't. Such as life when it comes to soccer.
 
Cal’s terrible non conference schedule is going to haunt them come November is they don’t take care of business in the next 3 weeks. Must win games for them in Oregon. Oregon - Cal huge for both teams
 
Dubs said:
I watched the game and Cal dominated possession. They had quite a few more chances including some grade A ones, but couldn't convert. It was one of those games where the team that probably deserved to win didn't. Such as life when it comes to soccer.
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it was not dominating to me, having watched in person. Cal had better possession and passing combinations in the first half (in particular, the first half of the first half) but I do think that changed some as the game went on. (and, full disclosure, I am a Cal fan so am predisposed to give the Bears the benefit). And, statistically, neither team "dominated" the other - 14 shots to 9 in Cal's favor is certainly an advantage but not dominance when you look at SOGs (6-4) and corners (2-6). Pretty even in my view with WSU being a bit more fresh as the game went on (of course, I did not have a possession clock on but neither team was showing a lot of multi-pass (4+) sequences though I'd guess Cal had the edge on those (though not a huge one).

When I look at a game and say "team that probably deserved to win didn't" - and there are games like that - I need to see a stellar GK performance by the weaker team, multiple crossbars, big shot/corner advantage, etc. (I refer back to the Stanford v SCU 2d round game when Andi Sullivan tore her ACL and SCU won in OT moments later . . . Stanford DOMINATED that game but SCU's GK stood on her head). When a team is maybe somewhat better, I can't use the word "deserved" b/c WSU was never completely on their collective heels, never were chasing for sustained periods of time (Cal did have a few 1v1s/near 1v1s but the Cougars' D did not break).
 
dk_b said:
it was not dominating to me, having watched in person. Cal had better possession and passing combinations in the first half (in particular, the first half of the first half) but I do think that changed some as the game went on. (and, full disclosure, I am a Cal fan so am predisposed to give the Bears the benefit). And, statistically, neither team "dominated" the other - 14 shots to 9 in Cal's favor is certainly an advantage but not dominance when you look at SOGs (6-4) and corners (2-6). Pretty even in my view with WSU being a bit more fresh as the game went on (of course, I did not have a possession clock on but neither team was showing a lot of multi-pass (4+) sequences though I'd guess Cal had the edge on those (though not a huge one).

When I look at a game and say "team that probably deserved to win didn't" - and there are games like that - I need to see a stellar GK performance by the weaker team, multiple crossbars, big shot/corner advantage, etc. (I refer back to the Stanford v SCU 2d round game when Andi Sullivan tore her ACL and SCU won in OT moments later . . . Stanford DOMINATED that game but SCU's GK stood on her head). When a team is maybe somewhat better, I can't use the word "deserved" b/c WSU was never completely on their collective heels, never were chasing for sustained periods of time (Cal did have a few 1v1s/near 1v1s but the Cougars' D did not break).
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In my view, it just seemed like Cal had a good 65% of possesion. Maybe I'm thinking of first half more than second. I agree with you that Wazzu was more fresh in second half and the longer the game goes on without a goal, it will usually favor the team with more energy which ulitimately it did. However, I still think Cal was the better team and had the better chances. Doesn't matter though... all the does is the W.
 
Dubs said:
In my view, it just seemed like Cal had a good 65% of possesion. Maybe I'm thinking of first half more than second. I agree with you that Wazzu was more fresh in second half and the longer the game goes on without a goal, it will usually favor the team with more energy which ulitimately it did. However, I still think Cal was the better team and had the better chances. Doesn't matter though... all the does is the W.
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I think I agree with your last two sentences. I think the emotional high of the W over UCLA was tough to find for the Bears
 
As I stated prior Cal’s going to draw a tough 1st round opponent and will be one and done.

Stanford looks like the team to eat with a lot of other teams hot on their tail. UCLA, with all of their players back, will advance deep in the tournament as expected. I’m not worried about them.

BIG games in the WCC. Pepperdine is in a must win game vs. BYU @BYU, who will have 5000 crazed fans (and that’s with no alcohol) rooting them on. I believe if Pepperdine wins they will win the WCC. Lose and the season is probably over. It’s too bad this game is so early.

Gonzaga vs. Portland big game. A Portland loss and they are DONE. Gonzaga needs to keep pace.

3 games in 7 days for all teams. Should be interesting.
 
eastbaysoccer said:
BIG games in the WCC. Pepperdine is in a must win game vs. BYU @BYU, who will have 5000 crazed fans (and that’s with no alcohol) rooting them on. I believe if Pepperdine wins they will win the WCC. Lose and the season is probably over. It’s too bad this game is so early.

Gonzaga vs. Portland big game. A Portland loss and they are DONE. Gonzaga needs to keep pace.

3 games in 7 days for all teams. Should be interesting.
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Pepperdine has beat BYU in the last two meetings and the last 4 of 5. Notably the last time they beat them In Provo they win the WCC.

Portland better not sleep on the zags. If I was in Vegas I’d bet on Spokane girls to win this one.
 
gkrent said:
Pepperdine has beat BYU in the last two meetings and the last 4 of 5. Notably the last time they beat them In Provo they win the WCC.

Portland better not sleep on the zags. If I was in Vegas I’d bet on Spokane girls to win this one.
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That’s good odds for Pepp. It would be a huge win if they pull this game out. Gonna be cold Wednesday.
 
It looks like the UCLA kneelers actually won a conference game this weekend. Bottom third of the table. Guess what side ASU's score came from? Glorious!
 
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