pulguita, thank you for the explanation and I agree on those points. There is also the fact that the men's game has had a longer time to evolve at a high level such that more men are capable of playing at a tactically higher level, which creates a better training environment for all men. Having said all of that, there are ahtletic areas where women are capable of things that men are not. Gymnastics comes to mind. In the end it is fruitless to compare the two. Men and women are different. While it is a good training tool for women to play against men, the differences in speed and strength force the women to play differently (especially keepers) such that this type of training is only done sparingly to avoid developing habits that would be detrimental in a high level women's game. I was never trying to assert that women's soccer was somehow better, only that it was worthwhile to watch. Sunday's NCAA Stanford vs. UNC was a great game.