WSoc: Stanford 4 ASU 1 - Printable Version
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WSoc: Stanford 4 ASU 1 - Viking_Guy - 11-04-2018
Stanford again rode out being underwomanned, and two goals by Jordan DiBiasi broke the game open.
The starting lineup again showed no Macario, Haley, McGrady, or Boissiere, along with Smith and Davidson. Interestingly, Lauren Rood got the start at GK, though I doubt it was a performance issue - more likely giving a start to a backup keeper in the last game that's not win or go home this season.
This game was a makeup of the flooded out game that was the only game scheduled for the Cardinal the week of October 14. Heavy morning rains and bad drainage left lakes in place of a pitch.
One other comment: this was pretty much bar none the most inane commentary team I had ever heard, and given that it's the Pac-12 Network (albeit an ASU produced stream), that's saying something. It really felt like the announcers hadn't bothered to learn the name of most of the Sun Devil players, let alone the Cardinal's. They kept up a stream of patter based on the media guide, I would guess, because they almost NEVER mentioned the play going on on the field. They talked about ASU's big freshmen class, and how those freshmen were taking leadership roles, and how wasn't it interesting that those freshmen were so effective. Occasionally, they would interrupt that with commentary on how ASU had done earlier in the season.
The game was rather ragged. Opening goal was a beautiful free kick take by, who else, Jordan DiBiasi, who emulated Catarina with a blast from about 25 into the top netting. Just a laser strike, in about the 20th minute, and Stanford led 1-0. But the Stanford midfield was having problems getting the ball forward - again, the Sun Devils pushed forward, knowing that a starting front line of Kuhlmann, Xiao, and Malatskey wasn't a brobdingnagian danger, even only marked by ASU's back four. So the 4 in the midfield for the Devils took away space from Stanford's DiBiasi, Breide, and Hiatt, and the outside backs weren't getting forward.
Of course, it didn't matter at the start of the second half, when DiBiasi took a back heel ball from Kuhlmann in the left corner and pretty much dribbled through her defender before finishing near post. Belle Briede followed up a few minutes later with a nice turning finish on the left side. But Stanford's midfield fell asleep on the restart; a Devil MF ran right past them into an open shot and hammered a very nice shot from about 25 yards out dead in front of goal before Girma could close her.
After about 15 more minutes of back and forth, a takedown on Xiao led to Kuhlmann putting a PK in the back for the 4-1 final margin.
All in all, workwomanlike. Not great, but no more injuries (Kiki took a hard fall, and looked like she was getting checked for concussion, but stayed on the field.)
More after the men's game concludes,
VG
RE: WSoc: Stanford 4 ASU 1 - Viking_Guy - 11-05-2018
Sorry, meant to come back to this yesterday, but the men's game was exhausting. Gunn's boys won 1-0, but UCLA for the most part looked the better team - they hit the woodwork 3 times, and had at least one or two saved off the line by Cardinal defenders. I don't think they have the horses for another championship, but Stanford (and the Bruins) will definitely be a tough out for anyone. And if they win out, the Cardinal MIGHT get to host a quarterfinal, rather than be on the road in ACC country yet again.
In any case, the women's NCAA field will be announced at 1:30 PT this afternoon. Right now, I would be they will stack the seeding so that all of the top western teams are in one half of the bracket - no way in hell the Selection committee wants another all Pac-12 final, it might give people the idea that the best soccer is being played on the west coast right now.
My bet? Stanford 1, either SC or UCLA 4, Santa Clara 5, and the other LA school 8. But, given the RPI, it could be Stanford 1, Santa Clara 8 (they're 7 in the RPI) and SC on the road as the top #2 seed, with UCLA perhaps dropping as far as a 4.
Either way, you can bet the "competitive balance" part of the mission will get overridden as necessary to minimize costs.
Will report back soon.
VG
RE: WSoc: Stanford 4 ASU 1 - BostonCard - 11-05-2018
Stanford the overall #1 seed. Here's the bracket:
https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/soccer-women/d1/2018
We play Seattle in the first round. Tennesse is the #2 seed in our quarter, BC the #4 seed, and we play the winner of Clemson and Ole Miss if we get by Seattle.
BC