11-02-2015, 05:05 PM
agree with coach VG. We should be able to beat everyone we meet before the quarters, subject to the vagaries of soccer, including penalty kick shootouts. Quarterfinal match depends on the matchup. I wouldn't want to see Penn State again before the College Cup, but I wouldn't mind Santa Clara again. The team has improved steadily through the year as the new players have gained experience and the team has gained cohesion. A big plus is Andi Sullivan, who IS a star, playing the Teresa Noyola role of on-field coach and director, though I think she hasn't had the ball on her feet as much as Teresa did. Another hu-ge plus is Campbell in goal who regularly makes incredible saves. The big issue is scoring. But although we don't have a proven, consistent offensive star, the players are very talented and many have displayed flashes of the kind of brilliance that is needed to win close games against high-quality opponents. I think our fate in the later rounds depends on whether one or two of them can muster that moment of brilliance in the tough games. If not, there is a good chance we won't score enough to win in regulation.