11-29-2019, 06:22 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-29-2019, 06:33 PM by Viking_Guy.)
WSU just scored the golden goal. Corner kick, South Carolina defender rises up near post, but only grazes the ball, turning into a perfect backpost flick for an unmarked WSU player, who buries the volley from 3 yards out into the top of the net.
Dammit, USC (California edition), that could've been glorious.
They've announced already Stanford UCLA as the early game Friday at 4 pm, followed by UNC-WSU.
More in a bit,
VG
A few more thoughts.
UCLA is in my opinion our toughest match-up - not that both WSU and especially UNC would not be tough games. But the Bruins, formation and talent-wise, play right into where we've had problems on the rare occasions that happens this year.
They play 5 midfielders, which will take away space and passing channels moving forward, and overload at the weakest point of our defense, in front of the backline. I find it telling that, set pieces aside, we've given up most of our goals this year up the middle channel, either on runs or turnovers deep.
Also, their confidence has to be pretty darned high right now. Beating the defending national champs twice in one season, including 4-0 on their home pitch in the NCAA quarters, is really impressive.
Even more key against the Bruins than today will be the great hold-up play of Madison Haley - she has an opportunity to shine yet again if she can receive or run onto long balls over the top of a crowded midfield, hopefully laying off as sublimely as she did today to an onrushing Macario.
And truly a remarkable run by the Cougars. To beat on successive weekends two of the top eight teams in the country on their home fields is great for both WSU and for the Pac-12; I can't imagine a lot of argument at present against its ascendance as the top women's soccer conference in the country. I mean, the conference just outscored the rest of the country 12-4 in the NCAA quarterfinals.
One other positive - not North Carolina in the semis. I wouldn't want to go to the finals with our top players injured.
VG
Dammit, USC (California edition), that could've been glorious.
They've announced already Stanford UCLA as the early game Friday at 4 pm, followed by UNC-WSU.
More in a bit,
VG
A few more thoughts.
UCLA is in my opinion our toughest match-up - not that both WSU and especially UNC would not be tough games. But the Bruins, formation and talent-wise, play right into where we've had problems on the rare occasions that happens this year.
They play 5 midfielders, which will take away space and passing channels moving forward, and overload at the weakest point of our defense, in front of the backline. I find it telling that, set pieces aside, we've given up most of our goals this year up the middle channel, either on runs or turnovers deep.
Also, their confidence has to be pretty darned high right now. Beating the defending national champs twice in one season, including 4-0 on their home pitch in the NCAA quarters, is really impressive.
Even more key against the Bruins than today will be the great hold-up play of Madison Haley - she has an opportunity to shine yet again if she can receive or run onto long balls over the top of a crowded midfield, hopefully laying off as sublimely as she did today to an onrushing Macario.
And truly a remarkable run by the Cougars. To beat on successive weekends two of the top eight teams in the country on their home fields is great for both WSU and for the Pac-12; I can't imagine a lot of argument at present against its ascendance as the top women's soccer conference in the country. I mean, the conference just outscored the rest of the country 12-4 in the NCAA quarterfinals.
One other positive - not North Carolina in the semis. I wouldn't want to go to the finals with our top players injured.
VG