[Viking_Guy]

That highlight package has a clear example of why I thought Girma was the most important player for Stanford on Sunday.

Watch beginning around 2:13.  Doms, who had a rough couple of games at the cup, gets caught in possession and bulled out of the way by a Carolina midfielder.  Turnover in the midfield, ready for a dangerous counter.  The Tar Heel hits a quick through ball that is right into the path of a sprinting forward.  Until Girma, even caught flat-footed by the bad turnover, sticks out a foot, knocks it out of the air, and has perfectly settles it to restart the offense.  I remember watching that and thinking, "Soccer isn't that easy."  But through her positioning, reactions, and skill, Naomi makes it look so much simpler than it is.

This isn't meant to say others weren't key to Stanford's success.  But, in the line of great Cardinal center backs that I have seen, from Melinda Minstrell and Jess Fischer through Buehldozer Rachel Buehler to Alina Garciamendez to Alana Cook, I think Girma may end up the best.  Actually, I wonder if Ratcliffe will pull a Tierna Davidson, and push her forward to defensive center midfield - she's so darned smooth going forward, it seems a shame she does it so rarely.

And again, we are SO lucky to have been able to watch this team this season.  Hoping everyone stays healthy, Civana recovers fully (to slot in for Malatskey), and looking forward to watching some spring ball.

After the men get after it on Friday :).

VG

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AFAIK, you have to designate an order prior to the first kick being taken' people were speculating that one of the coaches might have made a mistake in UNC's order, to put the freshman who missed in the sixth slot; she had only played about 90 minutes all season, and only about 10 in the postseason, apparently.  But taking PKs is a definite skill.

It used to be that it could only be comprised of the players on the field at the time the whistle blew, but I've seen some things that make me doubt that (e.g. Clemson substituted in a keeper who I believe hadn't played during the came for the men's shootout.)

The other rule that I have only rarely seen come into play is that each player must take a shot before any player is allowed to repeat.

BTW, Girma's PK that I referenced is at 3:31 :).

VG

[Viking_Guy]

That highlight package has a clear example of why I thought Girma was the most important player for Stanford on Sunday.

Watch beginning around 2:13.  Doms, who had a rough couple of games at the cup, gets caught in possession and bulled out of the way by a Carolina midfielder.  Turnover in the midfield, ready for a dangerous counter.  The Tar Heel hits a quick through ball that is right into the path of a sprinting forward.  Until Girma, even caught flat-footed by the bad turnover, sticks out a foot, knocks it out of the air, and has perfectly settles it to restart the offense.  I remember watching that and thinking, "Soccer isn't that easy."  But through her positioning, reactions, and skill, Naomi makes it look so much simpler than it is.

This isn't meant to say others weren't key to Stanford's success.  But, in the line of great Cardinal center backs that I have seen, from Melinda Minstrell and Jess Fischer through Buehldozer Rachel Buehler to Alina Garciamendez to Alana Cook, I think Girma may end up the best.  Actually, I wonder if Ratcliffe will pull a Tierna Davidson, and push her forward to defensive center midfield - she's so darned smooth going forward, it seems a shame she does it so rarely.

And again, we are SO lucky to have been able to watch this team this season.  Hoping everyone stays healthy, Civana recovers fully (to slot in for Malatskey), and looking forward to watching some spring ball.

After the men get after it on Friday :).

VG

---

AFAIK, you have to designate an order prior to the first kick being taken' people were speculating that one of the coaches might have made a mistake in UNC's order, to put the freshman who missed in the sixth slot; she had only played about 90 minutes all season, and only about 10 in the postseason, apparently.  But taking PKs is a definite skill.

It used to be that it could only be comprised of the players on the field at the time the whistle blew, but I've seen some things that make me doubt that (e.g. Clemson substituted in a keeper who I believe hadn't played during the came for the men's shootout.)

The other rule that I have only rarely seen come into play is that each player must take a shot before any player is allowed to repeat.

BTW, Girma's PK that I referenced is at 3:31 :).

VG