[Viking_Guy]

An underwomaned Stanford side took care of business against C.al today, riding a couple of nice finishes by Jordan DiBiasi to overcome the absence for this game of Catarina Macario, Madison Haley, and Tegan McGrady, to go along with the long-term missing Davidson, Smith, and Collins.

The scary thing is that I think McGrady may be the most missed of those players right now.  Ratcliffe has inserted Jojo Harber at left back, trying to replicate McGrady's support for the attack from that side.  But Harber is still feeling her way, having played mostly in a forward role as a sub for the Cardinal.  She has a tendency to get caught forward, and our opposition lately has been making a lot of hay down her side of the pitch, forcing Girma wide to cover and opening up space in the middle.

Couple the above absences with the limited availability of Jaye Boissiere (41 minutes off the bench today in one-for-one swaps with Breide), and you have a lot of disjoint play in the middle of the pitch.  Stanford played exactly THREE subs: Jaye, Ceci Gee (for 24 minutes for Kuhlmann, mostly), and Malatskey (43 minutes subbing for Xiao.)

Luckily, we were playing a Cal side in some disarray.  They LOOKED like they were trying a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-3-1 at points, but there was little to no connection between the 59ers' offense and defense - the day was a whole lot of Route One, over the top, trying to connect with their really fast forwards in behind the backline.  And it came close to working a couple of times.  The really scary thing?  Stanford couldn't punish them for it; even with acres of space in between the Cal midfield and backline, we didn't get a lot of threats from our forwards.

Game started well for Stanford, as Michelle Xiao had two amazing looks inside the opening 10 minutes; if Stanford is going to go far this year, she's got to start finishing, with Catarina and Madison in warm ups.  First one was a volley from a popped in ball that hit the crossbar from about 8 yards out.  Then, a Cal central defender fell down, essentially pushing the ball directly to Xiao at the penalty spot and blocking her fellow center back from getting their quickly. Xiao shot high again.

But in between those two, Alana Cook flighted in a lovely ball to spring Jordan DiBiasi 1 v keeper, and, well, Jordan doesn't miss many of those.  Cook had come forward into the space where she should have been picked up by midfield defenders, but she didn't get much of a challenge, and lofted in a nice ball.

However, that space also tempted Alana and Jojo forward (and inside) and several times they got caught upfield on a turnover, and Cal would immediately try to get a ball to Abigail Kim behind the defense.  Later in the first half, with Cook upfield, Girma tried to pull a trap against Kim that failed utterly, but fortunately the throughball was somewhat wide, at the edge of the penalty area, allowing Girma to make a recovery run.  But Kim pulled the ball back inside, and rattled the inside of the far post in the upper corner with a ball that came out.  Jahansouz had no shot of stopping it if it was 4 or 5 inches more inside.

That was pretty much the rhythm of the game.  If Cal could generate a turnover, the ball pretty much went immediately forward.  If they couldn't, Stanford's midfield was running at their backline.  It cost them early in the second half, when DiBiasi again finished, this time off a long solo run from the left of the center circle angling right, then at the arc hammering a strike back to the far post for a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.

Cal got exactly one shot after that.  And it was blocked.  They had a couple of pop-up headers that Alison caught, but really only two great shots on goal the whole game.

What is also scary is that, with Cal's midfield defense resembling a pasta strainer (stiff in some narrow spots, completely absent in others), Stanford only managed six shots on goal.  And only 13 shots overall.  A even close to full strength Cardinal side should have had 10 and 20 easily.

The M*A*S*H unit is in full force.  I do think Macario might have played if Stanford needed her.

One reason she didn't was one of the most blatant set of pushing off tactics I've ever seen by Cal players.  Some of them literally would've been called for offensive pass interference in the NFL.  On one occasion, I saw a Bear player (who had a shoulder in front of her defender) stick out both hands, lean over further, and push the Stanford player 5-6 feet away from the ball... while running nearly 3 feet away from it herself.  They would first lean in, then push off, using the push off to get themselves back to vertical and onto the ball while displacing their defender.  It took a while, but the center referee finally started calling it, when one of them did it in a 1v1 against Girma, shoving her 5 feet sideways as they both ran onto a ball running toward Stanford's area.

My game ball goes to the smooth Alana Cook.  Yes, Jordan finished the two shots, and I shudder to think of where this side would be without her (knock on wood.) But through the changing cast of characters, with a young star blossoming next to her, with the best central defensive back/mid in the country lost for the season, she's been steady (and smooth) as a ocean-polished rock.  Let me put it this way: last season, Stanford scored 70 and gave up 6 in the regular season.  This year, with one regular season game left, scoring is way down: with only one game left, Stanford has 47.  But, having to break in a new center back, and/or new center midfielders, and missing a lot of our offensive threats, they've still only given up 8.

Thank you, four-year starter and captain.

Onto ASU, for the makeup game for the great Tempe deluge on Sunday.

VG

---

P.S. On the WSU telecast, they said that Davidson was training again.  But I would put the odds of her seeing the pitch in Stanford's kit at about 20%; prep for the World Cup much more important, and I doubt she'd be at game fitness, even by the College Cup.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

An underwomaned Stanford side took care of business against C.al today, riding a couple of nice finishes by Jordan DiBiasi to overcome the absence for this game of Catarina Macario, Madison Haley, and Tegan McGrady, to go along with the long-term missing Davidson, Smith, and Collins.

The scary thing is that I think McGrady may be the most missed of those players right now.  Ratcliffe has inserted Jojo Harber at left back, trying to replicate McGrady's support for the attack from that side.  But Harber is still feeling her way, having played mostly in a forward role as a sub for the Cardinal.  She has a tendency to get caught forward, and our opposition lately has been making a lot of hay down her side of the pitch, forcing Girma wide to cover and opening up space in the middle.

Couple the above absences with the limited availability of Jaye Boissiere (41 minutes off the bench today in one-for-one swaps with Breide), and you have a lot of disjoint play in the middle of the pitch.  Stanford played exactly THREE subs: Jaye, Ceci Gee (for 24 minutes for Kuhlmann, mostly), and Malatskey (43 minutes subbing for Xiao.)

Luckily, we were playing a Cal side in some disarray.  They LOOKED like they were trying a 3-5-2 or a 4-2-3-1 at points, but there was little to no connection between the 59ers' offense and defense - the day was a whole lot of Route One, over the top, trying to connect with their really fast forwards in behind the backline.  And it came close to working a couple of times.  The really scary thing?  Stanford couldn't punish them for it; even with acres of space in between the Cal midfield and backline, we didn't get a lot of threats from our forwards.

Game started well for Stanford, as Michelle Xiao had two amazing looks inside the opening 10 minutes; if Stanford is going to go far this year, she's got to start finishing, with Catarina and Madison in warm ups.  First one was a volley from a popped in ball that hit the crossbar from about 8 yards out.  Then, a Cal central defender fell down, essentially pushing the ball directly to Xiao at the penalty spot and blocking her fellow center back from getting their quickly. Xiao shot high again.

But in between those two, Alana Cook flighted in a lovely ball to spring Jordan DiBiasi 1 v keeper, and, well, Jordan doesn't miss many of those.  Cook had come forward into the space where she should have been picked up by midfield defenders, but she didn't get much of a challenge, and lofted in a nice ball.

However, that space also tempted Alana and Jojo forward (and inside) and several times they got caught upfield on a turnover, and Cal would immediately try to get a ball to Abigail Kim behind the defense.  Later in the first half, with Cook upfield, Girma tried to pull a trap against Kim that failed utterly, but fortunately the throughball was somewhat wide, at the edge of the penalty area, allowing Girma to make a recovery run.  But Kim pulled the ball back inside, and rattled the inside of the far post in the upper corner with a ball that came out.  Jahansouz had no shot of stopping it if it was 4 or 5 inches more inside.

That was pretty much the rhythm of the game.  If Cal could generate a turnover, the ball pretty much went immediately forward.  If they couldn't, Stanford's midfield was running at their backline.  It cost them early in the second half, when DiBiasi again finished, this time off a long solo run from the left of the center circle angling right, then at the arc hammering a strike back to the far post for a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute.

Cal got exactly one shot after that.  And it was blocked.  They had a couple of pop-up headers that Alison caught, but really only two great shots on goal the whole game.

What is also scary is that, with Cal's midfield defense resembling a pasta strainer (stiff in some narrow spots, completely absent in others), Stanford only managed six shots on goal.  And only 13 shots overall.  A even close to full strength Cardinal side should have had 10 and 20 easily.

The M*A*S*H unit is in full force.  I do think Macario might have played if Stanford needed her.

One reason she didn't was one of the most blatant set of pushing off tactics I've ever seen by Cal players.  Some of them literally would've been called for offensive pass interference in the NFL.  On one occasion, I saw a Bear player (who had a shoulder in front of her defender) stick out both hands, lean over further, and push the Stanford player 5-6 feet away from the ball... while running nearly 3 feet away from it herself.  They would first lean in, then push off, using the push off to get themselves back to vertical and onto the ball while displacing their defender.  It took a while, but the center referee finally started calling it, when one of them did it in a 1v1 against Girma, shoving her 5 feet sideways as they both ran onto a ball running toward Stanford's area.

My game ball goes to the smooth Alana Cook.  Yes, Jordan finished the two shots, and I shudder to think of where this side would be without her (knock on wood.) But through the changing cast of characters, with a young star blossoming next to her, with the best central defensive back/mid in the country lost for the season, she's been steady (and smooth) as a ocean-polished rock.  Let me put it this way: last season, Stanford scored 70 and gave up 6 in the regular season.  This year, with one regular season game left, scoring is way down: with only one game left, Stanford has 47.  But, having to break in a new center back, and/or new center midfielders, and missing a lot of our offensive threats, they've still only given up 8.

Thank you, four-year starter and captain.

Onto ASU, for the makeup game for the great Tempe deluge on Sunday.

VG

---

P.S. On the WSU telecast, they said that Davidson was training again.  But I would put the odds of her seeing the pitch in Stanford's kit at about 20%; prep for the World Cup much more important, and I doubt she'd be at game fitness, even by the College Cup.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

Stanford clinches the outright Pac-12 crown, as $C falls to UCLA in the 105th minute, 3-2.

Sadly for the Toejams, they scored to go ahead 2-1 with about 4 minutes left.  They had earlier missed a PK.

UCLA scored through Hailie Mace SIX second later to tie it with a laser from 24 yards out.  Oh, and of course, the TV crew almost missed it, zoomed in on someone off the ball. Sheesh.  They corrected that for the highlights.  $C also had a shot parried over the crossbar with about 2 seconds left in regulation.

Then in the OT, a cross in from about 20 yards off the endline on the right, angled toward the back post. An $C defender moves to play the ball, then backs off, letting it skim right by her bouncing into the goalkeeper - who collided with the forward that the defender had been marking before moving to play the ball, and the Bruin got a head there before the keeper got a punch.  The ball took two bounces before crossing the goalline.

Will be interesting to see the LA schools' seedings - does $C stay a 1, or drop to a 2 (their RPI is 5, UCLA's is 8).  Does UCLA get a 1 seed, having most of their losses occur without Mace and Fleming.  Does the NCAA do the right thing, and not line two Pac-12 teams up to play in the quarters?  Yeah, right.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

Stanford clinches the outright Pac-12 crown, as $C falls to UCLA in the 105th minute, 3-2.

Sadly for the Toejams, they scored to go ahead 2-1 with about 4 minutes left.  They had earlier missed a PK.

UCLA scored through Hailie Mace SIX second later to tie it with a laser from 24 yards out.  Oh, and of course, the TV crew almost missed it, zoomed in on someone off the ball. Sheesh.  They corrected that for the highlights.  $C also had a shot parried over the crossbar with about 2 seconds left in regulation.

Then in the OT, a cross in from about 20 yards off the endline on the right, angled toward the back post. An $C defender moves to play the ball, then backs off, letting it skim right by her bouncing into the goalkeeper - who collided with the forward that the defender had been marking before moving to play the ball, and the Bruin got a head there before the keeper got a punch.  The ball took two bounces before crossing the goalline.

Will be interesting to see the LA schools' seedings - does $C stay a 1, or drop to a 2 (their RPI is 5, UCLA's is 8).  Does UCLA get a 1 seed, having most of their losses occur without Mace and Fleming.  Does the NCAA do the right thing, and not line two Pac-12 teams up to play in the quarters?  Yeah, right.

VG

[oldalum]

great writeup as usual VG. Amazing that we can play anything that looks like soccer when we're missing 5 starters (half the field players) and some of the subs are limited by injury. Most other teams would be toast. I'm sure hoping we get as well as possible by the third round of the NCAAs.

Not sure which outcome of UCLA/USC would have been best for us. This may put both USC and UCLA to 2-seeds which would be fine if the NCAA would put them in other regions, but it seems extremely unlikely they would do something that would make so much sense (3 potential 1 seeds from the same conference should be in separate regions). The NCAA might move UCLA to a 1-seed if they take into account the Fleming/Mace absences--this last game is a perfect example, UCLA would have lost without Mace. I'd be happy if they put USC/UCLA in the same regional as 1-2 seeds, taking the minimize travel costs mantra to its logical conclusion; which would mean we'd probably get Santa Clara in our regional again. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Now we just need to get through ASU without an injury and resting as many recovering players as possible. Annoyed at the pac-12 that we have to play this meaningless game; it's handicapping the conference's best chance for a nat'l championship.

[oldalum]

great writeup as usual VG. Amazing that we can play anything that looks like soccer when we're missing 5 starters (half the field players) and some of the subs are limited by injury. Most other teams would be toast. I'm sure hoping we get as well as possible by the third round of the NCAAs.

Not sure which outcome of UCLA/USC would have been best for us. This may put both USC and UCLA to 2-seeds which would be fine if the NCAA would put them in other regions, but it seems extremely unlikely they would do something that would make so much sense (3 potential 1 seeds from the same conference should be in separate regions). The NCAA might move UCLA to a 1-seed if they take into account the Fleming/Mace absences--this last game is a perfect example, UCLA would have lost without Mace. I'd be happy if they put USC/UCLA in the same regional as 1-2 seeds, taking the minimize travel costs mantra to its logical conclusion; which would mean we'd probably get Santa Clara in our regional again. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Now we just need to get through ASU without an injury and resting as many recovering players as possible. Annoyed at the pac-12 that we have to play this meaningless game; it's handicapping the conference's best chance for a nat'l championship.

[BobK]

Is it possible the trip to ASU will now be cancelled ?

[BobK]

Is it possible the trip to ASU will now be cancelled ?

[oldalum]

Is it possible the trip to ASU will now be cancelled ?

not a chance. To be fair it's probably not meaningless to ASU because they are currently tied for 7th place, and with a tie against us would move to a tie for 5th place, and with a win against us ASU would move to a tie for fourth place in the conference.

---

Since Xiao has returned she has not looked sharp, still needs more practice and playing time to get back to her former excellent level of play

[oldalum]

Is it possible the trip to ASU will now be cancelled ?

not a chance. To be fair it's probably not meaningless to ASU because they are currently tied for 7th place, and with a tie against us would move to a tie for 5th place, and with a win against us ASU would move to a tie for fourth place in the conference.

---

Since Xiao has returned she has not looked sharp, still needs more practice and playing time to get back to her former excellent level of play

[Viking_Guy]

Yep, even if Macario and Haley are back, I would expect Xiao to be the third starter up front; maybe Kuhlmann, but Xiao provides more balance.

One other thing I noticed about the depleted lineup - there's not much of a left-footed finish or cross to be found.  That is the role that McGrady plays to perfection from her wing back spot.  It looked like defenders are waiting for our players to try to pull the ball back onto their right boot - against Cal, a lot of balls running toward the goal line on the left side were naturals for a left-footed cross that rarely came.

One positive - in the Pac-12 champions photo from yesterday, only Smith was on crutches or (from what I could see) in a boot or cast.  Even Davidson looked like she was in warmups and running shoes.

Hoping it bodes well for returning to health.  I think we go one round farther for each of Macario, Haley, and McGrady we see return to effectiveness - third round without them, College Cup with them, and then a crapshoot.  If Davidson was back, we'd be a favorite.  With a fully healthy lineup including Smith, we would have been a heavy favorite.  As it is, making the College Cup, IMO, depends on those three returning to the pitch effectively.  Otherwise, we don't have the horses to punish teams for pressing us.

VG

[Viking_Guy]

Yep, even if Macario and Haley are back, I would expect Xiao to be the third starter up front; maybe Kuhlmann, but Xiao provides more balance.

One other thing I noticed about the depleted lineup - there's not much of a left-footed finish or cross to be found.  That is the role that McGrady plays to perfection from her wing back spot.  It looked like defenders are waiting for our players to try to pull the ball back onto their right boot - against Cal, a lot of balls running toward the goal line on the left side were naturals for a left-footed cross that rarely came.

One positive - in the Pac-12 champions photo from yesterday, only Smith was on crutches or (from what I could see) in a boot or cast.  Even Davidson looked like she was in warmups and running shoes.

Hoping it bodes well for returning to health.  I think we go one round farther for each of Macario, Haley, and McGrady we see return to effectiveness - third round without them, College Cup with them, and then a crapshoot.  If Davidson was back, we'd be a favorite.  With a fully healthy lineup including Smith, we would have been a heavy favorite.  As it is, making the College Cup, IMO, depends on those three returning to the pitch effectively.  Otherwise, we don't have the horses to punish teams for pressing us.

VG

[oldalum]

 Macario, Haley, and McGrady . . . making the College Cup, IMO, depends on those three returning to the pitch effectively.  
VG

I concur completely. With them we can compete with the top 8 teams (e.g., USC , UCLA). Without them we can't, we don't have enough special players at key positions. 

There are so many to admire on this team, as people and players, but McGrady has been my favorite player since she arrived on the Farm: totally hardworking, blue collar/no ego, an absolute lockdown defender (no one gets by her), terrific on offense (her service to DiBiasi against South Carolina in the NCAA semifinal is one of my favorite memories), highest skill level, indefatigable . . . I could go on and on. Doesn't get the headlines and the glory but it is so noticeable when she's not on the field.

[oldalum]

 Macario, Haley, and McGrady . . . making the College Cup, IMO, depends on those three returning to the pitch effectively.  
VG

I concur completely. With them we can compete with the top 8 teams (e.g., USC , UCLA). Without them we can't, we don't have enough special players at key positions. 

There are so many to admire on this team, as people and players, but McGrady has been my favorite player since she arrived on the Farm: totally hardworking, blue collar/no ego, an absolute lockdown defender (no one gets by her), terrific on offense (her service to DiBiasi against South Carolina in the NCAA semifinal is one of my favorite memories), highest skill level, indefatigable . . . I could go on and on. Doesn't get the headlines and the glory but it is so noticeable when she's not on the field.