10-04-2019, 03:23 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-04-2019, 03:35 PM by DenverCard.)
Hoping for some reassuring words from the Cardboard community...
Last night the #2 ranked Stanford's men's soccer team was at home against #7 Washington. Stanford started the season 7-0 for the first time since about 2002 (which was followed by an inspiring comeback from 2 goals down to tie UCSB 3-3 to leave Stanford 7-0-1), and UW had outscored opponents 13-0 since their only loss of the season (to Cal State Northridge 3-1).
UW won the first half to a degree that was somewhere between "controlling" and "dominating" of the play, and they led 1-0 at halftime. Stanford was therefore having to work from behind for the third consecutive game. (Watching soccer with your team behind is very nerve-wracking, given that to go from 1-0 down to 2-0 down almost always means an impending loss.) Ah, but as expected, Stanford started the second half looking like an entirely different team, and within three minutes they tied the score on a beautiful left-footed bomb from Zach Ryan, last year's leading scorer. That goal seemed to signal both his reawakening and the reestablishment of order at Cagan. I settled in to watch Stanford reassert themselves and send UW home disappointed once again.
And then the unthinkable. Stanford's leader by both words and deeds, Tanner Beason, who chose to come back for his 5th year after he'd been named Pac-12 player of the year as a redshirt junior, and who plays as if he is indestructible, got clipped as he went for the ball and landed awkwardly. His actions on the ground gave no indication of the nature of his injury, and he walked off unassisted, but he was taken immediately into the locker room and he did not return. I fear a season-ending knee injury, but have not heard anything.
As always, Stanford played hard for the remainder of the match, and had some decent chances, but they were, in my eyes, clearly outmatched. UW's collective level of skill was greater than Stanford's, and the talent disparity showed in the number of shots on goal and dangerous chances. Twice Stanford cleared the ball from their goal line, and UW had other good opportunities to score. Ultimately, UW won in the second overtime with a very nice run from one of their stars, who crossed the ball for a diving header goal. Even that was bittersweet. The Stanford player closest to the game-winner was Jack O'Brien, who has a history of severe knee injury and who was injured recently against Cal. That he was again playing after I feared a dire outcome, made me very happy. However, he was negligent in marking the UW player, who had a few steps on him when he headed in the winner.
In addition to getting outplayed and losing Beason, Stanford's starting right midfielder Charlie Weehan went out with a non-contact injury. He did not appear severely limited, but he missed a number of games last season with injury, making this injury more ominous. And starting left back Andrew Apprahamian was also out for the last quarter or so of the game, although perhaps not because of injury. Five freshman played during the game, and at one point at least four were in the game together when it remained 1-1 late.
Stanford advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA last year, and lost only two starters who were of lesser importance. Beason returned, they have a fantastic goalie in Andrew Thomas, and those who are currently juniors were part of the number one recruiting class that year. On paper their 7-0 start was not unexpected. And yet in addition to having been outclassed by UW last night, I have generally not been impressed with their play this year. The win this year against Akron (away), last year's NCAA runner-up, has been rendered much less impressive by the fact that Akron was 0-7 at last check. And now it looks like Beason has likely played his last game for Stanford, which is so unfortunate for him and the team.
Jeremy Gunn displays irrepressible optimism, at least whenever he speaks publicly, but notice the words he used in the wake of last night's loss: "We had some chances, but UW had the better ones" Gunn said. "When all is said and done they deserved the game. We take it on the chin and we learn from it. It's not fatal. We move on."
"It's not fatal," is quite a bit different from "We had a bad game."
I am impressed by the freshman class. Keegan Hughes, who has started from the beginning, clearly adopted a leadership role last night after Beason went down. Ousseni Boudia is far-and-away the most talented player on the team. Gabe Segal has a knack for scoring, and is good in the air. And the other two frosh who played last night, Keegan Tingey and Cam Cilley, also seem skilled. Perhaps the signs of the deficiencies in this team will lead to a shuffling of the relative playing time and thereby raise collective the skill level of the team.
On the other hand, the younger players may not yet be better than the upperclassmen (and I may have fallen victim to "back-up quarterback syndrome"), or they may simply not be ready for the intensity of college soccer. I fear that Stanford's 7-0 start will continue to fizzle out, and that they will be a .500 team in Pac-12 play, if even that. A borderline NCAA invite and a quick out.
But I'm neurotic/pessimistic. Fortunately, I'm also very tractable. Is there someone in Cardboard land who can buoy my spirits?
A couple more items:
In looking for any update on Beason's injury, I found this Daily article that provides more about last night's game. UW's coach was gracious in what he said. (If Gunn is poached away by an MLS team or other, I would want Stanford to pursue Jaime Clark, a Stanford alum.)
https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/10/04...-overtime/
Also, I can't help but comment on the Pac-12 telecast. In contrast to recent away games at Santa Barbara (men's and women's) and Santa Clara (women's), the commentary last night was atrocious. The play-by-play guy knew nothing of soccer. It was like listening to your grandfather attending the first soccer game of his life. "Boy that player runs fast..." "It's amazing how far they can kick the ball..." Trivial facts and inanities filled the air. The color commentator had more useful things to say, but like a scorer who is only effective as the pass he receives, he didn't have much to work with. I wish he would have simply taken over more and marginalize the play-by-play guy.
Okay, rant over.
Last night the #2 ranked Stanford's men's soccer team was at home against #7 Washington. Stanford started the season 7-0 for the first time since about 2002 (which was followed by an inspiring comeback from 2 goals down to tie UCSB 3-3 to leave Stanford 7-0-1), and UW had outscored opponents 13-0 since their only loss of the season (to Cal State Northridge 3-1).
UW won the first half to a degree that was somewhere between "controlling" and "dominating" of the play, and they led 1-0 at halftime. Stanford was therefore having to work from behind for the third consecutive game. (Watching soccer with your team behind is very nerve-wracking, given that to go from 1-0 down to 2-0 down almost always means an impending loss.) Ah, but as expected, Stanford started the second half looking like an entirely different team, and within three minutes they tied the score on a beautiful left-footed bomb from Zach Ryan, last year's leading scorer. That goal seemed to signal both his reawakening and the reestablishment of order at Cagan. I settled in to watch Stanford reassert themselves and send UW home disappointed once again.
And then the unthinkable. Stanford's leader by both words and deeds, Tanner Beason, who chose to come back for his 5th year after he'd been named Pac-12 player of the year as a redshirt junior, and who plays as if he is indestructible, got clipped as he went for the ball and landed awkwardly. His actions on the ground gave no indication of the nature of his injury, and he walked off unassisted, but he was taken immediately into the locker room and he did not return. I fear a season-ending knee injury, but have not heard anything.
As always, Stanford played hard for the remainder of the match, and had some decent chances, but they were, in my eyes, clearly outmatched. UW's collective level of skill was greater than Stanford's, and the talent disparity showed in the number of shots on goal and dangerous chances. Twice Stanford cleared the ball from their goal line, and UW had other good opportunities to score. Ultimately, UW won in the second overtime with a very nice run from one of their stars, who crossed the ball for a diving header goal. Even that was bittersweet. The Stanford player closest to the game-winner was Jack O'Brien, who has a history of severe knee injury and who was injured recently against Cal. That he was again playing after I feared a dire outcome, made me very happy. However, he was negligent in marking the UW player, who had a few steps on him when he headed in the winner.
In addition to getting outplayed and losing Beason, Stanford's starting right midfielder Charlie Weehan went out with a non-contact injury. He did not appear severely limited, but he missed a number of games last season with injury, making this injury more ominous. And starting left back Andrew Apprahamian was also out for the last quarter or so of the game, although perhaps not because of injury. Five freshman played during the game, and at one point at least four were in the game together when it remained 1-1 late.
Stanford advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA last year, and lost only two starters who were of lesser importance. Beason returned, they have a fantastic goalie in Andrew Thomas, and those who are currently juniors were part of the number one recruiting class that year. On paper their 7-0 start was not unexpected. And yet in addition to having been outclassed by UW last night, I have generally not been impressed with their play this year. The win this year against Akron (away), last year's NCAA runner-up, has been rendered much less impressive by the fact that Akron was 0-7 at last check. And now it looks like Beason has likely played his last game for Stanford, which is so unfortunate for him and the team.
Jeremy Gunn displays irrepressible optimism, at least whenever he speaks publicly, but notice the words he used in the wake of last night's loss: "We had some chances, but UW had the better ones" Gunn said. "When all is said and done they deserved the game. We take it on the chin and we learn from it. It's not fatal. We move on."
"It's not fatal," is quite a bit different from "We had a bad game."
I am impressed by the freshman class. Keegan Hughes, who has started from the beginning, clearly adopted a leadership role last night after Beason went down. Ousseni Boudia is far-and-away the most talented player on the team. Gabe Segal has a knack for scoring, and is good in the air. And the other two frosh who played last night, Keegan Tingey and Cam Cilley, also seem skilled. Perhaps the signs of the deficiencies in this team will lead to a shuffling of the relative playing time and thereby raise collective the skill level of the team.
On the other hand, the younger players may not yet be better than the upperclassmen (and I may have fallen victim to "back-up quarterback syndrome"), or they may simply not be ready for the intensity of college soccer. I fear that Stanford's 7-0 start will continue to fizzle out, and that they will be a .500 team in Pac-12 play, if even that. A borderline NCAA invite and a quick out.
But I'm neurotic/pessimistic. Fortunately, I'm also very tractable. Is there someone in Cardboard land who can buoy my spirits?
A couple more items:
In looking for any update on Beason's injury, I found this Daily article that provides more about last night's game. UW's coach was gracious in what he said. (If Gunn is poached away by an MLS team or other, I would want Stanford to pursue Jaime Clark, a Stanford alum.)
https://www.stanforddaily.com/2019/10/04...-overtime/
Also, I can't help but comment on the Pac-12 telecast. In contrast to recent away games at Santa Barbara (men's and women's) and Santa Clara (women's), the commentary last night was atrocious. The play-by-play guy knew nothing of soccer. It was like listening to your grandfather attending the first soccer game of his life. "Boy that player runs fast..." "It's amazing how far they can kick the ball..." Trivial facts and inanities filled the air. The color commentator had more useful things to say, but like a scorer who is only effective as the pass he receives, he didn't have much to work with. I wish he would have simply taken over more and marginalize the play-by-play guy.
Okay, rant over.
