11-09-2021, 11:16 PM
Women’s soccer has bounced back nicely from last spring’s Covid-compromised season. The team finished fourth in conference, but was superior in many conference statistical categories. The team was first in shots on goal and in corner kicks (by a large margin). They were second in goals and in points. These statistics generally reflect a marked superiority in time of possession. They lost to one weaker opponent (Oregon State) and tied another (Colorado). They lost to quality opponents (UCLA in a late game goal and USC in an overtime goal). In early season matches, they lost to Duke and North Carolina by one goal margins.
As this season proved, soccer is a game where statistical dominance does not bring automatic wins. But no team in the tournament can look forward to facing Stanford. Before the bracket was announced, I was confident that Stanford could make a deep run in the tournament.
Only four Pac 12 schools were selected, an affront in itself. The ACC got nine teams; the SEC got seven teams; and the Big Ten got six teams. My take: there are some very good teams in these conferences, but, with the possible exception of the ACC, none of them have the competitive depth of the Pac 12. The selection Committee looks to wins, and in a conference like the SEC or Big 10, it’s easier for a solid team to bring home these wins.
Stanford is matched up against Santa Clara in the first round. That puts the last two winners of the NCAA tournament as first round opponents. The committee has done neither Stanford nor Santa Clara a favor. One of these two teams with great post season records will be gone after the first round. If Stanford survives this first round, they are still in the same bracket as Pac 12 winner UCLA, potentially needing to defeat the Bruins to get to the final four (College Cup).
Stanford beat Santa Clara 3-1 in September. Stanford played in a tougher conference and has a slightly superior record to the Broncos. But Santa Clara will have the home field advantage and the extra motivation of being the host school for the college cup. The Broncos are always at their best in the post season, as their national championship last season demonstrates.
Both teams, but especially Stanford, have the motivation of proving the selection committee wrong.
Bring it on!
As this season proved, soccer is a game where statistical dominance does not bring automatic wins. But no team in the tournament can look forward to facing Stanford. Before the bracket was announced, I was confident that Stanford could make a deep run in the tournament.
Only four Pac 12 schools were selected, an affront in itself. The ACC got nine teams; the SEC got seven teams; and the Big Ten got six teams. My take: there are some very good teams in these conferences, but, with the possible exception of the ACC, none of them have the competitive depth of the Pac 12. The selection Committee looks to wins, and in a conference like the SEC or Big 10, it’s easier for a solid team to bring home these wins.
Stanford is matched up against Santa Clara in the first round. That puts the last two winners of the NCAA tournament as first round opponents. The committee has done neither Stanford nor Santa Clara a favor. One of these two teams with great post season records will be gone after the first round. If Stanford survives this first round, they are still in the same bracket as Pac 12 winner UCLA, potentially needing to defeat the Bruins to get to the final four (College Cup).
Stanford beat Santa Clara 3-1 in September. Stanford played in a tougher conference and has a slightly superior record to the Broncos. But Santa Clara will have the home field advantage and the extra motivation of being the host school for the college cup. The Broncos are always at their best in the post season, as their national championship last season demonstrates.
Both teams, but especially Stanford, have the motivation of proving the selection committee wrong.
Bring it on!
