11-20-2022, 11:11 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-20-2022, 11:12 AM by DenverCard.)
Following WBB versus South Carolina, Men's Water Polo fighting to get an NCAA invite, and a day of NFL games, ginning up interest in a soccer game at the end of the weekend may be difficult. But although the game of soccer often drives me nuts for what I consider its deficiencies, the exceedingly thin margin between success and failure puts one on the edge of his seat from the get-go. So I'm definitely psyched for the game today (5:00 Pacific).
Had things gone according to plan, the Stanford Women's soccer team would have played UNC yesterday in North Carolina, and the men's team would be playing UNC at home today. However, on the same day and on the same field where BYU eliminated the women's team -- the rather stunning UNC soccer facility -- High Point University upset the UNC men's team 2-0 to advance to play Stanford today. I caught the second half of that game. After apparently getting dominated by UNC in the first half (shots 7-1 in favor of the hosts), High Point got a cheap free kick for a hand ball from just outside the penalty area early in the 2nd half and scored on a deflection. And while UNC was still in shock, High Point got a second goal 5' later. They then went into a defensive shell and UNC unsuccessfully banged their head against the wall for the next 35'.
Per my limited research, High Point is a Methodist University located in North Carolina. In learning that, I then noticed there are quite a few schools with religious affiliations in the men's tournament, whatever that signifies (SMU, California Baptist, Lipscomb, Seton Hall, Creighton).
Whereas the women's tournament invites 64 teams, the men's has only 48, 16 of which are seeded. And this arrangement gives the seeded teams -- of which Stanford is #5 -- tremendous advantages. High Point played on Thursday while Stanford rested. High Point then had to travel cross country for today's game. Stanford enjoys fan support and whatever subtle influence it has on the refereeing. And Stanford had the opportunity to watch High Point v. UNC.
High Point went 5-0-3 in their conference (Big South) but that only got them 2nd place, which likely made it necessary that they with the conference tournament to make NCAAs, which they did. Out of conference, they played four NCAA tourney teams that are among the 32 that have advanced (by win or seed). They beat Maryland, tied Georgetown, lost to Duke, and lost to UNC Greensboro 5-1. And if Stanford beats High Point, their next opponent -- if seeding holds -- will be UNC Greensboro.
In beating UNC, High Point advanced for the first time ever in the tourney. Hoping they'll be simply satisfied with a trip to California for winning and that Stanford puts them on the defensive throughout. Also hoping that Stanford's starters who were injured earlier in the year -- Fletcher Bank and Mark Fisher -- might be ready to play. Bank was injured earlier in the season and therefore might be further along in his recovery, and he is one of the few Stanford players who can beat a defender one-on-one. Fisher steadies the midfield and allows Will Reilly to get more involved in the offense. A return of one or both would be nice.
Had things gone according to plan, the Stanford Women's soccer team would have played UNC yesterday in North Carolina, and the men's team would be playing UNC at home today. However, on the same day and on the same field where BYU eliminated the women's team -- the rather stunning UNC soccer facility -- High Point University upset the UNC men's team 2-0 to advance to play Stanford today. I caught the second half of that game. After apparently getting dominated by UNC in the first half (shots 7-1 in favor of the hosts), High Point got a cheap free kick for a hand ball from just outside the penalty area early in the 2nd half and scored on a deflection. And while UNC was still in shock, High Point got a second goal 5' later. They then went into a defensive shell and UNC unsuccessfully banged their head against the wall for the next 35'.
Per my limited research, High Point is a Methodist University located in North Carolina. In learning that, I then noticed there are quite a few schools with religious affiliations in the men's tournament, whatever that signifies (SMU, California Baptist, Lipscomb, Seton Hall, Creighton).
Whereas the women's tournament invites 64 teams, the men's has only 48, 16 of which are seeded. And this arrangement gives the seeded teams -- of which Stanford is #5 -- tremendous advantages. High Point played on Thursday while Stanford rested. High Point then had to travel cross country for today's game. Stanford enjoys fan support and whatever subtle influence it has on the refereeing. And Stanford had the opportunity to watch High Point v. UNC.
High Point went 5-0-3 in their conference (Big South) but that only got them 2nd place, which likely made it necessary that they with the conference tournament to make NCAAs, which they did. Out of conference, they played four NCAA tourney teams that are among the 32 that have advanced (by win or seed). They beat Maryland, tied Georgetown, lost to Duke, and lost to UNC Greensboro 5-1. And if Stanford beats High Point, their next opponent -- if seeding holds -- will be UNC Greensboro.
In beating UNC, High Point advanced for the first time ever in the tourney. Hoping they'll be simply satisfied with a trip to California for winning and that Stanford puts them on the defensive throughout. Also hoping that Stanford's starters who were injured earlier in the year -- Fletcher Bank and Mark Fisher -- might be ready to play. Bank was injured earlier in the season and therefore might be further along in his recovery, and he is one of the few Stanford players who can beat a defender one-on-one. Fisher steadies the midfield and allows Will Reilly to get more involved in the offense. A return of one or both would be nice.
