Pilots tonight

Comfortable win over oregon; almost too comfortable.

Davis solid.

Tsao immediately back to form at end of last year. Olivier looked like the real deal: poised and in control. She was the one who impressed me the most tonight. As my daughter said, you almost didn't notice her because she made it all look easy and uncomplicated. McCluskie hustled and had a reasonable game for a freshman starting at center D. Sweeney struggled a bit in my opinion.

Winters was a rock and total control. Burk and Reed were good outside. Both tackled back and got forward in positive ways. Burk has some nice touches going forward and a good shot too. Good first game. Megan Rapinoe has a generally good first game back. Expectations are high for her so I'm holding her to tough standards. She played somewhat within herself; was more inclined to turn back and play the contained pass and did not take the game to UO as much as I might have liked. Her shot is not yet recalibrated to the awesome level it was.

Enyeart is just strong. She finished her goal with ruthless power. She's just going to get goals. Foxhoven was another solid performer; took the early goal very nicely. Rachel R came on in the 2H and it was so great to see her get a goal. We got the full RR package: a couple of quick fouls, a couple of offsides, lots of hustling, and a goal. And she could have had at least one more.

In the second half they were in cruise mode until UO scored, then UP got an immediate third.

Two much tougher games next weekend. Where does Sophie Schmidt play?

My vote: center defense with Olivier. McCluskie was good tonight but UCLA and USC are tougher and SS has the experience to match that level of play.

Just a few of my thoughts:

I was also really impressed by Olivier and Burk. Olivier showed some composure I wouldn't necessarily expect of a freshman in her first collegiate game.

Winters and Tsao looked great.

As for Megan Rapinoe, I was impressed. She didn't look like someone who has been off the field for as long as she has. She looked comfortable out there, and I'd predict she is going to have a great season.

Oregon played much better than I thought they would. Someone sitting next to me shared the same sentiment. That first goal by Foxhoven came ridiculously easy, but the Ducks seemed to settle down after that.

I did chuckle a bit at the headline on Oregon's Web site, recapping the game: Ducks Scare No. 6 Portland Before Falling.

opening game observations:

maegan rapinoe showed that she has no lingering effects or doubts about her knee. she mixed it up all game long, playing aggressive an physical.

michelle olivier looks like keelin to me, not just physically [i had to look at numbers more then once to tell them apart], but in their games.

cassie mccluskie has very good speed for a central defender an for a player her size. i feel comfortable with her their, but i agree with jol that she's probable the odd women out when sophie comes back.

charney burk is a rugged lil gal, throwing her body around an never backing down. had a couple of real good shots on goals. it's just a matter of time for her.

danielle foxhoven is going to work great with michelle up top, though i thought she lookd like she ran out of gas towards the end of the first half.

all in all, a solid performance by our girls, but they will need to elevate their play for next weekend an i think they will. first game butterflies an that stuff. they'll be more calm an focus for ucla an usc.

pms268 wrote:
Oregon played much better than I thought they would. Someone sitting next to me shared the same sentiment. That first goal by Foxhoven came ridiculously easy, but the Ducks seemed to settle down after that.

Yeah, they looked pretty good, and they were even connecting on some passing. I think things may be looking up for a playoff partner..

Their freshman keeper Cody Miles stopped some nice shots an made some good decisions.

An interesting tidbit... she was coached by Angela Harrison, as was their other keeper.

Box score is up at http://www.goducks.com/pdf1/136505.pdf?ATCLID=1567617&SPID=237&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPSID=4317

The UP one isn't up yet.

The Oregon tag line is Ducks scare #6 Pilots.

Hmm.. were you scared?

wrv wrote:But our defensive side had best perform better against the Bruins and Trojans: the forwards on those teams have far more talent than the Ducks and will burn us.

I was thinking the same thing. Our defensive side is young and will be working hard next weekend. But, wow, as that group gets more experience...

Geezer, I wasn't scared about the Oregon goal. Just disappointed that my 3-0 prediction slipped away. Actually, I don't think Oregon had scored on Portland for--years--prior to tonight.

pms268 wrote:
Geezer, I wasn't scared about the Oregon goal. Just disappointed that my 3-0 prediction slipped away. Actually, I don't think Oregon had scored on Portland for--years--prior to tonight.

Well, they must have, because the Oregon site says that the player who scored did it for the second time in her career...

Purplegeezer wrote:

pms268 wrote:
Geezer, I wasn't scared about the Oregon goal. Just disappointed that my 3-0 prediction slipped away. Actually, I don't think Oregon had scored on Portland for--years--prior to tonight.

Well, they must have, because the Oregon site says that the player who scored did it for the second time in her career...

Thought I'd better go look it up... Oregon last scored on Portland in 2004. If I recall, in 2005 it was 6-0; in 2006, 3-0; and last year was 4-0 at their place.

It sounds like Jessica Goodell, who scored the goal tonight, played for Nebraska during the 2005 season and scored one of the goals for the Cornhuskers in the second round playoff game against Portland.

OK, now that I've had a little time to let things digest, here's my thoughts. Over all, I pretty much agree with a lot of what Matrin and the rest of you noted, I'll add a couple of things. I won't talk about the vets because we already know them, other to say I'm glad they are all back and it looks like they will round up nicely.


Danielle and Cherney both looked good for a first game, they will eventually work well with the rest. The one-touch game needs a little work, and I hope that they get the ball through Megan and Keelin a bit more. Neither saw the ball all that much. I know it's easier to punch the ball down the sidelines, but that won't be quite so easy against faster teams, and those two are two of the best midfielders in D1. let them handle the ball more. If the opportunities are outside, they'll get the ball there. Charney I liked because it looks like she's hard to knock off the ball. we'll need that when the teams that like to bang come in.


I though Oregon was good for us for the first game because it may have taught the to CD's a little about D1 pace. It looked to me like both of them are used to being the best and fastest payers on the pitch, and they both have a couple of bad habits they need to break. They were both poaching their assignments a bit, figuring their speed will bail them out. For the most part, that was true against the Ducks, but it won't be against UCLA and USC next week.

They don't have to do it all and cover for other players as if the people around them are less talented. they just need to take care of their own turf and they'll be fine. They are both keepers in my opinion. (can you have three keepers on the pitch?).

They are, however, going to get a real test next week. They'll no doubt get some work this week on that.

One funny thing I thought was when McCluskie deferred to Davis on a slow roller into the box. ("may I please?")
Just go after it Kassi, I'm sure Kelsey knows how to call you off.... She hasn't been shy before...

[quote="pms268"][quote="Purplegeezer"]

pms268 wrote:


It sounds like Jessica Goodell, who scored the goal tonight, played for Nebraska during the 2005 season and scored one of the goals for the Cornhuskers in the second round playoff game against Portland.

Oh yeah, I forgot I read that part...

does this Ginko Biloba stuff work at all?...

I gotta file that away.. It would make a great trivia question some day.

One player who has not been mentioned yet was Kendra, she looked very good out there last night n the second half.

A_Fan wrote:One player who has not been mentioned yet was Kendra, she looked very good out there last night n the second half.

She did. I loved that play late in the game where she had to chase down a pass that had too much on it (also going over her head)--just saving it from going out of bounds on the sideline. But then she had to change direction and keep it from going out at the corner. I don't know how she did that, but it looked pretty.

Let's talk about the crowd and atmostphere at Merlo Field for the opener: Perfect. A sell-out, fabulous weather, an amped-up student section, fans arriving way early just to be part of the scene, crowds of alumni, youth soccer teams, just plain soccer buffs and former Pilots players, plus fireworks after.

OK, some of the fireworks went off with 2 minutes left in the game (oops). But most of the rockets went up after the final whistle. Only one quibble; why not turn off the stadium lights for best fireworks viewing? So it's no thet 4th of July, but we might as well see the bombs bursting in air.

Yeah, there was a decent soccer game amid all this.

Megan Rapinoe's will to win flared up after the only Ducks goal. She took the ensuing kickoff, marched her team down the field, and set up her twin sister for a "statement" goal within a minute. She also set up Foxhoeven's goal with an assault on the Ducks keeper. Now that's leadership! Kellin Winters owns the air and the center of the field -- just inspiring play by her.

About the newcomers: Charney Burke showed she has a rocket of a shot, darn near denting the Duck goal post on one try. She also took corner kicks. Olivier looked very smooth next to McCluskie, but two first-year players in the center of the back line looks like an experience gap the Pilots must fill before facing the likes of Amy Rodriguez, Kara Lang and Lauren Cheney next weekend. Halley Kreminski almost got in the game with a few minutes left when Enyeart appeared to be cramping (or at least stretching) her calves.

The Ducks really held their own and made a game of it. They made the Pilots D look vulnerable on the counteratttack. Strong NW teams on the rise that may challenge some southern Pac-10 powers can only be good for the sport and the Pilots in the long run.

Can't wait for USC and UCLA; great soccer awaits us!

purple haze wrote:

OK, some of the fireworks went off with 2 minutes left in the game (oops). But most of the rockets went up after the final whistle. Only one quibble; why not turn off the stadium lights for best fireworks viewing? So it's no thet 4th of July, but we might as well see the bombs bursting in air.

LOL Yeah, that was a bit of a miscue. I was also wondering why they didn't turn off the stadium lights. They did last year. But, I thought you could also see the fireworks from both sides of the field last year. This time they were only easily visible from the main grandstand.

The only other miscue that will need some work...The Villa and Christie guys might want to go back to doing the "Go Pilots" crowd chant with the main grandstand and the bleachers directly across the field. Things kind of fell apart with the seats behind the goal, and it seemed the regular bleachers were largely left out of it.

I do wish we'd get the sound system upgraded in the stadium. I feel sorry for those kids who go to sing the National Anthem and the mic/system fall apart on them. Seems to happen several times a season.

I thought it was nice the way folks finished out the anthem. sometimes they hand the mike to people assuming they know how to use it....not always the case.

I did think the sound overall was a bit better, I know they worked on it a bit over the summer. It's a fine line, I think, to make sure everybody in Merlo hears well, and keeping the decibel level at the school property line below whatever level was agreed upon with the city. If they want to make changes in the future (more seating, for example), they'll have to keep compliance squeaky clean.


Anybody Know if the big "P" will be on the dome by next weekend?

I thought it was a pretty good match for the Pilots for an opener. The Ducks seemed to be a physical and determined bunch, but we just have too much talent and intensity for them to really challenge us.

Great to see the Rapinoes playing again. They seem like the unquestioned leaders on the team. During the warm-ups prior to the game, Rachael seemed to be the take charge one, verbally telling the team what to do and when to do it.

Martin Jol wrote that he believed Sophie should start at center back next week-end with Olivier against UCLA/USC. I couldn't agree more. Kassi is a player I like. A lot. She's very aggressive and I like aggressive. But we definately need Sophie's strength and experience on our back line or it's going to be very tough on our GK.

Charney and Danielle lived up to their billing as talented attacking threats. They just need to get a few matches under their belts, and I think fairly soon we'll see our offensive attackers starting to jell as Megan starts to step up the intensity of her game and we start getting the one-touch passing going again.

Let's not forget, last season we had Wozzie in the middle and Stephanie in the back, coming forward when necessary. Steph had a real calming effect on the team, and Woz was one of the Pilots' great all-time playmakers. We lost three of four back-liners, including both center mids, Cronkrite and Michaelson, and also two very talented attackers in Budgie and Scifo.

But in college sports, you are always going to lose your seniors, so you have to re-load, which we have, and build basically a new team every year.

As Garrett is quoted as saying after the match last night, “It was a good result,” said Portland head coach Garrett Smith. “It’s early in the season and we’re a work in progress, but I like where we’re headed.”

The fireworks were great.

I sat in the section on the far end near the Pilot Club and the P.A. system was essentially inaudible... most of the time, if I didnt know what they were saying (or what name they were saying) I wouldnt have picked it up. Just a little more volume would be great... but Geezer is exactly correct on the volume issue.

Wireless microphones have been around for how long, and they still dont work consistently?!

Purplegeezer wrote:I thought it was nice the way folks finished out the anthem.

I saw/heard that on the video and thought it was very classy of the crowd. Good on the Merlo folk.

It was a real Maurice Cheeks moment!

Haha yeah... One of my ex's did that same thing while singing the anthem a few years back.... The crowd did the same thing... (too bad that game was televised, I think it was against UNC or SCU) I thought it was a kind gesture, she didn't see it that way... Sigh....

It seemed to that the Ducks were deliberately probing our left side to see if we had adjusted for Stephanie leaving and that is where their goal came. I think this arose not for a lack of talent but for the reason Purplegeezer mentioned about a couple new players "poaching" out of their positions. We got caught on that one though it was a nice cross and one touch finish by Oregon.

Overall it was a good experience for me and I was impressed by all the newcomers. I hope the learning curve is short as you do not notice uneven performances up front as much you do in the back because it is the nature of soccer fans to forget the missed opportunities to score and remember like elephants, any defensive miscue that allows a goal.

Auto Pilot wrote: I hope the learning curve is short as you do not notice uneven performances up front as much you do in the back because it is the nature of soccer fans to forget the missed opportunities to score and remember like elephants, any defensive miscue that allows a goal.

Yeah, We all think a player who blows by a defender every fifth time is doing great, but defender who loses a single 1v1 is the goat.

Well put, Auto Pilot. Thinking back, it did happen on our left side and there weren't enough defenders on the shooter to keep the ball away from the net.

As long as our young center backs keep training hard, and improving every match, I'll be happy.

two things,
probably the most trivial of the two is, don't u wish the audio went out every game for the nationial anthemn?! i have been at a few game where that has happened an the crowd picked it up an carried on. couple years ago my sister in law visiting from virginia was terribly impressed! unforturnately, it is the only time 'we' sign our anthemn. how sad!!

I've always thought when the crowd helps finish the anthem in these cases, it's been great. But, when you're putting a great product on the field in a classy facility, it's a little disappointing that this microphone/sound issue happens every season. A minor problem in the scheme of things, but it can be embarrassing--particularly when it's a televised game.

I don't want to be too negative about it, especially in light of the improvements that have been made to the athletic department over the last five years. I suppose as an alum, I'm a little more sensitive to it. Things are much different here now then they were in the late 80s/early 90s, and it's been gratifying to watch the enhancements and improvements to facilities, logos and the marketing programs in general.