Early nominations for end of season awards

Next year be ready for increased subs and lots of fresh legs... without the common drop off between starter and reserve... sounds dangerous.

Next year's team, 2009, has 2005 potential. Could be one of the greatest Pilots teams ever. IMHO.

fan from afar wrote:I don't think Meghan could redshirt again - I think you are limited to one redshirt year.

I was thinking the same thing about the back 4 next year. Another possibility is Keelin moving up to attacking mid and Olivier staying at holding mid.

That's hotstove stuff. LET"S WIN OUT THIS YEAR!!

Actually, Megan could redshirt again if she wanted, as could korie. Injury redshirts aren't part of the 5 YR clock. Either is a national team redshirt.

I'm betting neither will me back, though. They probably sat down with Garrett and he already used their scholarships on the next generation of Pilot all stars.

there was also a game that garrett played keelin as the center mid an had m.o. as the holding mid. so imagine keelin as center mid, m.o. as holding mid an cloee as a center back with kas? sounds pretty good, doesn't it?

but what sounds even better is that we have an embarassment of riches as far as talent goes next year an the debate of who plays where an when will be lively. i have told several marginal followers of this team that i would be very surprised if this team didn't make the finals next year!! an that is not saying i have lost/don't think this team doesn't have that potential. i just think next years team has that much more

Next season we'll see some lineups and combinations that we haven't yet proposed in words here. A sign of a great coach is one who can find the right player to put in the right position regardless of her past role. Sophie at striker, Jessica at outside back ... those are not the spots they played before last season. Now they are fixtures there, or so it appears. We'll see what happens.

I can't think of a player like Megan coming in. Just as Sinclair was, she will be, the latest pinnacle in Pilot Soccer. Having said that. On paper the Pilots will be at LEAST much deeper next year.

I always wonder about the intangibles, will increased competition for PT make the starters better or will they be looking over their shoulders more. Not being as comfortable and creative as they might if they knew they had a lock down on the position. Make a mistake you will get subbed more easily so you try to play without mistakes. You play more conservatively within yourself instead of playing out of your mind.

Don't get me wrong, I also agree they will be a threat for the Nat. Title this year and next. I hope the magic that has been this year will continue through the playoffs and into next year.

One thing is sure. Garrett has a system in place which allows for different types of players to be successful. The present and future are certainly bright for the Pilots.

Next year's team... man. I agree with FANatic... it could be very, very special.

And the scary thing is that both Megan and Rachael still would have eligibility. But both are graduating and moving on... as someone who spent five years in college, I can't imagine doing it a sixth year.

But yeah... between the players we'll have back and the newcomers... all with a ton of experience... wow.

How many scholarships are there in women's soccer? Returning for a sixth year could also be a financial decision as well. Although a player like Megan probably is on a full scholarship. UP is not a cheap school and if she is not on full, it could be tough to justify staying to take one ballet class (Matt Leinert), or I guess she could pursue a master's degree.

The WPS has arrived. The spots are filling up fast. If you had your degree and were ready to start making money going pro or working...would you really consider hanging around because you had another year of eligibility? I am pretty sure I remember wondering one day as a sophmore at Humboldt State when ...when would I ever get out of school and escape the relative poverty of common university life.

Three years of working and I was ready to go back for graduate school. Ha.
In Megan's case she could be looking at contracts with the WNT as well as the WPS so its no surprise that she would forgo a redshirt.

AP, Humboldt State huh? My Mother and Father in Law both went there as well. I always hated playing football at the redwood bowl.

Oh, the Redwood Bowl, the school band (Marching Lumberjacks) playing at full volume in one class and out the other while the astonished prof. looked at his ruined lesson plan for the day. Such memories.

There is was a kindred spirit between the old Marching Lumberjacks and the Villa Drum squad. It was all unofficial, it was loud. Most of all FUN.

When I was there the thing that caught me kind of funny was the HUGE article about Marijuana on the cover of the local paper, then the entire student section standing up and cheering each time the clock read 4:20.

Hmm, the Cheshire cat in your avatar seems to be enjoying some Humboldt refreshments.

Aye, the spirit remains where the physical manifestions have subsided. I was using 420 in my gmail account until my daughter told me I was a scoundrel.

Anyway my two cents about POY awards.

Back four: Jessica Tsao (Freshman Kassi McCluskie) Jessica for her no mistakes and soccer intellect and dare I say it S. Lopez type of offense out of the back. Kassie for her aggressive fear no one and superior air game in the back.

Midfield: Megan Rapinoe for all the reasons we have talked about on this board (Freshman Charney Burke) Huge shot in small frame, super fast footwork and ability to work in tight spaces make her a formidable force going forward.

Forwards: Sophie Schmidt for her inate ability to read the play and be at the right spot at the right time. She brings "back to goal" control and quick strike finishing to the front line. (Freshman Dani Foxhoven) This freshman was completely on fire at the beginning of the season. She is always a big threat and has opened things up for other players by teams having to mark her so closely.

Has anyone else noticed that Foxhoven seems to have gotten more technical over the last few games, some of the footwork that is there now was certainly not at the beginning of the year.

I agree, aleppiek, I thought her game in the past two weeks has been more complete. She's always been sharp in the box but now she's looking really useful in midfield too.

Look how much Elli and Keelin and Jessica have improved over freshman year. Imagine if Michelle O, Kassi, Danielle, and Charney show the same improvement by start of next season!