Kansas and Yale

UP looked more focussed against Kansas, and pretty much totally dominated as a result. I don't think the Jayhawks put together 4 passes all night. All 4 defenders were rock solid, and the midfield looked pretty good. I particularly liked how Angie played .

The forwards did fine, but you get the idea they could have scored more, with a couple of breaks.

Kelsey? well, she was petty much untested. At least she stayed awake.

The game's a lot easier if you spend it all in the offensive end.


Yale is supposed to be the tougher of the two games this weekend (They were ranked before this week), but the way they played against UW doesn't bode well for them on Sunday.

A little side story to that game- Yale's captain this year is Mary Kuder, who played in 4 games for UP in 2004 before she transfered out. That could make things a bit interesting.

geezer,

I noticed from the box score that the starting line-up had changed. Korie, Keelin and Kendra all started. Looks like Coach has shaken things up a bit, especially starting Korie and Keelin in the back. Did you think this made a noticeable difference, or would we have dominated the Jayhawks regardless of who we started?

I don't think there was too much of a "shakeup" just an adjustment of players times on the field.

Kendra started in the place of Rachel Rapinoe, who's out for the year with ligament tears in the knee. Janenelle Jacka got some time up front late. Until Megan gets healthy, you can probably expect more of the same. You might see Budge up front as the season progresses.

Korie started the game in Kelli Croncrite's central defender spot. She's been playing there about the last third of each game. For this game, she started there and played well until she got banged up a little late in the game. Then Kristen Kelly came in and finished well. Croncrite has been spitting the season in the center and at Stephanie Lopez' spot on the outside. For this game, the coaches left her outside for the whole game. Up has looked best with Scifo, Michaelson, Nicholson, and Croncrite in the back in previous games. This arrangement has bigger players on the field, and I think UP has been struggling a bit with Physicalness.

Winters and Jackman have been splitting the holding mid spot about 1/3-2/3 with Jackman starting and getting the bulk. This time their roles reversed. Both played well against a midfield that didn't really test them.

Jessica Tsao spelled Natallie Budge in the Outside mid position.

To answer your question, I think UP would have won that game if the Kansas coach picked the UP starting lineup.

Great last line, geezer. Gave me a laugh.

I do like the idea of the big, physical back line. I believe I read in this forum earlier this week, that during the Purdue loss we got pushed around alot. Also, that we weren't winning the header battles either. If everyone believe's we are soft and finesse only, that is not good. That's why I believe we miss Megan Rapinoe's "attitude" so much. She has a superstar's "get outta my face" aura about her when she trots onto the pitch that's really uplifting to see as a Pilots fan.

One last thing: EXPERIENCE. That big back line has three seniors and a junior on it.

I liked the effort against Kansas. Something's amiss though. The Offensive chemistry isn't quite clicking yet. At least for me...its not up to the standards of ball movement and possession that I've come to expect and appreciate from Pilot teams. They seem to still be "feeling each other out" in this young season.

I loved the Pilot's play against FSU. I was definitely encouraged that a promising season would be coming our way when they demonstrated their potential as a College Cup candidate against a quality team like FSU. It literally was a "beautiful game" to watch the 2 teams battle it out.

But, for some reason, the Pilots haven't been consistent against weaker teams. If the team is ON...you can sense teams like Kansas physically and mentally throw in the towel...especially by the 2nd half...when they accept the fact that there's nothing they can do to defend against us. The Pilots generally WEAR OUT the opposition by having them chase "ghosts" all over the pitch. You can see it in the defender's faces.

Don't get me wrong though!! YES. I acknowledge the gal's efforts!! They've impressed on me that they're playing and working hard. Many players have displayed skillfull individual runs and awesome attacks on goal. But as a team...against weaker opponents like OSU and Kansas...I seen a lot of mis-communications on passes. They can't quite string a good run of passes together. One touch passing is one of our trademarks. I'd like to see more of that when they play less competitive teams. They're not quite yet on auto-PILOT!!

I'm hoping that they'll tune up offensively as the season progresses. For me...I'm looking for the Pilot magic that was best described by Coach Erickson of UO in 2005. Remember her quote when the Pilots played the Ducks?! Its in "AS ONE".

It was ...OH MY GOD!!

YES...That's it!! By playoff time...I hope the Pilots develope that OMG factor!

I agree with the opinion that the D looks best with Scifo on right and Kelli C on the left, with Nicholson joining Emily M in the middle. Kelli is great coming forward; she hit a screamer from 25 yards yesterday that the keeper just pawed over the bar.

I also think that Keelin Winters has done a better job in the holding position. Assume that Steph L plays on left, and Sophie S fills in in front of the D when they return from China.

Kendra played well yesterday; she and Michelle can combine well.

Not clear when Megan R will play again; she did not play last night, although she was running around with a ball in the warm ups and jogging after the game.

As always at this time of year, they are feeling their way into form and working on the one and two touch play that we love to see.

Second goal last night was wonderful example of Angie W's skill on the ball in tight spaces; she made an opening for Enyeart out of nothing in the midst of a crowd.

Thanks everyone for all the opinions and insights to the Kansas game. I couldn't make it to the game for personal family reasons, but all your posts cumulatively give me a pretty good idea of what went on. I hope to make the Yale game today, and I encourage as many fans as possible to join this site and give us your 10 cents (inflation!). It really helps Pilot fans at any level of soccer knowledge to read these posts. Plus, it's fun. And what we have here is one of the most successful collegiate sports programs in Oregon history, (women OR men), and they have been playing at a high national caliber level now for going on two decades. Let's just all enjoy this special team. I know they continually bring joy to my life. (I suppose I should apologize for my sappiness, but HECK NO , I'm not going to).