SCU game, or Never, EVER underestimate Santa Clara

Good analysis, Ace. One indicator that we are playing a tough opponent is that our outside backs (Jess and Elli) are not as willing to go forward on overlapping runs. Because of this, there are fewer crosses coming in from the corners.

I agree with ace regarding the desirability of the mids and defenders taking outside shots against bunkered defenses like Santa Clara employed. There is space outside the 18 and we can take advantage -- consider Sophie's shot that Michelle rebounded, for example. Even if the shots miss they can create havoc on the rebounds, as long as they are not too high or wide. It is a good way of penetrating when the through balls are cut-off.

Sophie, Dani, and Charney have rocket launchers. I sometimes wish that they'd take the shot rather than make that extra pass, but that's easy for me to say when I'm sitting in the stands.

Don't forget Elli's looping shots that earned her a hat trick a few years ago and Michelle's lazer in the playoffs against tennesse. Common Kelsie. Let's see what you got !

ShipstadPilot11 wrote:

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:

The Portland State women’s soccer team won the Big Sky Conference tournament over the weekend and earned the right to host the Big Sky Conference tournament this Friday and Sunday.

Do they get another auto-bid if they win it this weekend too??

Hey, all I do is copy and paste. It was on the internet so it must be true.

I agree Poopdeck.

I have seen a number of opportunities to unleash shots where the choice was made to pass it in favor of a potential better opportunity.

Now, more than ever, when bunkering down occurs, it's a good time for the green light to illuminate for the gifted shooters to let it go!

It worked very well last game.

I finally got around to watching the game on my DVR today.

Clearly SCU is a level or two above some recent opponents. When on the attack they were able to string togehter passes, spread out the Pilots, and create some opportunities.

In the second half especially they were careful to get several defenders back and it resulted in fewer close in chances for the Pilots as well as a handful of blocked shots. Some of the long range shots might be blocked but if you take a chance every now and then you could end up with something like the Pilots' goal, where there's a deflection or rebound.

As for the broadcast, the one WTH moment was late in the first half, when Kendra sent a ball into the box and the camera stayed with a close up of her watching where the ball went. Uh, it's somewhere in the penalty area, so it would be nice to see where it is...

I actually thought the interviews were fine and it was nice to hear from Sinclair, Milbrett, and Chastain, but you're going to have to interrupt them because it's soccer and things are always happening. It's tough to do an interview during a soccer game. I think it would have been interesting to have one or two of them in booth as analysts instead. Could have done without the Mondoturf sales pitch, naturally.

At least FSC "gets" soccer and does not insist on the utter abomination of TV timeouts in a soccer game. We're on the World Wide Leader tomorrow night, so be prepared. A few minutes in the booth with a guy talking up his turf in exchange for no commercials during the game is a trade I would make any day.