Charney is officially a Bruin

All,

If you please, I would like to add my 2 cents relative to the 1/4 finals losses the Pilots experienced in the last 4 years (actually the last 2 years).

I was in the stands when UP lost to Stanford in 2008. I remember when the team was lining up across the field from the stands thinking, "maybe rest of the team must still be in the dressing room getting their uniforms on"! I think I counted only 13 girls.

It's real hard to beat a team like Stanford when some of your best players (Ellie, Keelin, Michelle) are playing somewhere else for a differant team --> home field advantage or not.

One must have realistic expectations.

And as Harry menitioned, last year against UCLA, Michelle and Cloee were injured. We all know the spark that Michelle added to the mix. And even in the last 4 games, where UP's defense has not really been put to the test, I've seen how Cloee imposses her will on the opposition. It looks like they don't want anything to do with her!

In closing, my dear friends always remember, God likes those who are patient!

Take a deep breath and sip a Pliny (if I had one, that's what I would do).

- UJ -

Uncle John is right. I remember that Stanford game as being the playoff run where the Pilots were down to 14 active players and about half of those had some minor injuries; national team duties and injuries really hurt us that year. If I remember correctly we had the same problem in 2007, too. Hopefully this year we can avoid the ACL blowouts and make it to the College Cup.

College soccer, at least at UP's level, can sometimes be a very trying and difficult endeavor.

Sometimes, when I am feeling a little over-stressed, I pull out and read some passages out of my old copy of "Warfighting, USMC", Capt John Schmitt, 1989.

For example....

“At first glance, war (read soccer) seems a rather simple clash of interests. But at closer examination, it takes shape as one of the most demanding and trying of man's endeavors. Fog, friction, and chaos are its natural habitat. Each episode is the unique product of the dynamic interaction of myriad moral and physical forces. While founded on the laws of science, war (read soccer) demands, ultimately, the intuition and creativity of art.”

It's amazing the similarities one sees between sport and combat (expecially if you are far removed from the latter).

War is hell. Soccer is heaven (or the closest thing to it). Best to go into the game with the right reinforcements and enough of them.

That and with people that are highly trained and motivated to make decisions on the fly - in extrodinarily high stressed and blury situations.

That is the Marine Corp way.

And, from the women I've talked with that had the opportunity to play for him, that was the way of Clive Charles.

In my book, Clive belongs up there with John Wooden and Vince Lombardi. Leaders with very serious talent.

But enough of this much to serious military talk....

I just hope our beautiful girls destroy the hearts and minds of their Wisconsin and Syracuse competitors this weekend.

Go Pilots!

-UJ-

Thank you for the postand update.
It is great toee these players makebig decisions and go for their goals. I wish Charney the best and hope she sees more playing time there.

Hello scrfn,

I enjoy watching all of the women student athletes as they grow and develop over their college careers. But I especially like the ones who have chosen demanding courses of study like engineering, chem/biochem, or nursing.

That is double tough.

I know, I tried to do that many years ago at Cal but had to drop my sport because I needed every minute I had (outside of the class room) to study to keep my head above water academically.