Pilots v. Rutgers, Penn St.

As several have mentioned, this coming weekend was expected to be more of a challenge for the Pilots. That remains to be seen.

Although Rutgers is 4-1, the quality of their opponents is unclear (Stony Brook, Colgate, Monmouth, Princeton & Bucknell) and they lost to Monmouth, 1-0.

As for Penn St. they appear to be struggling, with a 1-3-1 record and three straight losses, to William & Mary, Yale & Connecticut.

It's hard to fathom Penn State's poor record given the talent they have (Nairn, Toney, et. al.).

This means that Penn State is going to arrive here like a hungry bear. Sunday's game should be a total war.

For info on Rutgers' season and recent history, go here: http://www.nc-soccer.com/wsoccer/2010/schedule/25

For info on Penn State's season and recent history, go here: http://www.nc-soccer.com/wsoccer/2010/schedule/11

UPSoccerFanatic wrote:This means that Penn State is going to arrive here like a hungry bear.

Terrifying thought...

Whatever the records say I think we have to regard Penn State and Rutgers as a step up from Wisconsin and Syracuse - meaning no disrespect to either of the latter. Just that this weekend's opponents have been stronger programs, into the playoffs recently etc.

Offsetting that UP will be at Merlo. Either way it's another two chapters in the unfolding story of the season.

I am looking forward to watching Nairn play against Sophie and Keelin. I would guess she is one of the few center mids in the country who is on a par with them. It should be very worthwhile to look away from the ball at times to watch the interplay between them.

I have to correct the hungry bear statement. It will be hungry Lions... Here is a recent story line about the team.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2010/09/07/womens_soccer_improving_onfiel.aspx
A little like the Pilot start but with the Pilot defense doing so well, the wins have been coming for the Pilots. They are getting freshmen into key roles that they are not ready for yet..

Indigo Kid wrote:I have to correct the hungry bear statement. It will be hungry Lions... Here is a recent story line about the team.
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2010/09/07/womens_soccer_improving_onfiel.aspx
A little like the Pilot start but with the Pilot defense doing so well, the wins have been coming for the Pilots. They are getting freshmen into key roles that they are not ready for yet..

Thanks for the link, it's an interesting article. One statement I noticed in the article that would concern me if I were a Penn State fan, from coach Walsh: "It's a sorting process, we're a month into it and technically still in preseason ...." If a team is interested in winning a national title, treating the non-conference games as "still in preseason" is a mistake. The non-conference games are the most important games, in terms of getting a good seed in the NCAA Tournament. And, getting a good seed in the tournament is a key step in winning a national title. That said, it sounds like she's trying to have her players not get too "down" after losing three games in a row.

I think Walsh already knows Penn State isn't getting to the tournament unless the win conference. They can't be counting on beating UP (hoping, maybe, but not counting).

Beyond that, they have only Bucknell and Dartmouth left on the non-con schedule. even if they win those games, that won't do it for an at large bid.

They HAVE to get to top 2-3 in conference - top 2 unless they defeat UP.

Both of next weekend's games are potentially dangerous. Rutgers less so, since they haven't beaten anyone with an RPI last year lower than 126. They lost to Monmouth, which weighed in at 57 last year. they will both be physical, however.

Penn State and Rutgers are big-time schools that produce notable players. The Pilots must take them very seriously (no doubt in my mind that Pilots will do so), whatever the results so far this year. This is a big weekend for fans to see teams from the other side of the country, and for the Pilots to show the Easterners the state of the art of soccer in the West.

The losing 3 games early like this seems to be a trend that is starting with the Lions. This year I know they are putting a lot of freshmen into the mix and it will take a while for them to gel. I have no illusions that they will easily win the Big Ten this year. There are a lot of tough teams to beat through a rugged season to make the NCAAs. A lot of the result depends on their mindset coming into this weekend.

If anyone wants to check out PSU, they have a scheduled practice at 5:00
From Twitter:

PSUWomensSoccer
  
Arrival in Portland-Check, #Chipotle-Check, off to hotel and 5p training at Univ of Portland
about 1 hour ago via Spaz

No, she didn't become a student again.

She'll be on our side of the rail. From Twitter :

daviskelsey
  
Thankful for another beautiful day. PT with jess and Mike today. Then watching my pilots kick some butt!

Can someone remind me is it tonight or Sunday when the Greek Gyros will be served?

SUNDAY 9/12
Women’s Soccer Nike Invitational
Washington vs. Rutgers at 12:00pm
Portland vs. Penn State at 2:30pm
>>THREE BUCK Sunday: $3 Greek gyros!
>>Post-Game Autograph Zone!!

Thanks A-Fan. Guess I will need to eat before matches today...

Indigo Kid wrote:Thanks A-Fan. Guess I will need to eat before matches today...

Cart pod @ Greeley & Killingsworth. Mmmmm.....

Emma isn't the only one blogging. PSU's Meghan Gill gives us the lowdown on her team's week.
http://www.gopsusports.com/blog/2010/09/gill-preparation-and-plane-ride-to-portland.html

It appears we have conflicting ideas.

Hello All Who Are Attending the Game,

Remember to think only good thoughts. Send only positive vibs to the girls giving their all out on the field tonight. May the force be with them.

UJ

I'm sending positive vibes to the team telepathically from home!

(FANatic can do many interesting things, my good friend.)

BIG WIN!!!

Late goal by Halley.

Another close win, 2-1.

Great defense and offensive pressure late in game.

Played several freshmen. They are looking better and better with the more minutes they play. Michelle Cruz impressed me tonight.

And I sure feel confident when either Sophie or Keelin has control of the ball.

Whoopie...(I'm tired)

FANatic wrote:Late goal by Halley.

Another close win, 2-1.

Great defense and offensive pressure late in game.

Played several freshmen. They are looking better and better with the more minutes they play. Michelle Cruz impressed me tonight.

And I sure feel confident when either Sophie or Keelin has control of the ball.

Whoopie...(I'm tired)

Agree with all your points there FAN.

Rutgers was getting some good looks in the second half until about the last 15 minutes when the defense seemed to lock down. That coincided with the Pilots increasing the pressure. I had a feeling they could score given enough time. Again we saw a team that got everyone back into the penalty area to make it difficult to get shots through, and Rutgers I felt did it well until the second goal.

The freshman seemed to gain confidence the longer they played.

I saw the second half of UW-Penn State. UW was ahead 2-0 at the half and won 2-1. I would have to say Penn State was the better team the second half and got a deserved goal late on. The Lions have two or three good attackers; they just had problems with connecting on through balls and misplacing crosses.

PurplePrideTrumpet wrote:

I saw the second half of UW-Penn State. UW was ahead 2-0 at the half and won 2-1. I would have to say Penn State was the better team the second half and got a deserved goal late on. The Lions have two or three good attackers; they just had problems with connecting on through balls and misplacing crosses.

Penn State was pretty ordinary in the first half. The defense gave up two goals on or near set pieces, the first leaving a player unmarked at the arc and the second looked to me like an own goal on a desperate attempt to keep the ball from a UW player who had beaten the defender to the far post.

Thy weren't winning the midfield challenges, and the fast Penn state players looked like they didn't know how to pass - they just tried to run through an organized defense.

I'm sure their coach had a discussion about that at the half.


UW looks quicker than in years past, especially on the wings. PSU got beat by a better and more organized team, at least in the first half.

I agree for the most part on the comments about the freshmen.

I thought that Sarah Bridges had an extraordinary game tonight. Cruz had trouble on the left side to start out. She didn't seem to have enough confidence in her left foot to take the ball outside and cross, so she kept cutting back onto her right and into traffic. Once Sarah came in, the attack clicked much better up the left wing.

Ellen Parker impressed me, too. She had a lot of poise in the middle despite strong and immediate pressure from Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights (can women be Knights???) did a fine job of quickly double and sometimes triple-teaming the ball and got a lot of turnovers out of that strategy, even against Sophie and Keelin who don't give it up easily.

I also thought that Cloee was wonderful in the back. Indomitable in the air and brilliant in the challenge. No mistakes from either center back.

Erin's blunder ... well, she'll probably be more careful next time!

All in all, a good win over a quality opponent. Let's see what Penn State brings on Sunday.