One Santa Clara fans take

BroncoBilly wrote:I've seen 4 Pilot games this year and have the following reaction to yesterdays game and comments here.
The Pilots were/are the better team, have better players, play a better brand of soccer(yes we used to play the same way), dominated possession and probably deserved to win the game. Possession doesn't equate to conquest and Pilots were fortunate/lucky to escape the last 20 minute Bronco barrage with a victory. One crossbar, one post, one disallowed goal(looked like correct call)and numerous near misses and balls blocked off the line offset by lots of possession one touch buildup resulting in 2 best clear chances and one goal. In short a wonderfully contested game by 2 teams with different styles, played with passion,heart, and skill.
Unnoted in this forum but there was a strong wind which resulted in Pilots playing with short field first half and IMO partially responsible for Pilot domination 1st half as Broncos are reduced to playing long ball over top. Broncs definitely benefited from 2d half wind.
Further thoughts:
Pilots played without best player;Broncos without 2of 3 best field players-Allie Vernon(stud ballwinner think Keelin) and Jenny Laponte(outside back equal of Tsao or Reed who has provided most of service this year) not to mention that best player Amanda Poach is only about 85% after 2 1/2 years of 3 different gruesome injuries. IMO the dominant player of 2005,2006 Bronco teams.
Pilots goal and Kendalls success all day to large extent a function of no Laponte so inexperienced freshman defender right back(former forward) compounded by substitute freshman other outside back not sliding over to cover Hailey not to diminish what was a beautiful goal. A too common occurrence(Stanford) and I can't stand the way Broncs play soft low pressure defense. Bugged me for the 8 years I've been watching Broncs
Pilots are doing better job recruiting...Pilot frosh are more advanced with exception of Jenny Johnston but I like our sophs. Not evident yesterday but I think Michaela has the instincts,quickness and vision to be a top finisher. A couple of subpar recruiting years(Rapinoes) coupled with unbelievable run of SCU injuries accounts for much of recent Pilot dominance.
Keelins strike at halftime was fantastic;Hennigers save even better as the ball appeared to be past her when she pushed it over bar. IMO even prettier than the goal although Pilot fans might not agree.
Having said all this, I do think Pilot fans need to take purple filters off their glasses...Yes the ref could have called a PK when Keelin was shoulder to shouldered and fell down in box; I think ref called it correctly as far as I am aware shoulder to shoulder is still allowed in box.
I was at Portland-Stanford game(rooting for Pilots). Stanford mopped the field with Pilots 1st half...11-1 shot disparity understates Cardinal dominance. I'd told Stanford fans sitting near me that Sophie would be the best midfielder on pitch so I was quite surprised to see her start uptop...it was only when Coach changed formation and seemed to move Sophie and Keelin into middle with Taylors speed tucked in behind that Pilots began to right the ship and get some of play...I eventually concluded that Coach threw freshmen into deep end of Stanford pool as a learning experience and they were shellshocked. I do think that Portland benefited more from this game as a result. As a sometime fan it seems obvious to me that Pilots need both Sophie and Keelin in middle to compete with the Stanfords,UNC etc. I don't know why Dani wasn't playing as much in beginning of season but you guys have all the pieces needed but I wonder how you will do with high pressure defense of UNC...I thought the same thing about Stanford last year and that turned out to be correct to my chagrin.
Hopefully NCAA will treat you better this year(no UCLA fetish possible this time) and you will get #1 seed you again deserve.

A_Fan wrote:Is the seating in NC first come first serve as at A&M or is there reserved seating?

santa pilot wrote:

Anyone else have tickets to the College Cup????

GO PILOTS