Pilots grounded

Circle of Life folks...Circle of Life!

The Pilot Women's Soccer program has had a long, incredible run of success. But even similar programs like UConn W B-Ball, with an amazing winning streak came to an end.

Is the sky falling? Nah! But, storm clouds are hovering. Typically, the Pilots have had a "sprinkle" of key National Team caliber players in our recruiting classes. We typically don't need very many anyway.

You all know who they are?! They're not hard to spot...they standout right away. They're the ones who don't play like "freshmen". The maturity in their games is evident very early on in their careers. They are all impact players. And frankly, when I used to tracked class ranking all the way back to 2000...the Pilot classes rarely even rated in the Top 5.

But, that's okay! We've done very well despite not sweeping the recruiting wars for National Team players... Hello NC?! Anyway, these special players understand that the Pilot-style means they have to blend their individual talents to attain a greater success as a team! The Pilots typically surrounded the markee players...the playmakers with a cast of excellent role players. In the process of assembly....they elevate each other's play.

My point? No amount of coaching is going to turn this around. IMHO...we just don't have the horses in the last few cycle of classes...just not quite enough of them lately. Let's keep the environment of playing at UP and Merlo the most irresistible thing for a recruit. Clive built it....they will come. Let's do this same way the Pilots have been taught to play! Be patient...keep taking shots. The goals will come. Circle of Life.

Like UPSF, I am a little hesitant to get into this conversation, for a different reason - I have not seen the team play this year. In general, though, I REALLY like the progression he talked about. Everyone should be sure to read it and think about it. From what I am reading here, I think it hits the nail right on the head as to where this team is right now as far as pressure and expectations. I will also say that, having been following the team closely over the past years and having seen 3-4 games each year in person, I doubt very much that Garrett is putting undue pressure on the players. He just does not seem like that type of coach - not at all. A favorite quote was during one game I was watching on the computer when the announcer said something like "Garrett is really upset - I know because he got up off the bench." He is definitely a coach of the let-em-play-the-game-themselves school.

What concerns me MUCH more than the way this season is going - after all, we lost 5 players with national team abilities, counting Kendall - is what is coming in, or rather NOT coming in. GUP is absolutely right - we typically have been successful with only a few players with national team experience by building a real TEAM!! around them. However, I believe there are only three on the team in all 4 classes right now who CAME IN with national team experience - Cruz, Dees and Cloee. Worse, in the next two recruiting classes, as of now, there is only one player listed with national team experience. The Stanfords and UNC's of the world have 3-5 IN EACH CLASS. And, worse still - and this is something I have been harping on for over a year now - none of our national team players is a scorer. We do not have the gifted scorer that I believe is necessary to be ultimately successful. I really believe that was the downfall of last year's team - we had 6 players (Cloee, Kendall, Ellie, Jessica, Sophie, Keelin, 1/2 of the team) with proven national team ability but no scorer.

The UP program is no longer the program it once was. That started to become evident last year and is manifesting itself more clearly this year. The only question is whether this is by design or not. If the Administration changes the coach then it will be clear that this is not by design. If no change is made and the program becomes more middle of the road then you have your answer. It doesn't mean that fans cannot still go to Merlo and enjoy the games as in the past. It's just going to be a different experience. Realistically, in a few years attendance may be similar to the men's games as more folks opt to go to the Timbers games instead.

Changing the coach is an interesting proposition. UP is a "unified" coaching staff among both the men's and women's program. Hard to say what Bill Irwin's role is in all this. If you believe the "problem" is a coaching and recruiting issue then maybe Bill should be more involved with the women's program and let Baarts handle the men. It's all very interesting.

To be, or not to be: that is the question Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them?

Whatever the season brings, I will support the coaching staff and the teams, both men and women.

Some of the injuries have been very effective in changing the performance of the women...I look for that to improve as the healing takes place...and the coaching staff is allowing the healing to take place.

Go Pilots!!!