Who Will Win the Cup?

UCLA is the obvious favorite now. But they have a very very though road ahead. They've just been through an emotional battle against us. They face their cross-town rivals next. If they get past USC, I think ND will be their opponent in the final. They lost to the Irish on PKs in 2004. We'll see if they can maintain their quest to win their first NCAA Championship. They have the talent. But can they maintain the mental and emotional levels to win 2 more games? Will their tank empty? Interesting, huh? I've put the hex on. Anyone but UCLA.

GO PILOTS!!!

GUPhantom,
you know what? after the girls leave the tourney, i really dont care who wins. all i care about is our girls an all i want to see is them go all the way. why would i care about how the other teams in the tourney fare??

Can't stand UCLA. Question is, will they remain the Buffalo Bills of the College Cup? This is their fifth straight trip there and they've always gone home empty-handed.

I think they'll get past USC, but I think either Florida State or Notre Dame could beat them. Though the former probably would have the best shot.

Phantom - (Great new avatars by the way.) Sorry to say it, but if UCLA can outclass our team, I give them the title. There's no UNC there to intimidate everyone into peeing their drawers. Close games or blowouts, I'm going to say the same thing about the Bruins as Angela Kelly of Tennessee said about us: I would be shocked if UCLA didn't win their first title.

Fozzie - I feel EXACTLY as you do. When the Pilots' season ends, I really don't care what happens after that. It's time to appreciate what this year's team has accomplished, and start talking about 2008!

I hear ya fozziewozzie. I feel the same way. In my mind…the 2007 Championship game has already been played. But, I also need closure. I need to put an asterisk on it. PMS268 expressed my point more clearly. We need to continue to keep an eye out for whatever happens in Texas next weekend…because it’s all part of the big picture. Can’t just dismiss it. It sets the stage and lays out the blueprints for what the Pilots need to expect and prepare for in 2008. Who’s favored next season? How do we beat em?

GO PILOTS!!!

Thanks FANatic! Glad you like the avatar. What galaxy are you from? We must be related or something...we both got hit with the ugly stick. At least I got a cool pose with my light saber, eh?

Phantom - I'll take my sword and shield any day!!!

(And what do you mean by 'ugly stick'? I'm known throughout my galaxy as being the cute Beatle!)



(Okay, I do admit to feeling a certain kinship with you. Don't know why. But it's always been there.)

I agree with everyone about UCLA, anyone but them. Maybe Portland took enough out of them that one of the others will have a chance. Has anyone thought about writing to the NCAA about the refereeing during the UCLA game. I have never seen so many blatant fouls not called. I don't think the game was over the refs head, I think it was intentional. No one can unintentionally miss that many obvious fouls. If you watch the Youtube posting you can clearly see that Michelle was tripped in the box. I also remember Jessica being shoved one handed to the ground. I can't recall how many times a UCLA player jumped into or over the back of a Portland player and sent her to the turf. The ref was a disgrace to himself, the NCAA and the sport of soccer. What is the NCAA core purpose, Something about governing competition in a fair, safe, equitable and sportsmanlike manner.

Hey Bluffer, other than the Michelle Enyeart mugging in the box (no excuse for not calling that), I'm not so sure that this was a poorly-called game. The refs seemed to signal pretty early on that they were going to let the teams play, and when this happens, you just have to adjust. To the Pilots' credit, I haven't heard any grousing about the officiating.

The only real knock on Portland that I've heard over the years is that if you rough them up, you can throw them off their game (ie the technical, timing style.)

I remember the 2005 team spent more time in the weight room prior to the season with the goal of not being outfouled by other teams. There was still beauty and grace in their play, but they weren't afraid to be physical either. I'm not saying the 2007 Pilots were (especially Emily!), but UCLA definitely was able to push them around in that second half.

Agreed, pms268. That 2005 team was definitly still a finesse/skill team, but no one would ever accuse Kelsey Hollenbeck, Megan Rapinoe or Christine Sinclair of being averse to contact.

HAving Megan back on the field will really help in this department... she always plays tough and with a chip on her shoulder.

Hey Bluffer, other than the Michelle Enyeart mugging in the box (no excuse for not calling that), I'm not so sure that this was a poorly-called game. The refs seemed to signal pretty early on that they were going to let the teams play, and when this happens, you just have to adjust. To the Pilots' credit, I haven't heard any grousing about the officiating.

Well, I'm not sure it's possible to defend the way the game was called by Jesse Johnson. Even the UCLA fans called it one of the worst called games they had ever seen. You probably won't hear anyone complain publicly , because the calls were so bad on both sides it probably didn't make a difference, except for the Enyeart call, and Wozzie save a great contest from being just a discussion about the call.

Sometime, you might want to ask Winters if she thought the play where she got face planted into the mud from a shot from behind by Cheney (ultimately led to UCLA's 2nd goal) was a fair call. It was so ridiculous I started laughing - until the score.

A little history about mr. Johnson- He is famous for calling a "play-on" in an MLS game where Nema Kovalenko came in cleats up on O'Brien and broke his leg.
Players said they could hear the bone snap.

The league review (I guess if you break someone's leg they need to do that) subsequently suspended Kovalenko for several games and removed Johnson from refereeing scheduled matches between the two teams "for failure to control the game" I've never heard of that happening publicly to a ref before, have you? Usually, refs are quietly told they won't be doing the next game.

Later that year, Quaranta got taken out in a similar way and Johnson again made no call. Johnson spent several subsequent games as the Junior linesman on crews.

Good ref? no...

I'll admit teams try to rough up pilots to disrupt the game, and the best defense is to just get tougher, but..

Wow Geez, great story, certainly points to the inability of this guy to make calls even on obvious fouls. I almost lost it on the Enyeart no call, and I am still confused as to how Lang got away without so much as a stern talking to after running through Cronkrite not once but twice. All this brings it into perspective.

He's not incapable of making calls. I believe he gave a yellow for dissent to a player or coach who complained about the no-call on O'Brien..

I stand corrected, but I will rephrase. He is incapable of making rational calls.