DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Nov 17, 2019 2:13:19 GMT -5
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Nov 17, 2019 16:30:20 GMT -5
Solid season, disappointing end. Keep your heads up and be proud if this year ladies - and get to work for next season! You sort of just got the sense that the team was... not on its last legs, certainly, but not on its 'first' legs either... The Voice recap captures part of it well: Having to move Leas to the back only exacerbated the squad's biggest weakness this year - inconsistent holding and passing from the midfield. Losing Grace Nguyen before the start of the season really had an impact and reduced the margin for error. Between the slew of injuries and the mystery virus that recently went through the team and the fact that for some reason they stopped producing Corboz sisters after 2, it is in some ways remarkable that the team secured as many positive results as they did. It's a bit odd to be disappointed with the results and at the same time think you overachieved, but that may well be the case here. Having Leas and Nguyen back in midfield next season should help turn a weakness into a strength, and I liked what I saw from Maya Fernandez-Powell in the sparing moments she had on the pitch. I am also pretty excited about one of the incoming freshmen who just signed an NLI:
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Post by bearsandbulls on Nov 18, 2019 21:16:24 GMT -5
Be a bit careful with reflections on superstars past Russky. Last years (2018) senior class had by far the best four year record in G'town WSOC. This year's senior class (2019) exceeded that and came up with the new 4 year record. I certainly acknowledge that the two Final Fours are the pinnacle, and we have had our share of individual stars in the past, but they were nowhere present when we took UNC to OT in the Final Four in 2019. It takes chemistry and a full blown side. We had our best chance in 2018, with 2016 a bit luckier run (Santa Clara beating Stanfurd in the quarters giving us another home match to get to San Jose).
Otherwise I agree with your assessment of the year gone by. It really hurt losing Lauren in goal and Grace in the midfield to start out. And yes then Boo and Charlie going down did not help at all. I do believe it was a coaching error for Leas to be moved to the back line, but then Dave tends to beat you with good defense and a dose of offense.
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RusskyHoya
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In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
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Post by RusskyHoya on Nov 20, 2019 0:25:18 GMT -5
Be a bit careful with reflections on superstars past Russky. Last years (2018) senior class had by far the best four year record in G'town WSOC. This year's senior class (2019) exceeded that and came up with the new 4 year record. I certainly acknowledge that the two Final Fours are the pinnacle, and we have had our share of individual stars in the past, but they were nowhere present when we took UNC to OT in the Final Four in 2019. It takes chemistry and a full blown side. We had our best chance in 2018, with 2016 a bit luckier run (Santa Clara beating Stanfurd in the quarters giving us another home match to get to San Jose). Otherwise I agree with your assessment of the year gone by. It really hurt losing Lauren in goal and Grace in the midfield to start out. And yes then Boo and Charlie going down did not help at all. I do believe it was a coaching error for Leas to be moved to the back line, but then Dave tends to beat you with good defense and a dose of offense. I mean... yeah, everything is super-contingent and turns on particulars that defy grand narratives, even though narratives is how we all make sense of the world. Assessing any class involves some amount of generalization, even before we start dealing with annoying details like which class a fifth-year grad student like Crystal or Mandy Carolan or Marina Paul should count toward. Should a class's performance as seniors be weighted higher or lower or just the same as when they were freshman? And is the performance to be judged theirs alone, or the team's, or some combination of both? In the end, I don't think it's super constructive one way or another. As you said, it takes a "full blown side," and each side has to be examined as a unit. This side, unquestionably, lost a lot of pieces along the way. Their relatively slower start in the pre-Big East period compared to years past makes me also think their ultimate ceiling may have been lower... although even that has to account for players lost in the preseason. Lack of team hardware aside, though - although that is what we tend to focus on - there was plenty of individual accolades handed out to the Hoyas this year, and rightfully so. And individual flourishing of talent is an important factor in attracting the next generation of talent. To the theme of beating you with good defense: when recruiting backline talent, it helps to be able to show off the likes of Meaghan Nally, Liz Wenger, Marina Paul, and Emily Menges. Individual talent and ultimate team outcomes are related by, as most relationships, definite correlation but not pure causation.
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Post by bearsandbulls on Nov 20, 2019 10:07:32 GMT -5
"their ultimate ceiling may have been lower" is key. I remember likening this years team very early on to the 2015 version which also did very well in its own right, but was building. The one critical links to start though were Lauren and Grace going down and not being able to be a factor.
And do understand that the early pieces (Menges, Daphnes, Rachels, etc.) were critical in Dave building and recruiting the Hoyas into a powerhouse. I guess my point was to take nothing away from them or Dave, but to liken things to this year's mens teams where the depth is unbelievable and the "next man up" concept works so well. Matter of fact so well that Wiese can play 18-19 deep without flinching a bit. Please compare that with what the women do with substitution. Both programs are exceptional, please don't get me wrong with that, but I like to look as the women's team as a work in progress. Even though the men have drawn Louisville in their bracket, I would be surprised if they do not run the table.
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RusskyHoya
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In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
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Post by RusskyHoya on Dec 1, 2019 15:31:36 GMT -5
Even though the men have drawn Louisville in their bracket, I would be surprised if they do not run the table. Louisville did not prove to be much of an obstacle
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Post by bearsandbulls on Dec 1, 2019 16:57:10 GMT -5
Even though the men have drawn Louisville in their bracket, I would be surprised if they do not run the table. Louisville did not prove to be much of an obstacle How right you are Russky.....Two dominating performances in a row. They are certainly hitting on all cylinders at the right time.
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 2, 2019 18:19:46 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Dec 21, 2019 0:10:37 GMT -5
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RG
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Post by RG on Jan 17, 2020 11:54:35 GMT -5
The Portland Thorns chose Meaghan Nally with the 25th overall pick. Thorn's coach Mark Parsons stated that "Meaghan is an absolute warrior. She has a beast mode mentality in the way she approaches growth and development and how she approaches defending attackers. She's a special individual who can play multiple positions in the back line." I think it will be tough for Meaghan to make the roster of a very deep and talented Thorns team, but if she does she will be joining a wonderful, well-coached and tremendously-supported program. It would be great to see her become a part of the Portland community!
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