DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 2, 2022 20:58:15 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 4, 2022 12:51:11 GMT -5
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Post by bearsandbulls on Aug 6, 2022 12:35:50 GMT -5
So since 2015 our team has been underrated in the preseason only to climb the charts most years. It is interesting that having made Final Four in 2016 in San Jose and 2018 in Cary, NC that we continually are not reputed to be placed where we should be and have to walk the charts up step by step.
Now the question becomes is that because the Big East is not highly regarded in WSOC, or if this team is not considered to be as good as previous teams. Dave Nolan always sets up a very difficult preseason with powerhouses to build the team and exhibit that we are deserving. But year after year we seem to be relatively overlooked. It has really worked out well for us, and we have year after year moved up the ranks.
My concern is not that it is a problem because we overcome it, but why is it as it is? The Hoyas in WSOC have performed better relatively than Notre Dame in football, but the latter always gets ranked highly early due to historical reputation. Rarely do they finish as have the Hoya women.
We will prevail, but just a bit strange.
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Aug 7, 2022 13:34:43 GMT -5
“As a player she was a wonderful technician, maybe the most technical player we’ve ever had here,” Georgetown coach Dave Nolan said. “In terms of having field vision and having a sense for the game, in any sport you always talk about the best players having eyes in the back of their head. Rachel could see things two or three steps before anyone else.”
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Aug 11, 2022 13:33:08 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 17, 2022 12:32:58 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 18, 2022 8:54:11 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 18, 2022 8:59:08 GMT -5
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 18, 2022 13:45:41 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 18, 2022 15:17:10 GMT -5
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Aug 18, 2022 18:08:40 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 18, 2022 20:28:13 GMT -5
2-2 full time. Hoyas had 1-0 and 2-1 leads.
Goals by Henley Tippins and Gia Vicari.
Didn’t get to watch because I’m not paying the BIG$1B to watch their streaming network.
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Aug 18, 2022 21:20:02 GMT -5
I plunked down the money to watch. Entertaining match - very much an opener performance for both sides, and while the Hoyas will be disappointed to have given up two different leads, a draw on the road against a higher-ranked team is a fine way to start the season.
Penn State has the #1 ranked recruiting class and brought in Southern Cal's all-time leading scorer as a transfer - they were strong and skilled and definitely a good test.
By way of comparison, #1 FSU played to a scoreless draw at #12 South Carolina; especially with no more OT in the regular season this year, ties will happen!
EDIT: A couple more thoughts:
1. This was the first time in a long time - probably since the College Cup semi against UNC? - that I've seen Georgetown really play for the counter. The Penn State student announcers described the formation as 'looking like a 4-4-1-1,' and while I'm not sure if that's exactly what it was, it does get at the general idea: trying to disrupt and turn over in the middle third of the field, moreso in the defensive half, and then break out on attack. It will be interesting to see if this lasts beyond this particular opponent. Penn State played very direct and was constantly trying to execute through balls and point-to-point passes. Their 7 offsides (to Georgetown's 0) tell the tale there, as does their first goal, where they connected on one such 'go route' of a pass and the Georgetown keeper was caught in purgatory and resorted to fouling in the box.
2. Speaking of the Georgetown goalkeeper... I'm guessing Allie Augur is hurt? Hopefully once the students are back, some enterprising reporter for The Voice (The Hoya is effectively dead as a news outlet) will write up a season preview and fill us in on the status.
In any case, Dave was very complimentary of the freshman goalkeeper, Cara Martin, in the recap comments. I’m generally inclined to agree. She made several quality saves and decisions to come out. All the more impressive given the quality of the opponent and the venue.
The yellow card foul resulting in the PK was a tough situation, Martin thought she had to scramble all the way over to the corner of the 18 in order to challenge the Penn State attacker who had been on the receiving end of an impressive long service…not realizing she had multiple defenders racing back to help out. The PSU player took a poor first touch, such that if there was no foul, there would’ve been nothing doing on the play. But was that touch caused by hearing/seeing the onrushing goalie about to clean her out? Hard to tell.
It was quite a cleanout, by the way! Clearly this is not a keeper afraid of contact lol. The Penn State bench yellow that followed not long thereafter was presumably for overly-strenuous demands for a straight red, which… would’ve been harsh in the college game, but honestly it did look like a pretty late, nasty challenge.
3. Aside from the GK spot, some other interesting lineups were on display. Last year’s Big East All-Freshman Team member Cyanne Doyle came in off the bench, and there were three freshman staters in the field: Henley Tippins in the attack (not really a shock; she was an absolute goal-scoring machine in HS), Lily Froehlich in the backline, and Natalie Means in an attacking role further back of Tippins.
Hard to top Tippins’ opening goal that was at least a little reminiscent of Zawadski’s half-volley against Stanford, but in some ways the newcomer who stood out most to me was grad transfer and World Cup-bund Philippines national team member Maya Alcantara. Remarkable work rate, real Energizer Bunny stuff.
---
Here's PSU goal #2 - a cross that squeaked through traffic:
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 19, 2022 0:03:19 GMT -5
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 19, 2022 14:36:10 GMT -5
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 19, 2022 19:18:44 GMT -5
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 21, 2022 9:18:45 GMT -5
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DanMcQ
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Post by DanMcQ on Aug 21, 2022 12:57:45 GMT -5
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RusskyHoya
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Post by RusskyHoya on Aug 21, 2022 13:17:49 GMT -5
"Natalie Means finds Henley Tippins who slips it in the net!" is certainly one way to describe what happened lol.
A more accurate summation would be: the River Hawks' keeper attempted to clear the ball directly into Tippins and it rebounded into the net. Those goals are always fun...real morale-killers for the keeper, though, and the GK and backline pairing for UMass Lowell has really looked "down bad" in stretches.
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Post by bearsandbulls on Aug 21, 2022 18:08:07 GMT -5
Score not indicative of the ball control and pressing offense that we haven't seen in some time from Hoyas WSOC. However, much may be due to the level of talent we played in game 2, so too much cannot be concluded from today. I was taken with the level of talent displayed up front with the two new forwards outshining the veteran Vicari but creating a juggernaut attacking line. Depth at midfield is solid and Julie Leas as defensive anchor helps making our new aggressive frosh goalie looking good. Means, Manning, Tippins, and Davis look to this viewer as tons of young talent.
I know coach was disappointed with aspects of the game, but my take away from the first two games is we are playing an inordinate amount of freshmen in critical positions and they are good--very good, matter of fact. The offensive pressing keeping the ball in the UMass defensive end was great, but in the best of situations can give rise to downfield breakaways of which there were a couple. This appears to me one of the best balanced teams in the eight plus years I have been following. Again, I choose not to take away a lot measuring the quality of the opposition, but they also stepped up and were never behind, nor outplayed, by PSU on their home turf the other night.
Early in the season and everything is a teaching moment, but I look for Mr. Nolan to sleep better this year than last. We shall see, as he always prepares a tough preseason schedule to test his troops.
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