Women's National Team Camp - Four Former Pilots

while i am thrilled to remember that season, i am almost equally sad about how many more championships we could have won if we hadnt lost sinc, angie, steph an megan to world cup/championships. an i know it's better for the program to have our players go to those touney's, but....

I still have to think that if they thought they wouldn't have the opportunity to play for National teams, they wouldn't have come here.

That's just part of the bargain for recruiting top players.

The secret is ho to plan for the years when those players won't be around--- stock a couple of extra players?

you don't need to give out scholarships to kids who aren't in school....

it seems like we will be missing quite a few key ingridients for this season as well. with keelin, elli, foxhoven an i'm sure missing some others off the top of my head at key times in the season we well again be relying on freshman to step up. but this class, i really think is the best since the misaki/barr class. granted we took a beating their frosh season because the class was so large an inexpierienced. but i believe this class is probably the most talented an ready to step in as we have ever welcomed.

I wouldn't panic.

We'll probably lose Sophie.

Of the others, we'll probably lose 2. I have an idea of which two, but I ain't saying.

Whenever I do that, it comes back to bite me.

Isn't Michelle Enyeart on that roster? I would think we would definitely lose her.

so geezer, if you think we are only going to lose two an one of them is sophie, that means i think, that the second one is either keelin, elli or foxhoven. now that is a conundrum! i have to think keelin's stock has risen considerably with her play this last season. i believe that both elli an foxhoven were key contribitors on previous teams. oh, i just remembered, charney burk. really, only one other?? anyone want to guess who that one might be??

Actually, if you read what I said, it's Sophie AND two others....

ok, sophie an two others. im still baffled. i hope that it is only two others. if i'm the coach i don't see how you wouldn't want a defensive stalwart like keelin on your team. but on the other hand, from what i've tried to gleen from ussocer.com, it sounds like elli, foxhoven an charney can be pretty key to the team. i really hope you are right geezer. but i have come to know that you are pretty right on with your predictions/conclusions.

My guess? We'll lose Sophie, Michelle Enyeart and Keelin Winters probably for sure. Elli Reed? Possibly. Danielle Foxhoven? Probably not. Happy for them. Hopefully strengthens Pilots for a big run in 2009!

I just don't think that all four will be selected because of two reasons - Diccico and the numbers game.

The numbers first: I think there will be an effort to spread the roster out over regions of the country, possibly conferences, too. Part of the politics of the Youth National team seems to be representation in regions. They only take 20 players to the WC , I think. If they took all 4 and still wanted some of the Pac 10 kids( I'm sure they do) there won't be many other slots left. Not only that, but a couple of injuries might put Diccico in the position of starting 4 players from UP, which leads us to
reason 2 - Diccico: Sorry guys, Tony has always been an East Coast , ACC, and especially UNC guy. He's never been particularly kind to UP and West Region players. Even when Milbrett and MacMillan played for him (160+ goals between them) they were treated as subs or "supersubs". Macmillan in particular, had to fight for every second of playing time on the WNT.

Diccico once explained that he wanted Mac to come off the bench to spark the team. My question - if she could do that, why not have her in there to begin with?

Good point, geezer. I think you're right, looking at it from that perspective. Maybe we lose only Sophie and Michelle? One other UP player max.

Stephanie and Angie will continue with the US Women's National Team through its next training sessions. Cory and Lindsay were released. Too bad about Lindsay, but I'm guessing she has not been playing a lot over the last year +. Here's the link to US Soccer's informational release: http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_5341185.html

an then there's this.

Sunday, February 10, 2008
Steph Steps Up

Stephanie Cox also did a photo shoot yesterday, but this one was at The Home Depot Center for a major feature in a magazine coming out later in the year as well. Cox, however, was in her game uniform for her first major individual photo shoot as a WNT player (and as Stephanie Cox!). Of course, she nailed it. Steph, although sometimes a bit shy off the field, seems to be a natural in front of the camera. It’s a good thing, as the 21-year-old already has 33 caps for the National Team, and is always thoughtful and well-spoken in her interviews. And hey, it’s about time a defender got some love from the media

Well put, fozzie! Steph does seem to be a very special person!

Great national recognition for a Pilot/ex-Pilot.

Both squads play England today.

There is a report on Big soccer that the U20's beat England 1-nil in la Serena, Chile earlier today on a goal by Teresa Noyola. No rosters for the game yet, so we don't know which Pilots played. In the same tournament, Chile tied Norway 3-3.

Bill Irwin's U23's are playing in the la Manga tournament against England also today in la Portola Spain. The game should be just over as I write this - no report yet.