Pilots vs. Denver, Friday 11/13/09, Merlo Field

Puckswami wrote:As a Denver Fan, we'd kill to be in the WCC. In fact, we offered financial incentives to join back in 1999 when the school went back to D-I in all sports, but since the WCC said no, we were forced into the Sun Belt in many sports, which is a terrible fit for us geographically - we are used to flying to most games in most sports. We fit the WCC profile almost perfectly in all but geography- no football, private with strong academics, 10,000 students with about 5K undergrads. Founded in 1864, and similar tuition costs to most WCC schools. A majority of DU students come from outside Colorado, many from California, the northwest, Texas, Chicago and the East Coast, many of them affluent B+ to A- types who like to ski.

Denver is best known athletically as a national power in ice hockey (7 NCAA titles) and Skiing (20 NCAA titles). The hockey team draws 5,000-6,000 fans for every game and is the primary revenue generator for the school. We have out homecoming game in hockey, and play in a league with schools like Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota.

Soccer is an up-and-coming sport at Denver, and the school just built a brand new 2,000 seat stadium this year, and added lights for night play. Women play in the Sun Belt, our men play in the MPSF.

This year's woman's soccer team is decent, but not as deep as previous Denver teams in the last 7-8 years. I don't imagine Portland will have that much trouble with us this weekend. We'd need a major stroke of luck to score and perfect goaltending to have a chance for an upset.

Washington, Mississippi and Denver look to eliminate the Portland Pilots when NCAA Tournament begins Friday

By Aaron Fentress, The Oregonian

November 11, 2009, 8:06PM

The University of Portland will begin its NCAA Tournament run by facing a University of Denver team that Pilots coach Garrett Smith said is capable of giving his team trouble.

But only if the Pilots, ranked second in the national coaches poll and one of four No. 2 seeds in the 64-team tournament, don't play up to their high standards.

"It's a team that we must take seriously," Smith said. "(Denver coach Jeff Hooker) can put some things together that could make our lives difficult. But if we play well, it's a game we should win."

Friday's first-round doubleheader at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex begins at 4 p.m. with Washington (11-5-4) facing Mississippi (13-5-2). At 7 p.m., the No. 2 Pilots (18-1) take on the Pioneers (17-5-1).

Of the three other teams, Portland is most familiar with Washington. The two teams have met 31 times, including every season since 1991, with Portland leading the series 24-6-1.

Portland has a 4-1 record against Denver and won the last meeting 5-0 in 2007. The Pilots have never faced Mississippi.

Smith has watched tape of Denver since the tournament field was announced Monday but said doing so isn't as important as it might seem. Smith called Booker a friend and a great coach who puts his team in position to win. But, Smith said, the outcome Friday would come down to how well his team plays.

"It's not so much about what they are doing as it is more about what we're doing," Smith said.

Here's a look at the three visiting teams this weekend:

Denver: The Pioneers, fresh off winning their fourth consecutive Sun Belt Conference championship, placed five players on the all-conference team.

Denver ranks 32nd in the nation in scoring (2.09 goals per game) and 60th in goals-against average (.848).

All-conference forwards Kaitlin Bast and Mariah Johnston lead Denver's offense. Bast ranks 59th in the country in points per game (1.35) and 76th in goals per game (.522). Johnston ranks 11th in assists per game (.57).

Goalkeeper Lara Campbell ranks 33rd in save percentage (.853).

Denver defeated Portland 4-3 in overtime in 2003, the season after the Pilots' first national championship.

"I'm actually surprised not to see Portland with the number one seed," Hooker told denverpioneers.com. "For us, it's a good place to play. It's a great stadium and atmosphere. We look forward to the challenge."

Washington: The Huskies went 3-3-3 in the Pacific-10 Conference, which placed eight teams in the tournament. Probably their most impressive victory came against California, 1-0. Washington played to a 2-2 tie in double overtime against No. 21 USC and to a 1-1 tie in double overtime against No. 18 Washington State.

The Huskies ranked 106th in scoring (1.55 goals per game) and 100th in goals-against average (1.005).

Veronica Perez and McKenna Waitley tied for the team lead in goals with six each. Waitley led the team with five assists.

Mississippi: The Rebels are making their first tournament appearance since 2005.

Mississippi's biggest nonconference win was a 3-2 victory in double overtime over No. 9 Florida. The Rebels also defeated Georgia 1-0.

Among the visiting teams, the Rebels are closest statistically to the Pilots. Mississippi ranks 24th in the country in scoring (2.15 goals per game) and 18th in goals-against average (0.626).

Portland leads the nation in scoring (3.79) and ranked third in goals-against (.368).

The Rebels are led by Hannah Weatherly, who ranks 63rd in points per game (1.31) and 45th in goals per game (0.563).

Goalkeeper Alley Ronaldi ranks 31st in goals-against average (.658).

– Aaron Fentress

Stonehouse wrote:
In terms of where the game will be broadcast, there will be live audio (free) and live video (for a cost) at PortlandPilots.com I don't think it will be on T anywhere.

coldsmokeCO wrote:Oh please let us get UW in the second game...

SoreKnees wrote:Personally, I'd like to play Mississippi. We've already played UW.

runner girl wrote:Free live video! Woo-hoo!

DaTruRochin wrote:What's with Merlo bringing out naughtiness in opposing coaches come tournament time?