Thank You

A beautiful night on the bluff.

Thanks to the Seniors for playing great soccer since they came to the bluff.

Thanks to the underclassmen for showing us it's going to continue into the future.

Thanks to Garret and the coaches for putting together a team that plays beautiful soccer. It's been a joy to watch this season. I'm not the only one who thinks so-- Here's a quote from Santa Clara's Jerry Smith in the S.F. Cronicle this week.

Sizing up the West Coast teams, he said WCC champion Portland "is the best soccer-playing team," UCLA "has the most talent," and Stanford "has tremendous speed."

I'm not so sure about the best talent part, but I share your sentiment about the best soccer.

Even a thanks to the ref. (gasp)
It was nice to see Sandra Hunt back on the pitch tonight. I hope it means she's come out of her retirement and will be officiating in the playoffs. Though I don't always agree with her calls, there's none better.

Hard to add much to your post, Purplegeezer. You pretty much nailed it. Our intense play all over the field was wonderful to watch, and is an example of what the Pilots are all about.

This team certainly fits my signature, (at the bottom of each of my posts), of what a champion does psychologically to give the opposition absolutely no hope that they have even the slightest chance of the winning the match. The final score might not show it, but we just destroyed a pretty decent soccer team last night.

Yes, THANK YOU seniors for an amazing four years. Oh, how you've all grown. All six of you have made tremendous contributions to the team.

Last night, knowing how important defense is in winning championships, I couldn't help but focus my attention on our two center backs, Kelli and Emily. Both players from Oregon. Neither one a top-notch big time national recruit. And yet there they were - the grit and determination they displayed last night I wouldn't exchange for any player in the country. They, (as well as ALL of their teammates), simply smothered the life out of LMU. They're like a great wall. Just when you think you see a crack of daylight, they lock it down. And there is a an attitude, a chip on their shoulder if you will. "You get rough with us, we're gonna knock you on your can!"

Ah, what a wonderful night it was!

Purplegeezer wrote:A beautiful night on the bluff.

Thanks to the Seniors for playing great soccer since they came to the bluff.

Thanks to the underclassmen for showing us it's going to continue into the future.

Thanks to Garrett and the coaches for putting together a team that plays beautiful soccer. It's been a joy to watch this season.

Well said, Geezer. I couldn't agree more.

yes indeed geezer, thank you seniors. i almost shed a tear at the opening introductions of the seniors, which for me is pretty unusual because im usually a pretty emotional person.

happily about senior night was the fact that rachel rapinoe was not one of the graduates announced. does that mean we get her back officially for another year as a redshirt??

an does anyone know about megan, an whether the ncaa has granted her another year? i know she has taken a redshirt already for the u-19's in thailand, but since it was not a medical redshirt, can she get another?

fozziewozzie - Rachael fits all the criteria and they will be asking for a redshirt on her. I don't know when it's official, but that one is probably definite.

As far as Megan, I was wondering about that, too. I believe she fits the criteria for a medical redshirt, but the question is: does she want to be here for six years or does she want to finish her collegiate career next season with sister Rach?

That would be up to Megan. I will find out about that at the appropriate time. (Soon, I hope.)

Both sisters can come back for another year.

Nothing is certain until it's approved by the NCAA, but both of their cases follow the text of the hardship allowances to the letter.

Here's an interview with the two sisters and Garrett Smith on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np6lnY7LDe8

I definitely expect both back next year.

As for Megan getting a sixth year and returning for the 2009 season... I don't know. I think a lot might depend on if she can return to form during next season. I think Megan's ultimate goal is to become a full-time member of the National Team, something that she had just about become before being injured in 2006. That derailed her plans for making the World Cup team (anyone here have ANY doubts she would have made it had she stayed healthy?). Had she not been injured again and had a strong season this year, I think she would be right back in the mix for making the National Team.

But suffering two consecutive injuries and missing close to two full seasons? She's going to have to perform well for her to get herself back on the map, you know what I mean? So if she has an awesome 2008 season and gets back on the NT roster, than, well, I wouldn't expect her to come back for 2009 because she would have a new adventure (the NT) to commit herself full-time to.

But if she struggles next season for whatever reason, she may be tempted to come back for 2009 to prove that she can still compete at the highest of levels.

Because remember, since there isn't the WUSA any more (though I know it's making a comeback), there really isn't any other place for a player to make her mark other than college. Yes, there are various NT training camps and tournaments and things like that, but once you are over a certain age, it's the full national team or nothing... I think the U-21 team is the oldest youth team on the women's side.

So... I think it's way to early to start looking ahead to 2009. I think under the criterea, yes, Megan could get a sixth year if she wants it. But I would also 100% understand if she chose to move on after next season.

All we can really hope for is a full recovery for both of them and to finally get a chance to play together on the same team at the same time!