The WCC, UP, and the tournament?

So, this year was a really poor showing for the WCC and the tournament. Santa Clara made it and went down early in the first round (which was predictable since their RPI wasn't much higher than Portland's and we beat them at the end of the season). What needs to happen for WCC teams to improve next year?

Is it recruiting better talent? Coaching? The systems that the teams use? I know that some teams like UP have great players leave for MLS or international play at times, however, teams toward the top of the heap like Akron face the same challenges and circumstances that we do...

I saw very few games this year, and I'd be curious to hear your opinions. My general opinion of US soccer at the collegiate level is the same as I feel about it at the national level; I think players run too much and are very physical...but not technical enough.

What do you think?

onetouchfutbol wrote:I saw very few games this year, and I'd be curious to hear your opinions. My general opinion of US soccer at the collegiate level is the same as I feel about it at the national level; I think players run too much and are very physical...but not technical enough.

What do you think?

That's pretty much what I see, although I am by no means as knowledgeable and sophisticated a soccer fan as some on here.

As far as the WCC struggling this past season, I wouldn't sweat it. When UP got an at large bid a few years ago, they got it as the 4th place team in the 7 program WCC. We've traditionally had a very good conference RPI and I see this year as an aberration. Normally only four losses should put us in (we had five going in last year), but the conference schedule wasn't enough to lift us as much as it usually is.

Thanks. Yeah, I expect the conference RPI to go back up next year as well...