2012 Previews

Let's start with Chris Henderson's, hot off the press:

http://www.allwhitekit.com/?p=9996

Didn't know we had a Senior...

Yes, Taylor is a senior this season.

I guess he's not counting Dees as a potential field player!

A_Fan wrote:Yes, Taylor is a senior this season.

!

You are such a bummer...

It's the way I was raised, so it's my parent's fault.

Topdrawer Soccer's Top 64 rankings for preseason are out. UP did not make the top 64 list, but Portland State did...at number 62.

Stanford topped the list and our friends at UND are number 3. This week's opponent is number 8 and the highest WCC team is Santa Clara at 16.

The poll is at: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer/college-soccer-tournament-ranking/women/?periodId=75

I'm not hugely optimistic about the prospects for the coming season but I'm pretty sure UP is a better team than Portland State?

Top Drawer Soccer's list is not exactly rankings. It is the teams the writer thinks will make the NCAA Tournament, including the conference champions that are automatic qualifiers. TDS is picking Portland State to win the Big Sky Conference championship. But, they are not picking the Pilots to win the WCC or to get an at large selection.

TDS does not have a great reputation among Division I women's soccer experts.

I haven't checked this year, but in past years the early season list didn't even included a team from every automatic bid conference, which of course is a requirement for a tournament field.

Soccer America likes Duke...picks Santa Clara and Pepperdine out of the WCC.

Top 25 preseason:

http://www.socceramerica.com/article/47771/soccer-america-womens-preseason-top-25.html

purple passion wrote:Soccer America likes Duke...picks Santa Clara and Pepperdine out of the WCC.

You can set your DVR to record Santa Clara at Stanford live at 7 PM on Friday on the new PAC-12 network -- Ch 720 on Portland area Comcast HD.

The "only" nationally televised UP game I could find is the UP at USD game on October 19 @ 8PM on ESPNU.

It could be pivotal!

Oregonian Article posted today
http://www.oregonlive.com/pilots/index.ssf/2012/08/womens_soccer_pilots_hope_for.html#incart_flyout_sports

Paul Linman had a nice interview with Garrett on KEX at 7:40 this morning. Coach sounds very positive about the upbeat attitude of the team this year-almost sounded like he was saying it was better than last year in a way. He's really high on the frosh, as any coach should be, but clearly sounded less cautious than interviews I heard last year. Let's hope and pray that he's sensing things correctly. Can't wait until tomorrow night!

DoubleDipper wrote:The "only" nationally televised UP game I could find is the UP at USD game on October 19 @ 8PM on ESPNU.

It could be pivotal!

I noticed that article on the WCC website about the televised games. Really, the WCC should be thanking BYU and the Pac-12 for creating their own networks, because ours was the only game on ESPN and only 2-3 more were on Fox Soccer.

The Oregon Live article forgot to point out that OSU's Jenna Richardson is playing on the Canadian U-20 team in Japan and won't be at the game on Monday.

ejjqb wrote:Paul Linman had a nice interview with Garrett on KEX at 7:40 this morning. Coach sounds very positive about the upbeat attitude of the team this year-almost sounded like he was saying it was better than last year in a way. He's really high on the frosh, as any coach should be, but clearly sounded less cautious than interviews I heard last year. Let's hope and pray that he's sensing things correctly. Can't wait until tomorrow night!

I think the staff is thinking we will have a better year this year than last, notwithstanding what other prognosticators think. I agree. I think this year is all about "team" and it will make a big difference.

A_Fan wrote:The Oregon Live article forgot to point out that OSU's Jenna Richardson is playing on the Canadian U-20 team in Japan and won't be at the game on Monday.

I think Mondays OSU team will be quite different. their other great Canadian, Buckland, is also out for the year with an ACL.

And they graduated a starting keeper and 3/4 of their backplane line, and think the fourth player is hurt.
But I still expect a very good squad.

First is UNC. They will always be good. It will be a real test to see where we are.

I watched the UP team or a few minutes tonight. Dani practiced with the team.