Pepperdine & LMU

I'm sure that for attendance, the Pilots use the NCAA attendance protocol, which allows the use of ticket sales for games. That means they can count season tickets sold plus additional tickets sold for a particular game.

Ruth Gilliam also was at the game, saw her in the Pilot Club.

Good recap from all the recent posts....my thoughts exactly about the number of people in the Pilot Club...about 2500 under the tent!

What I appreciated most about the Pilots win was the very fine effort turned in by LMU...particularly in the second half. Whereas PU stayed back even after trailing on Friday, LMU pushed and pushed...I liked their effort.

I know, easier said than done, but I would have liked to have seen the Pilots strike the ball much lower when attempting their shots....letting the ball skid across the grass with a bit of a rooster tail instead of toward the top of the goal…lots more could have happened in the box with that kind of shot.

Spoke with Coaches Sari Chambers and Smith after the game; they agreed it was one of the wettest games they've been involved in, and the win could have been by as much as six goals the way the women were playing. Garrett was especially proud the way the Pilots have played with what is for now, a 16 player team. He alluded to the Pilots possibly being back to a "full" roster of 18 by playoff time.
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Emily M. was definitely there, I saw her talking to Megan before the game.

Angela Harrison said on the webcast that the new LMU coach is very good and she expects LMU to get more competitive with her at the helm.

Lots of rumors about MC and EP returning to play. They are both strong players and having them back would be a big plus. However if they do come back I hope the staff doesn't pull a Beaver and stick them in the starting lineup, breaking up what has become a winning combination. I don't think they would, what do y'all think?

A_Fan wrote:
However if they do come back I hope the staff doesn't pull a Beaver and stick them in the starting lineup, breaking up what has become a winning combination. I don't think they would, what do y'all think?

Pull an OSU? Well it's hard to mismanage the clock at the end of a soccer game.

Parker was wearing everything but shin guards during warmups. I think they'll put them back in gradually like they have others this year.

As long as we're talking about celebrities I saw Jessica Tsao, Hailee DeYoung, and I thought Rachael was with Megan. And Franck Songo'o was at the BYU game.

I think if they are coming back, the focus should be that they be ready for the tournament. It would be great for them to get some time, but it's starting to look like we are on the bubble for a seed anyway ( our OOC teams let us down this weekend)


Santa Clara is on the bubble for a top 8 finish. They will be tough. But if they loose to us, they will probably loose the seed through the Quarters. Either way, our RPI improves.

If you look at what were preseason expectations outside of PN definately some good coaching this year given injuries to key players. Everyone else just had us back in the tourney,not the fighting for seed that we find ourselves in.

I appologize for not getting out the rain gear and watching the game in person. I'll get my wardrobe ready for playoff time.

I thought Friday night's game was the best they have played in 2 years.

Passing, spacing, offense, defense were all improved.

All year I have been complaining that they have not been going after the rebounds (blocked shots). All the sudden we are going after all the rebounds and have the goals to prove it. This could well be Foxhoven's influence.

Can't say enough about the young players who have stepped up. For example, the solid play of Vaver and Bindl who have seen limited minutes.

One of McCluskie's headers is going to go in real soon.

Don't know where I read it, but someone alluded to the idea that the score could have 6-0, which I agree with...although not all shots were counted...at least not on the scoreboard. During the scrums I saw 3 or 4 shots and only one shot counted on the scoreboard...and maybe it is because only one would have counted. In other instances, UP scorers made it to the box and were tripped and the ref called fouls on Portland. I really didn't like his calls. As for performances, Taylor Brooke is my choice for player of the year (MVP), Noelle LaProvotte for Freshman of the year, but most improved (IMHO) is a tossup with at least three possibles.
Attendance...I couldn't see through the rain to count the Pilot Club tent, but I think the visible turnout was about the same as Friday night...and the rain cause my shoes to take until this morning to dry.

Actually Portland got credit for one of SMC's shots. I was watching the scoreboard after an SMC shot and the Pilot shots changed from 11 to 12. I watched for quite a while and it was not reversed.

I would go with #3 for MVP, #13 for most improved, and agree on FOY.

I've watched a lot of women's college soccer this year, and I haven't seen a player better than Kendall. She is one of the best outside left defenders DI women's soccer ever has seen, and maybe the best (including Stef Lopez-Cox in the comparisons). When Garrett says she could be on the USWNT if given a chance, he is right.

On the other hand, Amanda has been great and Taylor too, and Cruz, and on and on. What distinguishes this team is that it is a great team, with each player giving everything she's got, with each player doing whatever she's asked. When I coach, I don't like MVP awards because every player counts 100% and I look at this team that way.