2008 RECRUITS FINALLY ANNOUNCED BY PILOTS

Here it is. Proves our recruit list to be accurate:

2008 Recruits

Ha! Whining on a message board really works! Power to the people! (Leave me my delusions, please.)

Now to whinge about not getting my poster!

(I've now officially gone over my annual allowance of exclamation points. And parentheses.)

So, if my counting is right, that will give the Pilots 20 players on their roster, assuming Megan and Rachel are able to play, Michelle, Keelin, Elli, and Sophie are playing, and there are no injuries

Ninjapizza, you need a poster for this year's team?

Send me your address in a message and you'll get a wonderful surprise in the mail in about a week.

After reading the release about these five incoming freshmen and assuming that Enyeart, Reed, Winters, and Schmidt are not available but that Megan and Rachel are:

Davis/DeYoung:
Sweeney, Olivier, Nicholson/McCluskie, Tsao;
Chandhoke, Jackman, M. Rapinoe, Burk;
R. Rapinoe, Foxhoven.

MJ - That's one heck of a starting 11, considering we would be without four of our very best players. But we sure wouldn't have much depth - and that was a real problem last year. No room for injuries or other contingencies.

I'm kind of surprised they don't just bring in a few more recruits. I know there are more on the way in 2009, and we should only lose 1 or 2 players after the season to loss of eligibility: Rachael for sure, and probably Megan. And I've heard enough fact and rumor to believe Garrett is bringing in quite a few more players than he is losing in 2009. Maybe the man is just really patient.

So,

If the 4 U-20s are all gone, what is the timeline for them? Gone part year/full season? Last year we played a good portion of the season with 17 active players, next season without those 4 we would have 16 if my count is correct. I just dont see the staff bringing in any more as a stopgap group, I think that the prevailing sentiment may be one of a more "hardship= greater preparation for future". But I think we will definately see more of players we havent gotten a ton out of in the past ie... Nicholsen and Jacka.

aleppiek,
i checked when the u-20 tourney occurs, its nov. 19-dec. 7. it is feasable that we could have our 20's through the end of the season, but definately out for the playoffs. i guess that is where the dilemma lands. a lot depends on when us soocer wants to get the girls to chile aaaaand when us soccer brings them in to camp. so what do we do? redshirt them or play them for the regular season an lose them for the playoffs??

There aren't any Pilots on the U-20 training camp roster for April 5-12, so maybe we won't have to worry about it?

U.S. U-20 WNTeam Roster
GOALKEEPERS (4): Kristin Arnold (Texas A & M), Amanda Barasha (Wake Forest), Chantel Jones (Virginia), Natalie Kulla (Marquette);
DEFENDERS (10): Ashley Bowyer (Ohio State), Kaley Fountain (Wake Forest), Liz Harkin (ASU), Meghan Klingenberg (UNC), Kelly Lynch (Virginia Tech), Brittney Macdonald (Miami), Blakely Mattern (South Carolina), Nikki Moore (Central Florida), Ella Stephan (Florida State), Lauren Wilmoth (UCLA);
MIDFIELDERS (10): Gina Demaio (Rutgers), Gina DiMartino (Boston College), Tanya Emerson (Tennessee), Melissa Hayes (Penn State), Christine Nairn (South Central Freedom), Lizzy Nichols (Harvard), Katie Sheeleigh (Harvard), Rachel Shipley (Texas A & M), Katie Vogel (Clemson), Kylie Wright (UCLA);
FORWARDS (10): Kiersten Dallstream (Washington State), Kristina Larsen (UCLA), Sydney Leroux (Sereno FC), Alyssa Mautz (Texas A & M), Tiffany McCarty (Freestate Shooters), Jessica McDonald (Phoenix College), Alex Morgan (California), Casey Nogueira (UNC), Brittney Steinbruch (Miami), Nikki Washington (UNC).

There are a few UNC players, so maybe they changed their mind?

I believe Jessica McDonald, identified as Phoenix College, also will be a UNC player via a transfer.

Some of who does and does not go to the camps may have to do with an attempt to coordinate at least to some extent with college teams. The Pilots might not even be able to play a Spring schedule without our U-20 players. I'm also wondering if the top college programs are trying to work something out with the U-20 staff, to assure that the players will be available during the pre-tournament season and even, if my calculations are right, during rounds 1-2. I know nothing about how the politics of this work. Do any of you know?

I don't know for sure, UPSF. But when I heard that none of our three US U-20 players were on the training camp roster, my gut told me that something's up. Something political. Bill Irwin may have had a chat with the US U-20 coach. Not sure what would have been said. It might have had something to do with fielding the spring team.

I can't see the Pilots asking their players to forego an opportunity to play for their country next Nov-Dec., and they probably would need to be in training camp for quite some time leading up to the tournament. I believe that the chosen 2 or 3 players, (between Elli, Keelin and Michelle), will redshirt next season, much like Megan R., Wozzie and Stephanie did during the U-19 fall tourney in 2004. (FYI - Geezer believes only 2 players will be chosen, as he has stated on more than one occasion. I believe those two will be Michelle and Keelin. Although I certainly believe Elli is deserving.)

For the Canada U-20 team, if they make the tourney, Sophie is the captain of that team, although she will also play in the Olympics with Senior Team Canada in August. Sophie, however, has already used her redshirt year, so that brings up a real dilemma for her and the Pilots. Burn a year of Pilot eligibility, leaving herself a three year Pilot career? Not a good thought.

FANatic, you've hit on a key point; which is how eary in the season would U20 players be called away. If they only (and "only" is an odd word in this context) miss the final 2 or 3 games in the NCAA playoffs then they might play thes season. Even with them there is no guaranty that UP makes it that far and it would be tough to give up a season for those few games. If they have to miss much more because of camps and training witht he team etc. then it becomes a different question. The U19 experience for Stephanie, Angie, and Megan was different in as much as that tournament was earlier in the year and eliminated most of the season for them.

Elli Reed is playing left defense in the spring and is looking great - I think she is still a strong candidate for the U20 team.

As others have said in another thread Enyeart, Winters and Reed all look excpetionally good. Megan Sweeney is playing well - just wish she'd play the quick simple pass to Kendra more often. Kendra is finding lots of space but several times yesterday her teammates tend to take the extra touch or too before looking for her, which allows time for the oppostion to close her down.

Jessica Tsao played in central mid alongside Keelin.

The conditions/weather were miserable yesterday. When Kelli C got the knock Michelle Scifo called out "you're OK Kelli" and was very reluctant to strip off the rain gear and go out there; and proceeded to play half-hearted. It looks like it's not the same sense of urgency to impress when you're playing out your senior year and not trying to impress for next season.

For the Canada U-20 team, if they make the tourney, Sophie is the captain of that team, although she will also play in the Olympics with Senior Team Canada in August. Sophie, however, has already used her redshirt year, so that brings up a real dilemma for her and the Pilots. Burn a year of Pilot eligibility, leaving herself a three year Pilot career? Not a good thought.

I'm sure these were similar questions looked at with Christine. What arrangements were made for Christine between UP and Canada? The same arrangements that were negotiated for Christine....are already on the table or already have been decided for Sophie? That deduction...could mean UP has Sophie this season afterall, right??.... I'm crossing fingers??

GO PILOTS!!!