Flyers Topple Hokies 3-0 in NCAA First Round

[Chris R]

http://www.udpride.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15697

[ud69]

Very Odd Match- Hokies dominated for 55 minutes. Flyers finally started to generate some offense about 15-20 minutes into second half. Our first goal was marshmallow soft - massive keeper error - but they all count. The second goal was top shelf quality - EPL level. It really sucked the wind out of VTU

Rodgers - Rock solid in goal all night. Never made a bad decision. The woodwork - 2 post hits and a crossbar - was her friend on this night.

Back line - Had trouble with the Hokie size and speed all night.

Libertine - Thought her play finally helped change momentum.

Willie- Goodness she is good. When the ball is on her foot good things happen all around. She has such confidence - and rightfully so - in her ability to hold the ball under pressure. With 18 goals and 12 assists, her 48 points is second in the country to Christen Press of Stanford who will most likely be the national player of the year.

On to tosu - another challenge.

[Chris R]

A tale of two matches really. When this program gets mad at the world like they did in the last 35 minutes of the match, they can play with these BCS teams all day. I was actually surprised we didnt come out stronger in the match and the first half was similar to last year's first half - the only difference being the scoreboard.

The value of getting an early goal however is undeniable. Even when you arent playing well, you still feel like you are playing for something, protecting something. If we had gotten down 1-0 or 2-0, Im not sure we respond in the same way and get two goals.

All that said, the difference in this team is we got 1 soft goal and 2 solid goals for three goals against a strong ACC team. Last year, I dont think we manufacture 2-3 goals in a game like this.

I think we match up a bit better with OSU. They out-shot us 19-11 early in the season, dominated the run of play with more physicality, but in all honestly we did not come to play. We are a better team now. Of course, pretty much everybody in the NCAAs can say that, but I think we've made more strides than most teams. Once Giner got moved into the offense in the latter half of the season, we became far more dangerous offensively and began sharing the wealth rather than it simply being the Colleen Williams Show.

I dont think OSU has quite the speed of Va Tech. But they have a target forward that sits in the middle of the field just in front of the box and likes to distribute. St. Francis conceded every pass to her. We must pick off balls. Our outside backs must also be in better form on Sunday.

In the first match, OSU draped players all over Williams. I suspect we will see that again and the Bucks will force others to do the damage. My bullet point to to everyone else is be prepared to get a pass sprung from Williams. If shes doubled, someone will be open and she'll find that player.

I dont think either team will need three goals to win. Maybe two.

We did not clear the ball well in large stretches inside the box again. Some of the clears were wormburners right down Broadway, so we need to get a toe under the ball and force those balls to the side.

DeWolfe needs to be big again. We need the same quality minutes from Emery.

One thing about Grant last night. She's seen her minutes decrease throughout the season, in part due to a lack of production (scoring) and Giner moving up top. Until Grant came in the game however, we were getting killed on almost every header. She won the first two headers in her area and I think maybe subconsciously it lit a match under our intensity level. From that point on, others started winning more headers.

My other plea is to challenge every ball played back to the goalkeeper. Every time we sprinted at the keeper, the keeper was forced to play the ball quicker than they preferred and most times played a poor ball or kicked it out of bounds. We have enough speed up top to STEAL A GOAL by simply offering NO QUARTER to any backpass to the goalkeeper. Keepers dont like to be rushed -- and most of them almost always try to play a ball to their strong foot before clearing away.

We can definitely win this game. If we play like we did in the first half against VT, it probably wont happen. If we play like we did in the final 35 minutes, we just might be the team to beat. You see where Im getting at? We play like we did in the last 35 minutes on Friday for the entire match, and we will put ourselves in a terrific position to exact revenge.

I dont think we could ask for a more favorable second round matchup in the NCAAs unless SFU had won on PKs. We know OSU. they know us. There are no secrets. I like it that way. Just a back yard street brawl. Chains, whips, brass knuckles, its all good.

[Chris R]

Couple more stats from the NCAA First Round:

1. All 16 seeded teams advanced to the second round.

2. Only five non BCS schools (excluding the non traditional national powers Portland and Santa Clara) are still alive in the NCAA Tourney. For the likes of Dayton to compete against BCS schools -- mostly state schools with an unlimited sized check written by the Governor to fund their programs -- says a lot about the program UD runs. Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium is basically a track stadium with a soccer field in the middle, yet its nicer than most non FBS college football facilities. The press box alone probably cost more than what Baujan is worth. When you walk around campuses like these its amazing the pile of money they throw at sports. UD does so much more with so much less on a comparative basis.

3. Nobody left in the NCAA Tourney has won more games than Dayton thus far (19). A handful of teams also have won 19.

4. The 3-0 win over VT was the first Flyer win in the NCAAs by more than one goal since the Second Round win over Miami (OH) in 2001. My brain tells me that was a 2-0 or 3-0 win. I should know as I was there in Morgantown! Everything other win was a one-goal win.

The winner of the UD/Ohio State match takes on the South Carolina/Virginia winner. UVA is the #2 seed and a solid step above VT. Ive seen South Carolina on TV and they are also very good. They have the SEC offensive player of the year and lost 1-0 to Florida in the SEC Finals on an own goal. Both teams will be tough matches whomever moves on.

5. Eight ACC teams made the NCAA Tourney. Only VT did not advance to the second round.