Looks like new head coach, Angela Kelly, was able to hang on to the committed Texas studs Petrucelli landed. Were the two Canadian kids previously committed to Tennessee? http://www.texassports.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/020212aaa.html
Yes, they were. This is an excellent class, and fills some needs. She's off to a good start for 2013 as well.
I wonder how many of these recruits actually watched Tennessee play? When you hear the term kick and chase I think they were referring to Tennessee. I sure hope her style of play changes at Texas or they better recruit track stars.
That's also about 97% of the soccer played in this country, including UNC and the USWNT, but I think it needs to be said that Kelly was never able to get the quality of recruits at Tennessee that she will at Texas (it's Tennessee, after all, and few girls wanted to knock out a few teeth and lower their IQs in order to fit in with the other students). She talks about wanting to play the possession game-she now has the players to do it (especially after the 2013 class matriculates).
Geesh! Here we go once again with the "kick and run" accusation. For those of you who lob such charges, do you really think that professional coaches, such as Kelly, are unaware of the advantages of possession soccer and have not studied soccer tactics for many more hours than most of us? Kelly has been a senior national team scout in Europe making notes on playing styles and tactics. She most has certainly watched high level men's soccer and probably can understand and dissect Barcelona's game better than most any fan. Kelly and most any coach would gladly have their team play like Barca if they possibly could and say so frequently when they describe what they want from their teams, or expect of players, or when they praise their players' creative talents. (Have you ever heard a college coach praise a recruit by saying "We recruited Janie because she can blast balls over the top and is so well suited to our kick and run game plan." Or, "We are so pleased to have Annie who will create many scoring chances because of her ability to mindlessly out run defenders." No, you haven't.) The fact of the matter is that coaches adapt a style of play that suits their talent on the field. When they outclass another team, you will see them playing really nice possession soccer. When they are outclassed, the infrequent scoring chances will be generated by counterattacks (which often look like kick and run by another name.) So let's ease up and maybe give credit to the knowledge and intelligence of our professional coaches. Or, to put it differently, if any of us who lob the "kick and run" charge at selected coaches were to be put in charge of their teams, we (you and I) surely would be very quickly charged by our compadres of playing kick and run soccer. It's not a simple matter of will.
Sorry but I am not impressed with any of those credentials but that does not matter. I have seen her teams play they play over the top soccer more than any other women s program I have watched. When did I mention Barcelona or possession soccer . I like Barc style of play but also enjoy a fast counterattacking style ala Germany. The way Tennessee played last year was not direct soccer it was prototypical kick and chase no matter how many credentials she has.
Well, adding goalkeeper Abby Smith to the current roster for 2012 means 4 goalies total; we'l see if they all stay at Texas. Some of you seem pretty familiar with Kelly's style of play. All I know is that Petrucelli's teams had a very difficult time scoring goals; not sure why, but getting shutout seemed to be the norm more often than not. As a fan, I want to see wins first and foremost; but, i sure would like to see some offense that will score more than 1 goal a game.
Alexa Gaul is gone, so the starting job is (presumably) Abby's, but she will be gone at the U-20 World Cup at the start of the season
Brinkley is in, she is truly a great kid. Great in the classroom and terrific on the field. The opportunity to play for the burnt orange is a life long dream for her!!
Houston's Sharis Lachapelle transfers to Texas http://www.texassports.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/070912aaa.html
Have you ever heard a college coach praise a recruit by saying "We recruited Janie because she can blast balls over the top ....." Or, "We are so pleased to have Annie who will create many scoring chances because of her ability to mindlessly out run defenders." No, you haven't.) Actually yes, I have. Not Angela Kelly but I have heard these exact words on the sidelines of some ugly Sunbelt games. Ugly Ugly. But yes, the mentality exists in the college game.
A rough start for Kelly. Texas is 2-6 out of the gate. Dayton - W - 3-2 (OT) Arkansas - L - 1-0 NC State - L - 1-0 Toledo - W - 3-0 Virginia - L - 3-0 New Mexico - L - 2-1 (2OT) BYU - L - 5-0 Utah - L - 1-0 Anybody here been following the Longhorns this season?
I do know their starting goalie from last year left. She transferred and is starting for Boston College. Her replacement and the reason she may have transferred was probably because of the freshmen goalie, Abby Smith. She has been with the U-20 WNT. There may have been others who transferred as well. New coach with knew system.