Kicking off the 2012 thread with some official updates from schools on 2012 recruiting classes. Duke and Wake aren't losing any starters from last year's final four teams, and as usual all the ACC programs are loading up a lot of the country's top talent. If you thought the 2011 season was fun/brutal, just wait until this season starts. Here's what we have so far.... Wake Forest Signs Three for Fall 2012 Class http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/020912aaa.html UNC to Announce 2012 Recruiting Class Later In Spring http://www.tarheelblue.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/020112aaa.html Virginia Women’s Soccer Announces 2012 Recruiting Class http://www.virginiasports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=88833&SPID=10614&ATCLID=205373195&DB_OEM_ID=17800 Virginia Tech Inks Four Newcomers for 2012 http://www.hokiesports.com/wsoccer/recaps/20120203aaa.html
Blue Devils Add Five in Early Signing Period http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.d...842&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205380957&DB_OEM_ID=4200 Boston College Announces 2012 Recruiting Class (includes a Texas transfer) http://www.bceagles.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/022412aaa.html NC State Announces 2012 Signing Class http://www.gopack.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/021312aab.html Clemson Womens Soccer Signs Six for 2012 Season http://www.clemsontigers.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/021412aac.html
ACC Spring Preview from TDS http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/coll...CC-programs-looking-to-get-a-leg-up-in-spring and a little late to this thread, but Maryland elevates Morgan to Head Coach after Pensky leaves for Tennessee... http://www.umterps.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/021012aaa.html And not that spring results mean anything, but just an FYI... FSU Falls at Georgia http://www.seminoles.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/022512aaa.html Fun fact... In the last 5 years, 5 ACC schools have reached the NCAA College Cup. UNC (2009, 2008), FSU (2007, 2011), Boston College (2010), Duke (2011) and Wake Forest (2011).
Miami and UCF also went head to head in early spring action... http://www.ucfathletics.com/sports/w-soccer/recaps/021312aab.html
Still no word on when Pitt and Syracuse will officially join the conference, but obviously it isn't happening in 2012. The conference has said though that when they join, all Olympic Sports teams will play each other at least once (aka they won't be broken up into divisions like football and bball). Also no word on UConn getting added to the conference, which by now it's no secret that the school has basically said if the offer were to come to join the ACC they'd take it. And in more unsubstantiated rumors about further conference expansion...Rutgers and Notre Dame are the latest teams to be thrown into the mix... http://www.bcinterruption.com/2012/...cc-expansion-rumors-rutgers-notre-dame-to-acc
4 ACC teams played Spring matches as part of the Jefferson Cup Showcase in Richmond VA yesterday. UVA and VA Tech tied 0-0. Duke defeated NC State 2-0 VA Tech defeated NC State 1-0 Duke defeated UVA 1-0 Heard the crowds were great and the games competitive.
Some updates... UVA Women's Soccer Spring Season Update http://www.virginiasports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&SPID=10614&SPSID=88833 Wake Forest Announces 2012 Fall Schedule http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/032112aab.html
Some updates... UVA Women's Soccer Spring Season Update http://www.virginiasports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17800&SPID=10614&SPSID=88833 Wake Forest Announces 2012 Fall Schedule http://www.wakeforestsports.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/032112aab.html
I got wrong info about the UVa - VTech score. UVa won 3-0 in Richmond, according to UVa's athletic website.
Alright, well we haven't had official word from UNC and FSU on what personnel they'll be working with next year, but we have a pretty good idea. I thought I'd take a perhaps futile early spring stab at outlining things in the conference (coming in two parts)... The front runners: Duke Wake Forest There can't be any doubt about who the favorites are heading into the 2012 season. Sure other teams are bringing in loads of new talent that could be game changers and shuffle the pecking order around, but until we can see how the pieces fit together you stick with what you know. What we know is that Duke and Wake Forest have two of the best goalkeepers in the country, two of the best defenses in the country, and arguably two of the most skillful, lethal offenses in the country. And they aren't losing any of their starters from last season. Duke was the ACC survivor of the ACC vs. Stanford final four last year, but had a very very tall order going up against the Cardinal in the final. Coming that close and not getting any hardware is a bummer for such a historic season, and will be fuel for the team in the Fall. The team chemistry seems to be very strong with the Blue Devils. With a lineup that includes breakout stars Pathman, Weinberg, Anasi, Cobb and Campbell, they should have all the confidence in the world. Player to watch: Kelly Cobb Wake Forest has had two record breaking seasons in a row (2010 ACC Champs and 2011 NCAA College Cup), and will look to build on the recent success yet again. A stinging defeat at the hands of the Blue Devils in the Final Four last season surely must still burn, especially considering the game was closer than the 4-1 score line would suggest. Don’t be surprised to see it come down to the Blue Devils and the Demon Deacons in the end again. While Bledsoe and Stengel are the driving forces behind this team, the secret is out. Look for others to make their mark this season and step up when it counts. Player to watch: Rachel Nuzzolese The old guard: Florida State UNC These two teams are very much in the race for the top spot. Calling Florida State “old guard” might seem laughable, especially for those who remember the ‘Noles regular stint at the bottom of the league table over a decade ago. But for nearly the last decade, it’s been all FSU and UNC. In the last 5 years, UNC and FSU have been to the College Cup twice each. It’s amazing to think that 2011 was the first year FSU came away as ACC Champs. These two teams are reloading with some fresh blood for the 2012 season. Everyone will be watching to see how it all comes together. 2009 was the last National title that UNC captured. While only three years ago, it seems like a lifetime to Tar Heel fans. Over the last two seasons, things just haven’t come together for the Heels. Plagued by injuries and questions about team chemistry, the Heels saw flashes of brilliance but couldn’t string enough together to make a run in the post season. The individual talent is there, the Heels currently have 4 players on the USWNT U-20 roster. But Carolina is reloading this season with some serious talent. Could the influx of fresh blood be the missing element to bring the Heels back to glory? Player to watch: Lindsay Horan Florida State finally captured the elusive ACC crown they had been hunting down for years, knocking off Wake Forest in PKs in the championship. It was never certain that they would get there (or the College Cup for that matter) after a rough start to the ACC season that saw losses to all the other big dogs in the conference, going 2-5 in their first 7 ACC contests. The ‘Noles proved to be 2011’s version of the ’10 BC Eagles though, digging deep to make a run in the post season. While FSU loses midfield standout Tori Huster, they still get Price and McCarty for one more season on the offensive end. Player to watch: Dagny Brynjarsdottir
Anyone know the results from the ACC Spring Tournament last weekend in Winston-Salem? A bunch of ACC teams played each other.
Can't give you any specifics, but the ACC teams that were there were: Wake Forest Duke Clemson UNC VaTech NCSU Each played two games. UNC played Clemson 2-0 and NCSU 1-1 (is that right?) Last year Maryland and Miami were also there, but apparently not this year.
I thought it would be interesting to take a look at which current (including incoming Freshman for this season) ACC players have been invited to US WNT camps so far in 2012. If I've missed anyone please let me know. This is US only, didn't look at international though I know there are several. Boston College Kristen Mewis - M/D - Full US WNT Casey Morrison - D - US U20 WNT Stephanie McCaffrey - F - US U20 WNT Duke Natasha Anasi - D - US U23 WNT Kelly Cobb - F - US U20 WNT Mollie Pathman - M - US U20 WNT Florida State Kassey Kallman - D - US U20 WNT UNC Crystal Dunn - D - US U20 WNT Kealia Ohai - M - US U20 WNT Amber Brooks - M - US U23 WNT Bryanne Haberlin - GK - US U20 WNT Lindsay Horan - F - US U20 WNT Virginia Morgan Brian - M - US U20 WNT Olivia Brannon - D - US U20 WNT Wake Forest Aubrey Bledsoe - GK - US U23 WNT Katie Stengel - F - US U20 WNT Jackie Logue - D - US U23 WNT
Looks like Morgan Stith from Virginia and Vicki DiMartino from Boston College are also with the U23s. That would mean currently there are 19 players in the ACC with the US National Teams. And the 2012 class probably will add 15 or more players to the conference with some kind of National Team experience in the past. Very impressive. Unfortunately for Natasha Anasi she may have seen her last call-up. Word is she had a major off the field incident the night the 23s won the Four Nations Cup and almost missed the flight back to the US. She's not in the present 23s camps, so no surprise there.
Here's an edited list adding Stith and DiMartino. Unfortunate to hear about Anasi if its true. 19 is impressive, but how will the WNT schedules impact their availability for play during the college season? Will be interesting... Boston College Kristen Mewis - M/D - Full US WNT Casey Morrison - D - US U20 WNT Stephanie McCaffrey - F - US U20 WNT Vicki DiMartino - F - US U23 WNT Duke Natasha Anasi - D - US U23 WNT Kelly Cobb - F - US U20 WNT Mollie Pathman - M - US U20 WNT Florida State Kassey Kallman - D - US U20 WNT UNC Crystal Dunn - D - US U20 WNT Kealia Ohai - M - US U20 WNT Amber Brooks - M - US U23 WNT Bryanne Haberlin - GK - US U20 WNT Lindsay Horan - F - US U20 WNT Virginia Morgan Brian - M - US U20 WNT Olivia Brannon - D - US U20 WNT Morgan Stith - D - US U23 WNT Wake Forest Aubrey Bledsoe - GK - US U23 WNT Katie Stengel - F - US U20 WNT Jackie Logue - D - US U23 WNT
Laura Weinberg and Kaitlyn Kerr from Duke were also invited this year to a U-23 camp. Kerr couldn't attend as she was recovering from surgery. Press release: http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=205358648
A major factor this year will be the timing of the U20 World Cup this year in Japan. The final is September 9, meaning if the Americans make it that far than many ACC programs, as well as Stanford, UCLA, Notre Dame, etc. will be missing a top upperclassman or two. Everyone should be back to full strength by conference time, but a loss or two before conference play starts could hurt the RPI for programs such as these. This would be a great year for a lower-ranked program to play these higher-ranked programs, knowing that they could miss a couple stud players at that time. Woould have to imagine this would play a big factor in Virginia's season early on. They won't have their head coach for almost half of the regular season. Interesting side note - the ACC coaches put in a motion to the NCAA to make it a rule that college coaches cannot be National Team head coaches (would be a very welcome change that should have been put in place years ago). Apparenly Swanson thought it would be OK to go against what the coaches in his conference wanted.
Thanks hadarot and SoccerTrustee. And I agree cpthomas. Meanwhile, the US U20s played the US U23s yesterday. TDS did a recap and it sounds like this would have been a really fun game to watch (too bad they can't web stream these things). Looks like the U20 starting lineup for the World Cup is going to be stacked with the ACC's best players. UNC's Horan, Wake's Stengel and Virginia's Brian all scored in the contest for the U20s. Waldrum also highlighted the play of U23 newcomer Jackie Logue from Wake Forest. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/U20_WNT_draws_4-4_with_U23_WNT_aid24310
This is, of course, nothing new. In 2004 and 2008 several teams ( including the team I support, UP) lost several players during the tournament to Youth WC tournaments.
Swanson was already head coach of that team when this went through. I also don't think you'll see a move towards prohibiting college coaches from being assistants - it's valuable professional experience for the coaches and for the federation in terms of bringing people in and getting an "up close" look at them. That being said, the Ape/Jill deal is a bit of a wildcard in predicting federation behavior with the WNT program - we'll have to wait and see what other "plans" these folks have going forward, and how they'll impact college soccer. The one thing I would say is that I doubt they'll worry about impacting non-WNT stakeholders when they make decisions.
Noting all of the TV hoopla going on over on the left coast, does any one know what the ACC is up to in this regard?
The ACC has also increased its TV package for Olympic Sports as part of renogotiations this year... http://www.theacc.com/genrel/050912aaa.html Still waiting I think on TV coverage schedule for all the non revenue generating fall sports.
