More of Carly Malatskey from the Orange County Register: O.C. Small School Athlete of the Year: Tarbut V'Torah's Carly Malatskey
Hope that the 2016 edition find inspiration during training camp from Olympian Kelley O'Hara from sportsfanjournal.com: Kelley O’Hara Helped Build U.S. Women’s Soccer Culture On The Farm
from gostanford.com: OLYMPIC TRIO Riley, Press and O'Hara head to Rio Olympics It would be great to see if all three are on the field at the same time in USA-NZ tomorrow 1500 PDT on the NBC Olympic coverage
Scrimmage tonight against UC-Davis. Unable to go so would appreciate insights from folks who do. Any Davis program is Stanford's Achilles heel. Just ask the mighty pointy-ball program who lose to Davis. Davis posed problems for last year's edition, if we can score, then game over. Interested to see how the frosh perform. Between Gee, Tran, Malatskey, and Beattie, I hope three of them can win front-line positions. Hopefully by Pac season. Last year's front-line had a season-long audition for 2016. They were not very productive generating goals nor scoring opportunities. I don't remember seeing even 1 break-away opportunity. Mariah's good at creating CKs but last year's edition had a dismal time converting them. I think this edition is 1 prolific front-liner and 1 puppeteer away from being a championship contender. I hope that the frosh can swim when they're thrown in the deep end and I hope that at least 1 frosh can emerge as a prolific front-line goal-scorer. This edition has a ridiculous number of starter-caliber left-footed players. And from watching Sam and Tierna the last few years, they're lethal with their left foot as well. Midfield would likely see Andi and Jordan. I prefer to see them play deeper and have Xiao play in the hole. Jordan had a season-long audition to quarterback the team, I prefer to see someone else in that role. When she plays deeper she doesn't see as much of the press in her face and can pick out targets. Xiao is much more shifty and can dribble her way off pressure and hopefully can pull the strings. Backline would probably be L-R: Tegan-Alana-Maddie-Amack. Jane is the nominal starter at GK but would like to see what Rood can contribute, if she does not red-shirt. Will Jane be the first senior GK since Barnie 12 yrs ago to finish the season as the starter?
from the Capital Gazette: Navy comes up short against No. 5 Stanford Watched the Navy game online. Typical 1st game for a Stanford diesel. Lots of new and young players in the first XI - 4 frosh, 3 sophs - so will take time for the engine to purr smoothly. 4 frosh - Tran, Davidson, Goad, Karam - started both games. Goad started at LB, Karam at right. Wasn't required to go forward much, which is probably prudent for players who are taking a big step up to the next level. Nevertheless, both are prime targets of opportunity for opponents; not unlike Andrew Luck relishing the thought of going up against 2 rookie corners. Beattie's gonna be good, perhaps much better technique at defender than Tegan. They're being cautious of minutes played for Tegan and Xiao. X is playing through injury and McG is just starting to be healthy after an injury-plagued season and was eventually lost during the Tournament. X and McG bring much-needed pace and penetration when brought in the game and will be a handful for opponents. Karam is tiny, height and build are what they are. Needs to work on balance and lower-body strength though. Look for opponents to push/gang up on her as she shields balls on endline jousts. Tierna's the real deal. Not really surprised having seen her play the last couple of years, but it amazes me how seamless her transition seems to be with this edition. 22 made the trip. Will Amack, Lee, and Edmonds redshirt? ===== from The Hoya: GU Falls to Top-Ranked Stanford from The Soccer Observer: HOYAS WOMEN COMMIT CARDINAL SIN AGAINST STANFORD ===== NSR, but wanted to share this cool fact: from The Rule of Tree: Stanford's 27 Medals Are the Best of Any University Worldwide
Stanford 2 - 2 Notre Dame [2OT] The Card found a way to leak goals against ND, and the domers were too good to pass up the opportunity to score. Who would have thought that it would be so difficult to pick a RB at the start of the season? Losing Amack, probably for the season, didn’t seem too bad. Because we have Plan B. UNTIL ….. ….. Plan B [Lee] might sit out as well. Well, there’s always Plan C ….. ….. Plan C [Xiao] is recovering from injury, not at full strength, and can’t play a full game. Forget about a 2-game weekend. Scraping the proverbial bottom of the barrel, the braintrust came up with the brilliant idea to play frosh out of position. 4th-choice did not show well at exhibition and in the 2-game East Coast swing. Technique was mentioned in a previous post. Defending college players is another dimension, and their performances seem to indicate that these are positions they’ve never played in. 5th-choice’s 1st game against Florida was a nightmare. Lacked control, found ways to lose balls with little to no pressure, lacked control, unable to backpedal and become an outlet, little to no pace, lacked control, unable to carry the ball forward, unable to link up with Tran, lacked control. Very lucky to not get scored on in the 2OT escape against Florida. But found a way to concede 3 goals in the next 4 games. Against ND, after twice letting her man get behind her in the 1st five minutes of H2, ND made sure to capitalize in the 7th minute of H2 as she was caught ball-watching on ND’s 1st goal. Her limitations were obvious within the first 5 minutes of the Florida game but braintrust was oblivious like the proverbial ostrich-in-the-sand as long as you were winning. For the braintrust, it was a race against the clock - to find out how many games it will take for a new player to competently play a new position. It was not meant to be. I’m disappointed at how things evolved - not at the player but more at the braintrust for not having a quicker hook thus setting her up to fail. Out came the hook before the restart and in came 6th-choice right back Boissiere. Jaye’s a center-mid by trade and I’ve always admired her spatial and situational awareness and her ability to carry the ball away from pressure. Against ND, did a very good job of controlling the ball, linking play, and not allowing her man to get behind her. Braintrust finally stumbled onto something, and hopefully Jaye should be a more-than-adequate plug to the leaking dike until options A, B, or C work their way back to health. If at all, this season. The conundrum at right back is a big reason why they experimented with a 3-back system with Alana-Andi-Maddie in the latter stages of the Minnesota game, with the outside backs now playing as wingbacks and not having to defend as much. Play to your players’ strengths, as the team is only as strong/good as its weakest link. Now if the braintrust can only figure out how the to make the outside forwards develop their endline game and see their endline as their friend and not something to be avoided with a 10-yard pole. Xiao and Lee make a living on the endline, but without their services [limited - in Xiao’s case] the frontline lacks that dimension. ND’s 2nd goal had me scratching my head. Really poor decision by Andi in the defensive third to pass the ball back to the CBs instead of controlling it. Bouncing ball went to a domer instead who, as the TV replay shows, immediately fell as soon as Alana stuck her foot out. Classic Brazilian play and CR fell for it. Wall was set up as convention - to take away the near post daisy-cutters. GK’s responsible for the other 8x12. The only way for them to score near post was to launch a world-class upper-90 goal. Wall took away almost half the target but they still scored on a daisy-cutter to the far post. On a better day I think Jane would have had better concentration and snuff that out. Poor decisions conceded 2 goals, but props to ND for still putting those 2 balls in the cage. OTOH, we had more than a few good looks for a 3rd goal, and they did not have good looks for a 3rd, but this was not to be the day. The Card have good players. Hopefully this setback will spur them to become even better. And Stanford can be a better team. One more game before Pac season starts. Hopefully things start to come together.
The Card host Santa Clara Friday at 1700. Huge must-win game for SCU. Tournament-wise, unless they win their conference, they're probably on the outside looking in. Hard for me to believe this fact - they are winless in their last 6 games. Winning at Stanford will give them a huge boost to their Tournament selection. Let's see which team wants this game more. Hope the Card play well and get the W.
Stanford 3 - 0 Oregon Oregon proved to be a tough challenge, but the Card broke through with a 3-goal onslaught in a blistering 8-minute stretch of H2. Perhaps inspired by the hot daytime temps, Oregon started out like a house on fire. Pressed high, hard, and fast in the first 10 minutes, dictating to Stanford how the game will be played. Playing with 5 mids, they outnumbered and overwhelmed the strength of this Stanford edition - the center mids. Oregon pressed high to force Jane or the defenders to either play the ball wide or over the top where their numbers in the center of the park will win the 1st or 2nd balls. Similar to how Wisconsin and Minnesota played, pressure the backline, clog the middle, play the ball to wide players or shank it altogether. Jane’s footwork and distribution still needs work after 4 years, and the backs needed to do a better job of finding the open mid[-s] instead of Buehler-ing the ball. Oregon’s defenders played very high, compressed the playing area, and daring Stanford’s slow front line to beat you over the top, to work off each other, or beat you on the dribble. By doing so, Oregon negates Stanford’s strengths in the center and forces the ball to areas where they can realistically win control. It didn’t help that the CR swallowed his whistle on Oregon’s physical play. Otherwise, I could not fault Oregon’s gameplan. They were 16th in the RPI and if they played well in the Pac, they might get an invite in the Tournament, so they needed a good result here. They only have 1 game this opening weekend, and with the liberal substitution rules, can realistically rotate their players to play helter-skelter like headless chickens. If they can only do it for 90 minutes ….. H2 commenced with Rat making adjustments per the article. The Card played the ball better and faster with crisper oasses and with plenty of 1-touch passes instead of going over the top. All the backs were making forward runs carrying the ball and the headless chickens were not ready for that wrinkle and got bent out of shape. Meanwhile I had another eye on pointy-ball at the Rose Bowl and when the train whistle sounded and idiots like me started whooping like crazy when pointy-ball scored and sealed the win in L.A., a lot of people were clueless as to what was happening. A few moments later, perhaps inspired by the goings-on in Pasadena, McG was dribbling up the left flank and launched a sharp cross that went in upper-90 far post. Stanford 1 - 0 Headless Chickens. A few minutes later, Kyra Carusa held the ball inside the PA, turned, laid the ball off to the right for Collins to cross back to the PA where the diminutive Jordan DiBiasi unleashed from her core and headed in the 2nd goal. I don’t know how she does it - not particularly great at passing and easily gets knocked off the ball, but has the uncanny gift of ghosting in at the right place at the right time in goal-scoring positions. Great goal and wonderful build-up play leading up to that goal. Stanford 2 - 0 Headless Chickens 3rd goal was a free header by Collins off a FK by Andi from about 35 yds away. Collins was so free that she didn’t even jump and had to bend at the waist at the shoulder-high delivery. In just eight minutes, Stanford 3 - 0 Headless Chickens Oregon could not sustain their headless chicken act for 90 minutes, even with hockey line-changes. It was good of them to try because Stanford will face this kind of pressure from here on out, especially in a Tournament one-off. The Card have a better idea of what they need to do better, and showed their resiliency in light of the opponent taking away things that they normally do well. It was a good team effort to win the opening Pac game. Nobody wins the Pac in the first game, but by losing you take yourself out of the running. Every Pac team has a winning record at the start of the week, and every team is probably hopeful that they can make it to the dance, more so if they can claim Stanford’s scalp. 2nd Pac game Thursday night against visiting Wazzu, who lost late when they hosted Colorado in their home opener. If the triple-digit temps last till Thursday, maybe it will work to our advantage against the visitors from the Palouse
Stanford 3 - 0 Washington Down a man for 80 minutes, Stanford displayed great resilience in beating Udub. Scoring commenced when Carusa’s shot from long distance was bobbled by their GK, Turner framed the goal and bundled in the blunder. Stanford 1-0. In the 10th minute, a Udub pass landed in no-man’s land between Beattie and Jane. Beattie inexplicably played a weak passback straight to Jane. Jane’s foot caught the Udub player, and she was promptly sent off. The Card had to face a PK, and play a man down the rest of the way. The Card practice man-down every week, but not for 80 minutes.. In stepped Jahansouz, who promptly stonewalled the PK. Poetic justice in my book. A certain tying goal was thwarted, momentum and confidence shifted back to us, and it was downhill driving for the Card ever since. Even with the Card a man down, Udub were unable to put pressure and the Card played them even, at worst, the rest of H1. H2 commenced with Andi dribbling the ball straight to their heart, a few Card players’ touches later, Carusa laid off the ball to a trailing Tierna to nail the goal far post 30 seconds into H2. Stanford 2-0. In another 15 minutes, Turner’s ball into the PA was looped back by a defender into their own goal. Stanford 3-0. Overall, Stanford played very well with 10 players. But they were playing at home against arguably a Pac bottom-dweller. Nevertheless, the Card rose to the occasion by playing well and even scoring 2 goals down a man to earn a well-deserved team victory. If i were to nitpick - up 3 goals with 30 minutes to play, I would have taken Xiao, who was already cautioned, out. Andi played a great game, but needs to realize that not every ball needs to be contested. It’s a long season and the collective hush in the stands when Andi was laying on the field after she collided with a Udub player spoke volumes about the wisdom of the crowd of her importance to the team. So Jordan becomes the sacrificial lamb when Jane was sent off. When Andi had to be replaced, she comes back in. Jordan’s passing - even when not under duress - scares me, and her errant pass deep in her own half was almost exploited by Udub. Why not play a better passer like Jaye instead, especially finishing off a won game? Late in the game why not have Tran and/or Malatskey finish up top instead of Collins or Ryan, both turnover-prone and not skilled enough to hold the ball long enough and bring teammates into play. Are the frosh really that much worse? You’re up 3 goals and the frosh need the experience by finishing off a won game. Beattie was rattled by the send-off and had a shaky outing the rest of the way. But she gutted it out and was visibly relieved when her short-handed team scored 2 additional goals. Beattie knows better than to pass back to the GK without the GK saying “keeper”. It’s a learning experience for the frosh, who probably hasn’t played the position before. Beattie wasn’t 1st-choice for the position but she’s head and shoulders above everyone else in that position since a revolving door of applicants auditioned for the injured Amack. Jane’s send-off was a harsh decision, but it is what it is. Jane was not expecting the ball from Beattie, but she was not helping out her teammate either. Unlike most GKs, Jane doesn’t play field general and rarely tells her defenders what to do. Most GKs would have provided an outlet by moving away from goal, and/or just an arm motion to either touchline, and/or would have yelled “out” for Beattie to boot it out, but that’s not Jane. The passback came at the worst possible angle - 90°, for a GK to play. Jane’s a good shot-stopper but still makes head-scratching decisions every game. Against Wazzu, the Card were defending a CK that Alana heroically saved off the line. Alana didn’t have to, had Jane charged after that airball. That airball had enough hang-time for Jane to have actually contested it and punch it out of danger. Instead, the airball landed 10 feet away from her, inside the 6, to an unguarded opponent as Jane retreated way inside the cage well past the endline. Then in the 89th minute, Wazzu scored at an acute angle on her near post. I still couldn’t believe how Wazzu were able to score from such a tight angle - near post at that. Cardinal GK sin. Jane’s always had problems with balls coming from her right, I attribute that to being very dependent on both of her right extremities. Has trouble using her left hand as a backstop from crosses from her right. And when balls are going to her left, still uses her right hand to parry it away. Card’s quick transition game is non-existent because Jane rarely, if ever, throws overhand or rolls balls to her outlets. Shanks an average of 3 goal kicks per game, putting her team in bad field position inside their own half. When pressure comes from her right, more often than not she will shank the ball when she kicks it upfield. Can‘t/doesn’t play with her left foot. Jane’s saves may look highlight worthy - but half are probably as a result of being too far out of her line - but she also puts her team in bad position every game. I was serious in my season outlook asking if Jane will be the first senior GK to finish out her career as the incumbent since 2004 [Barnie]. At this point in her career, Jane is far from a polished GK, and has probably reached her ceiling. For such a heralded shot-stopper, Jane’s career SV% is very very pedestrian, makes one wonder if she is more of a Toldo than a Buffon. Good, but not great. In fact, are GK2 and GK3 really that much worse? 80 minutes is a very small sample size, but those 80 minutes provided visual and objective evidence that Jahansouz performed very well when called upon. Cleared balls upfield and not a single one was shanked to the touchline for a turnover. Made throws to outlets to quick-start plays. Doesn’t stray off her line as much as Jane, so no need for cat-like acrobatic saves. Fearless in the air and had good command of the box. Helps out her defense with verbal commands, as a GK has a unique perspective of the field of play. Commands her outside backs with positioning and spacing, something that will help Beattie from this point forward. More than pure shot-stopping ability, Jahansouz displayed these skills and attributes that this young backline needs. I’m very confident Jahansouz will perform very well at USC. A bucketload of goals from her teammates will help a long way There is no GK controversy. Jane is a good shot-stopper but there are 4 years of objective data and visual evidence - career SV%, footwork, positioning, shanks, and whatnots - that show she’s far from being a complete GK. I will start Jahansouz from this point forward until she proves she’s not a capable GK. Challenging road games with the Bay Area schools visiting the LA schools next weekend. Results there will help shake out the race for the Pac championship.
The Straight Red was a call the ref had to make. Jane got beat and desperately swept her leg out to trip the udub forward. Last Defender. No argument from anyone
DOGSO in the box is no longer a straight red according to FIFA ...triple penalty and all. http://www.efe.com/efe/english/dest...-testing-of-video-technology/50000261-2859395 Hasn't the NCAA followed suit?
I believe I read on the Stanford site--the fact is so hard to believe that I now question it!--that the 3 goals given up by the Cardinal yesterday was the first time the team has allowed more than 2 goals since 2005--11 years. THAT is impressive.
from espn.com: After stint with national team, Andi Sullivan ready to lead Stanford's push to College Cup
The Card took care of business in the desert: Arizona 0-4 Stanford Arizona St 1-2 Stanford Next up is the season finale at Berkeley on Friday 1500 PDT. In terms of RPI, we are at #1, >100 basis points ahead of #2, & > 400 basis points ahead of #5 . Even if we lose at Berkeley, we are virtually assured of one of the four 1-seeds, which means the opportunity to host up to 4 Tournament games, provided you win every time. Cal are as good as in (the Tournament) as well; their win at USC is their trump card. I wish these derbies were scheduled as Game 6, when there's a lot more to play for. The teams in Washington, Arizona, Oregon? are playing for pride. If the derbies were held in the middle of Pac season it would be more exciting for everyone because everyone is still in the hunt for a conference championship and a Tournament invite. Derbies in Milan, Manchester, North London, NEVER held in the last day of competition. Because - What is the point? 2 weeks before Selection Monday, but last night my crystal ball showed me the seeds 1_Stanford________2_Georgetown_____3_Florida_____4_Arkansas v (Cal v SCU) 1_West Virginia_____2_North Carolina___3_Duke______4_Virginia 1_South Carolina___2_Clemson________3_Auburn_____4_Florida St 1_Southern Cal_____2_Notre Dame_____3_Nebraska___4_BYU v UCLA
Pretty good overall. I think you and my simulation agree on the #1s and #2s and the others are reasonable.
cpt I have question about the NCAA's system of awarding bonus/penalties for games played/won/lost against strong/weak teams: https://sites.google.com/site/rpifordivisioniwomenssoccer/rpi-formula - the NCAA identifies that playing teams in the RPI range of 1-40, 41-80, etc., are awarded the same bonuses/penalties. What is their justification of this stratification from a statistical standpoint? If there is no statistical justification, why don't they do 1-20 or 1-30? It seems that getting positive results against teams with RPIs 31-39 is equivalent to getting positive results against teams with RPIs of 1-9. In reality, teams in either strata belong to different universes. Thanks for doing the work you do. Providing real-time RPI updates lifts the veil on what the NCAA keeps under wraps. To paraphrase the guy with orange hair, the system is rigged, when it comes to regionalization of Tournament games. What you and others do help demystify the rigging of the match-ups ===== from espn.com: Stanford's Andi Sullivan makes up for lost time, named espnW player of week