Re: Pics National Championship game: North Carolina Vs Notre Dame unc's game all the way. very impressive team effort, better on the ball, on defense, quicker, focused. props to ND, but they were dominated all over the field.
Re: Pics National Championship game: North Carolina Vs Notre Dame I just watched the replay and it was FIVE defenders in range (one of them is out of the shot). Amazing.
Re: Pics National Championship game: North Carolina Vs Notre Dame Yeah, I didn't get that shot. I knew what was coming, but the 400mm lens at that distance doesn't tend to work well with those kinds of shots. You'll have to send me the original.
Re: Pics National Championship game: North Carolina Vs Notre Dame Remember when you asked me if I wanted to borrow a longer lens a couple of weeks ago? This is exactly why I like shooting with something shorter Of course, that still doesn't mean that I wouldn't kill for 400mm f/2.8 lens
Re: Pics National Championship game: North Carolina Vs Notre Dame Well, actually I had the right lens on my other camera body, but between the ballgirl and the TV guy - your shot not withstanding, I didn't have a clear shot at her whole flip. C'est la guerre. Nice shot, by the way.
Re: Pics National Championship game: North Carolina Vs Notre Dame Video highlights of the match here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BEZfJ2pz2M
Sorry. I did a cut and paste job on the quotes fed to me by the NCAA media relations contact. Blame the NCAA, their usually responsible for everything that's wrong in college soccer anyway
To be honest, this was the best run NCAA event I've ever worked. A couple mispellings "Robin Gayle" on her interview card or "Amanda Finalli" aside, the NCAA and NC State folks did an awesome job. They're like referees. When you don't notice them.... And congrats to the Tarheels. Like I said much earlier in this thread, I think this team peaks in 2 years. That's pretty scary.
I drove down to NC for this game and don't regret it for a second. Any coach in any league in any sport (especially basketball) should have watched this game. Although I don't think the final was quite as good as the two semi-final games in terms of action it was one of the best displays of a defensive 3 flat-back strategy I have ever seen in either mens or womens college and in many cases pro soccer. The defense of NC is incredible not only because they are fast and strong but because they work so well together. Notre Dame lost their game. NC played the offside’s trap like a science and stopped every breakaway chance ND had, not with one but typically with two players. They really had 3 defenders back there playing like 5 which helped power the midfield and defense. I really wonder if Hanks has ever been as frustrated in her life as she was last night. Everyone on NC played great soccer and with such a great defense it provided plenty of opportunities for O'Reilly and Nogueira up front and they took full advantage of it. O’Reilly had some incredible set up plays in the second half and I think ND was lucky to escape with only a 2-1 loss. This game should have had 3 MVP’s; Kristi, Robyn and Ariel. For a college soccer game the atmosphere was especially good with all the NC fans and parts of the NC band. It must have been well over a sell-out as it seemed like all the stands were full yet a lot of people were sitting in the grass and along the edges of the field, I think they need to move this match to a bigger venue. Congrats to NC and with all of those amazing freshman it looks like it’s going to be 3 more years of NC dominance... 3 more years!
From today's news observer: http://www.newsobserver.com/758/story/517619.html , South Bend Tribune: http://www.southbendtribune.com/app...NDSports01/612040403/-1/Sports/CAT=NDSports01
true...then they must not be a team....Even FSU got 2 on it...Snubbed again in the Cup...that dynasty continues...maybe next year!!
Yeah, I was kidding about the NCAA... It was a very well run show, from my vantage point. Thank god we weren't in St. Louis this weekend!
Just got back to chicago from the finals. what a great weekend. I had great seats also, right behind the benches. In the semis, I thought UCLA did not play as a team. IMO, Adams and Cheney didn't play together well up front and I and amny of the fans who sat around me felt Danesha Adams was Lazy. I heard simeone say about UCLA, "all those top recruits and nothing" In the final, I was disappointed that Notre Dame was trying to get the ball to Hanks on a breakaway always. UNC"s back line was too fast for that. I did feel, contrary to what some think, that Hanks did get fouled in the penalty area and ND should have gotten a PK. Also, all these UNC fans who were rooting for Florida State friday. They wanted an easier oponent, not the two best teams in the country and it had nothing to do with fellow ACC team. Anyway, I though North Carolina was the better team for most of the game and deserve the title.
One more thing. Notre Dame did not have Carrie Dew. An under 20 national Team starter. She has been injured for a while now.
You play the game with the team you have, not the team you wish you had or you may have had or... (-- my apologies to Secretary Rumsfeld)
Awesome photos, but my neck will be cramping after going through them. Do the pictures flip horizontally on my wonky computer only?