UNC was quite the formidable opponent. It would have been a more difficult task without their key injuries. I think the girls feel a great sense of pride in earning a right to the college cup against the most storied program by far in women's college soccer, perhaps in all of women's collegiate sports. This was the first time that UCLA had beaten them in 9 tries. Perhaps such a game will make them stronger for what is upcoming. It's good to hear the initial reports about your injured young lady. My prayers are with her.
Thanks for the kind words about our injured players. Tarheel fans will all breathe a collective sigh of relief when it is confirmed that Katie Bowen has not sustained any permanent injury-- we are hopefully waiting that announcement. Without question we would have been a more formidable opponent with Dunn, Ball, Newfield, Bowen and Elby healthy and on the pitch for the second overtime. However, injuries happen-- its regrettable, but it in no way diminishes the amazing evolution of the UCLA team over the course of this season! This was not the same program I saw struggling against UNC at the beginning of this season! Congratulations to the coach and squad on a season of tremendous growth, and a spirited victory against the Heels! These gals have been set upon a daunting path-- Stanford; UNC; UVA; FSU(?)... Seriously? They have already accomplished a great deal, and deserve to feel enormous pride, however things unfold from here. Sorry you beat my Heels, but Congratulations on a Great Season (so far), an excellent game and a deserved win against the Heels, and best of luck going forward!
I have seen UCLA many times over the years in College Cups and elsewhere and always felt they were there. But somehow they just couldn't get over that big wave and win that elusive NCAA Championship. I saw them play ND in South Bend a couple of months ago and was impressed with their play. This is even a much stronger team then the one I saw in Seattle last fall when they played UW even without Bywaters anymore. In the past, IMO, they just never seemed prepared or had much luck when getting into that Final Four, especially in Cary, NC. and I've seen every Final Four game they've played there as well as in College Station, TX. I was (and still am) a big fan of Lauren Cheney so I always had a soft heart for UCLA even as a Notre Dame fan but I was always disappointed at how Jill Ellis had them terribly prepared for the Final Four, in my opinion. I feel they are much better prepared this time around. I didn't do the prediction contest thing this year but at the beginning I said I had a feeling this was UCLA's year and I'm sticking by it.
I posted this earlier & it's worth repeating: The best thing UCLA did was hiring Cromwell. Go Bruins.
Potentially beating Stanford, unc, uva, and fsu in succession would certainly be one of the greatest achievements in the history of the college cup. 2011 national champ, 2012 national champ and #1 seed, uva having a once a decade season, and fsu ...wow. I wish them luck. I like the way they play. Since our heels won't be at the college cup, ucla's colors are the closest choice to Carolina blue!
Cromwell would be only the second female coach to win it all. That's going to create some extra support for these Bruins!
Ucla played a beautiful game tonight. They really outplayed uva in the second half. I could tell Taylor was lightning fast on video, but it is still another thing to see it in person.
2 wins over Stanford (which had beaten us 8 in a row) An OT win over UNC on the road (we had lost 8 in a row) Being down to the #1 team in the nation for most of the year with 5 minutes to go and beating them in penalty kicks...I'm going to have a beer now FSU looked good tonight. They are resilient
You have a very good team. It's good you got scored on -- won't be a shock if it happens on Sunday. And came back. As it's turned out, getting a #2 seed has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Maybe the soccer gods are with you. Playing 110 minutes vs FSU's 90 won't be a problem. Trust me, it's happened in the Cup before and the 110 minute team won.
It would appear that UCLA is just now peaking. They have looked improved over the three games that I have personally seen. In fact I would say that last night in the second half and in the second overtime they have improved dramatically over last Saturday. (Hey, was it the magic of practicing on UNC's fields for a week?) The Bruins have talent and speed out the gaziddle. For those of us who noticed their astounding recruiting class in 2011, this is no surprise. It has taken two years for this group to gel as juniors. Seven of them started last night. Add in one senior and a freshman, and 2 sophomores and you have 11 players every one of which before coming to UCLA played on national youth teams and 10 of the 11 were listed as a youth All-Americans (and it would have been all eleven if Allie Courtnal was an American citizen.) 5 of these ll also played on USA's U20 team as well. They sure showed all this talent and pedegree last night. Portions of the second half and second overtime were just dominant.
Congratulations to UCLA on an Outstanding game and on advancing to the Final. This team is turning in one awesome performance after the next! UCLA's play against UVA was some of the most strategically nuanced and sophisticated play I have Ever seen from a college team, and when the squad turned on the Heat, the athleticism and execution of the squad were also absolutely top-shelf! It was a pleasure to watch, and while UVA is an excellent progam, I think UCLA demonstrated that the right team advanced. Good luck on Sunday!
I am one acc fan who is rooting for ucla tomorrow. I love the way ucla plays and I must can't make myself root for fsu.
"If unc loses , I will root for fsu to win. No lie" - a quote from you back in November on the FSU site. Enjoy the game
What a Difference a COACH makes! UCLA's AD is patting himself on the back for realizing early on that the temporary/interim ex-assistant Coach's inabilty to transition two back-to-back "best recruiting" classes to success in the NCAA tournament was damaging to the Bruins' history of amazing athletic prowness!
UCLA has a unique profile within the collegiate womens soccer field. Although they may lack the cohesion of a fine tuned intricate passing game they are loaded with the best athletic talent to be found....Credit to coach Cromwell who today will earn the highest honor bestowed to a first year coach for truly understanding and most importantly utilizing talent on the pitch in order to produce the wins deserved of a team packed solid with the best of any DIV I program in existance.
Yes, and let's mumble a little prayer that her subsequent career doesn't go the way of the last first year coach who won a championship with somebody else's players.