We'll the folks who brought you their wonderfully intelligent final poll (see other thread) have released their list of All-Americans for 2003. http://www.nscaa.com/docs/03diwaa.htm Seems like the same people who seeded the tournament had a hand in this list too. I'll hold my comments for a while. There are some very deserving players here, others not so deserving . . . Let the fun begin!
I'm pleased to see Kelly McDonald on the list this time. It seemed like, for whatever reason, she has had less recognition than fellow Longhorn forward Kelly Wilson. McDonald had a fine season this year, and maybe an even better one last year (when she didn't get the awards) so she certainly has earned the all-american award. Go Kelly-13!!! http://mkness.home.texas.net/texas_soccer/photos/KellyMcDonald/mcdonald_kelly_jube_200_30.jpg
Where the heck is Leslie Osborne? Wow, that is a very glaring omission. Congrats to Steph Freeman on making the 3rd team, she really had a great year for Florida.
Poop on SCU Gator, didn't you know it was poop on SCU year. After the ridiculous seeding in the tournament, it only makes sense that no Bronco was named All-American. Osborne is certainly a glaring omission, as she was the team leader and leading scorer of a top 5 team. I also thought Juile Ryder might get a mention at GK. Although only a freshman, she finished near the top in GAA nationally, lost only two matches (ND and UNC) shutout Portland in Portland in the third round of NCAAs (saved two PKs in the shootout too), and made a PK save against Alyssa Ramsey in the quarterfinal. She was not even mentioned in the All-West Region teams! The other prime candidate would have been Veronica Zepeda, but injury limited her playing time for much of the season. However, there might not have been a better player at holding possession on the dribble.
Some justice after all, Leslie Osborne named CSTV First team All American. http://cstv.com/features_wsoccerAAteam_122903.htm
Heather O'Reilly is going to be mad for only making the 3rd team. She will take it out on her opponents next season, I hope.
Re: Re: Re: Poop on SCU Strike Three..A keeper's hardest job on the field is maintaining game concentration. They've warmed up for an hour to 45 minutes prior to the game, and then have to try and stay limber enough to make that miraculous save if they are lucky enough to have the majority of the game played on the opposite end. A keeper's primary objective is not allowing offensive players close enough to take a shot on goal, by either assisting in directing the defensive line, coming out to the 20 or 30 yard line or being ready for the shot, either way they end up usually having to make split second decisions or spring into motion quickly. My point...It's not always quanity of opportunities, it's the quality in the way the opportunities are handled. And if it's those games you mentioned determined your opinion of the player, is it fair for a season of solid performance be out weighed by one game or weekend? Becuz' it's seems to be your line of thinking, but that can also go in reverse. Bad keeper...one good game...now Good keeper? Don't misunderstand, I don't intend to down play the selected All Americans performances, I just don't understand how a Keeper who's played say...five or six games season be ranked with keeper's who are on the field all season, getting beat up week after week. And I applaude and admire any player willing to jump in head first to go after a moving object along with 4 or 5 pairs of cleats trying to kick that same moving object, even if they only have to did 50 times in a season.
keeper debate My initial comments were meant to draw attention to the lack of recognition for players from my favorite team, Santa Clara. Recognition that I feel was deserved from the NSCAA. Since it has turned in to a discussion on GKs, here's my view My case for Ryder would be the following. . . Coach Smith made her earn the starting keeper position this season. She played in only every other game for the first 1/3 of the season. After all, Alyssa Sobolik did win one national title as a freshman, and lose the championship game in OT as a sophomore. Once Ryder did become the Broncos #1, she went on to become the first freshman GK to be named First Team All WCC. She then shutout Stanford, Arizona State and Portland in the NCAAs and was ranked #2 in GAA going in to the UNC game. I attended the UNC/SCU game and was clearly not at fault on any of the 3 UNC goals (hung out by her defender on first goal, beautiful set play on 2nd, and superior effort by Ramsey to set up the third). Of the qualities for GKs mentioned above, she excels in all; excellent shot stopper, defensive leader, powerful and accurate distribution, and outstanding footskills. She was also selected to the CSTV All-American Second Team, and is currently training with the U19 NATS for WC qualifying. Even if not an All-American by NSCAA, certainly an All-West Region selection - which she did not get either! At any rate, you will hear a lot about her in the next 3 years. Regarding Winget . . . She is certainly a talented goalkeeper. She wouldn't be playing for UNC if she wasn't. She most likely sparked the 3-0 victory over SCU with an unbelieveable early save when the score was 0-0. However, if you look at the UNC Thread, all the talk is about Ashlyn Harris (the incumbent U19 NATS GK). What will happen to Winget when Harris arrives in Chapel Hill? If Winget is truly All-American caliber, Anson will have a major GK controversy on his hands. IMHO she appears to be the East Coast version of Sobolik, a talented GK who was able to do the job for a dominant team, but relegated to the role of a backup with the arrival of a Youth NATS player. Of course, next year will be interesting for both of these teams, as both Harris and Ryder may be missing the college season for the U19 WWC. That is why Winget and Soblolik continue to be valuable to their team. (Another topic all together). The NSCAA selections . . . They shouldn't be penalized for doing their job in the situation given to them. Being in the top 20 in GAA and shutouts is certainly a measure of a quality keeper. These ladies are cleary doing their job for their team in their games. But do you place these ahead of players who are doing equally well for better teams, in tougher conferences, with tougher schedules, and with better team success.
Re: keeper debate Dorrance usually has two top-of-the-line keepers on his squad and he always wants to. His practice when two are available is to let them split time evenly during the regular season and when tournament play begins he and the other coaches will decide on one, who will then be the regular keeper for the rest of the season. Jenni Branam split time with Kris DePlatchett, Siri Mullinix split time with Gretchen Overgaard, and Tracy Noonan (Tracy Ducar) and Shelley Finger split time with each other, just to give a few examples from the past ten years.
Re: Re: keeper debate Originally posted by ussoccr . . . all the talk is about Ashlyn Harris (the incumbent U19 NATS GK). What will happen to Winget when Harris arrives in Chapel Hill? If Winget is truly All-American caliber, Anson will have a major GK controversy on his hands. ..If rumors are right, there won't be any...Harris will opt to come in the Spring, rather than waste a years eligibilty off with the U-19's, and Winget (academic sr) will have graduated by the next season. The best is yet to come.
As always, late to the discussion but is anyone else struck by the fact that all three teams are defender light. The second team has 2 defenders and four forwards. The third team has six forwards. Osbourn is a terrible omission.