UNC in the ACC tourney [R]

You can see at the ACC site now (slow-loading PDF link) that we will be playing Wake Forest in our first match of the tournament, to be played Thursday at 5:30. (Here's an quicker look at the tournament brackets.) Wake and State finished in a tie for seventh and Wake lost the tie-breaker, probably on a coin flip since they and State tied during the regular season.

We had a tough 3-2 win over Wake this past Wednesday that was played on a foggy night at Winston-Salem so relatively few Tar Heel fans were able to see it, but some of those who did posted some interesting comments and analysis (link) starting about 2/3's of the way down the first page. One of them is a classic post by GoCourage, illustrated with his photos (link).

 

Facing the Deacons

A month ago, Wake was in first place in the ACC with a 2-0-1 record and a top ten national ranking. In the middle of the month they visited Clemson and took a 2-1 loss and returned home to play their last three conference games in Sprye Stadium, all of which they lost. This plummeting reversal of fortune earned them a tie with NC State at the bottom of the conference standings and then a coin flip gave them the #8 seed and another meeting with UNC.

We were one of those teams mentioned above that were hanging defeats on the Deacons, but our 3-2 win last week was not an easy one and I doubt if the Wake players have any fear of the Tar Heels. They could have beaten us last Wednesday and doubtless feel that Lady Luck might be willing to let them have a few breaks this time. The match is referred to in the post just above where links can take you to some BigSoccer commentary.

 

Tournament preview

Here's an excellent article in this morning's Raleigh paper, the N&O, on the tournament, with quotes from the two local coaches, Dorrance and NC State's Kerrigan: Heels face big test in soccer

"You might as well put all the names in a hat and pick a winner," Kerrigan said of this year's tournament. "Everyone has been ranked in the top 20. That means there are some pretty good teams."

 

Jenni's status

I heard from somebody in the UNC program that Jenni really got racked up by that Maryland player who got her cleats into Jenni's face last Friday night. I heard that Coach Dorrance said it was one of the most gruesome injuries he's ever seen. Jenni had to have 27 stitches on her forehead and the doctors told her not to play for three weeks. There is conflicting information on whether she will play or not. Speedo posted on another thread that he heard that she would. We'll have some indication in a few hours when the "live stats" on FSU's site tells us who's in goal at 5 o'clock.

(Am I the only person paying attention to this tournament? Where is everybody? Maybe down in Tallahassee?)

 

Game coming up

Thanks, Mightymouse. I wish I could take you up on your offer. I'd love to be there so I could scream and holler, instead of just reading the play-by-play on my computer and pecking out messages on BigSoccer. Forty-five minutes to go till kick-off. Let's go, Tar Heels!

 

Susan Bush

When was she nominated? Before the season?

She's such a great player when she's playing her best that people keep thinking that she's going to break loose again and be a holy terror once more. It certainly hasn't been this season, at least not yet. But I'll tell you the truth, every game we play, including the one that's about to start, I think (and HOPE) that Susan is going to have two goals and an assist. But this year, that's always been Lindsay or Alyssa. So far.

Come on, Susan!

 

Branam

Hey, the game has started and, guess what, Branam's in goal!

Incredible!

But I feel a lot better about our chances. Look at our lineup on Livestats. That's a hard lineup to beat.

 

Susan Bush.

What a coincidence! Susan just scored against Wake, just now. We've taken a 1-0 lead. Ha!

But I can't account for why the Hermann people would nominate her this year, here at the end of the season like this. It's pretty strange, I must admit.

 

Foul?

Foul on NC? Hey, come on ref, you call that a foul? Give us a break!

Hey Speedo. Are you watching this? We are evermore shooting! And Branam's in the goal. Feelin' good!

 

Corners

Who does he say is taking our corners? It could be the Train, since Cat and Lori are both out. EB was taking them against Maryland.

Oh no, what's happened to our play by play?

Aw man, this is messed up . . .

 

Maybe your brother can dictate a play by play and you can post it all. (Just kidding. But tell us when there's another score.)

Hey GoCourage. Welcome to the party. Pass around some of those beers.

Somebody down there has really dropped the ball -- in the press box, that is. What a shame. It was so great all afternoon, and now that our team is on, they've blown it.

Hey, a goal. By the Tarp. 2-0!!

 

Halftime, 2-0

Goals by Bush and Tarpley.

We've had a great play-by-play going all day from Tallahassee, but about halfway through the half or so we lost it and somebody is squeaking in an occasional note every three minutes or so, but it's very frustrating. Of course it's better than nothing at all, which has been the case in years past. Maybe they'll get a technician in and splice a few wires together and get it going again. Stick around. Meanwhile, GoCourage has brought us some beer, I think. Right, GoCourage?

 

Second half is underway

And Livestats is back in business. Yay!

As far as sitting on a lead is concerned, Dorrance admitted he did that against Wake in the fading minutes. He said he played a 3-5-2 and as he described it it sounded like a 3-2-3-2, with Tomecka and EB sitting above the back line. It's pretty rare for that to happen. He and the team always want to attack!

Oh $#!**, while I was writing that, the play-by-play went out again.

Hey, GOAL BY TARPLEY, 3-0. Ok, now there's a lead we might be able to sit on.

Paint drying is right! Hey, call your brother again and ask him what's going on? Nothing on the screen but Foul NC, 3 minutes pass, Foul on WF.