Women's soccer team lose to UCLA

by DC Trojan on Nov 24, 2008 11:38 AM PST Comment 7 comments

Just a quick note: the USC women's soccer team lost to UCLA this past weekend, 1 - 0. UCLA has absolutely been on fire this season, and showed that form with an early goal, smothering defense, and more aggressive play in search of an elusive second goal.

This was more than just the usual rivalry game - as you may remember, USC beat UCLA last year, 2 - 1, in the semi-finals en route to their national championship. UCLA were focused on getting past USC this year, and it showed.

The fact that each side can field an Olympic gold-medal winner and both teams were in the playoffs again gives some demonstration of the strength of women's soccer in Los Angeles.

A hearty well-done to the Trojans for a solid season, and best of luck to the Bruins against Duke - although frankly, with their current form, I'm not sure they'll need it.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Conquest Chronicles' writers or editors.

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Next season will be an interesting one for USC

The Bruins have dominated the California soccer scene for years. Although they have yet to capture the elusive championship, nobdy had really questioned their dominance. Last season USC made a run and got a title. They seemed poised to challenge UCLA for region supremacy year in and year out, but then UCLA beat SC twice this year.

Now SC loses a senior class that is arguably the strongest any team has seen in a loooong time. This senior class was absolutely stacked and with them all leaving the Trojans will have a lot of holes to fill. USC can’t fall by the wayside and show up again in 3 years if they want to be a challenger to UCLA, especially with Stanford starting to build a top notch program. Even with their title, the USC program is still probably third in the Pac 10 and fourth in the west with Portland also ahead of them. The Trojans have a turning point year ahead of them so it should be interesting to watch.

by ryebreadraz on Nov 24, 2008 12:33 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

running isn't enough

The only game I’ve seen SC was the championship game last year, and I was struck by the style of play – relentless running, solid passing, closing down opposition passing, and opportunistic scoring. It may not be fantasista playing on the Brazil model, but it’s not as bad as a number of UCLA partisans made out after last year’s semi-final. It’s not just luck.

However, while what I described is a good way to get solid results in conference play, and it can cover for a change in regime among the players. Will it be enough to keep SC competitive? Don’t know. Will it be enough to beat UCLA year in, year out? Probably not. The problem with playing a game with solid foundations is that eventually you’re going to run into a team with enough skill to get around you. (See: Hull City in the EPL – and don’t get me wrong, it’s no sin to win more often than not with those tactics…)

But, to be honest, I’m just pleased at this point to see the women’s soccer team doing well. With any luck, the recruiting benefits of a great season and a good season will pay off.

We’ll certainly see.

by DC Trojan on Nov 24, 2008 1:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

btw

Sorry I didn’t cite your comment on the prior thread – I threw mine up without bothering to look, because that’s the crack editing skill I bring to the table : |

by DC Trojan on Nov 24, 2008 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No worries

And btw, can USC please start a men’s soccer program? It wouldn’t cost too much considering the deal with Nike and there is already a facility. There’s too much talent in the SoCal area for SC not to have a men’s program. If any sport made the most sense for SC to start, soccer would be it. I’d love to see UCLA and USC go at it on the men’s side too.

by ryebreadraz on Nov 24, 2008 2:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

They've been trying for years

back when I was a freshman in 2001 there was some students and what not trying to start one.

Didn’t meet with much success though.

You know what? Fuck you Sports Gods, fuck you.

by bluemax on Nov 24, 2008 2:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no arguments from me

But as bluemax points out, there’s been interest that’s never quite crossed whatever threshold they need to cross. I can’t imagine that it would be prohibitively expensive to field a men’s soccer team and add a corresponding women’s team if needed for Title IX purposes. And as you say, extending the rivalry would be a draw too.

by DC Trojan on Nov 24, 2008 5:13 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations

To the USC women’s soccer team for making it this far in the NCAA tournament, and good luck to the UCLA Bruin women in advancing further into the final rounds of this year’s tournament.

Fight On!

"Oh, would you look at that! You see, I just checked. . . .and it's true. I'm out of nerves for you to try to get on. There'll be NO MORE talkin', feel me?" words I woke up saying coming out of a trip-ass dream the other night. -Bix

by BixBeiderbecke on Nov 24, 2008 3:15 PM PST reply actions 0 recs